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CJI History

1974

For more than 40 years, CJI has successfully applied proven restorative justice principles to tough community problems.

A significant modern restorative justice movement was born in 1974 when young probation officers Mark Yantzi and Dave Worth suggested that two teens apologize and make restitution for vandalizing the property of 22 people in Elmira, Ontario instead of going to jail. Judge Gordon McConnell agreed, setting a new legal precedent in Canada.

What began in 1974 under the umbrella of Mennonite Central Committee and was incorporated as a small charity in 1982, has now developed into an agency with 20+ staff and more than 200 volunteers, all applying restorative justice in 17+ different program areas.

The Elmira Story, commonly known as the Elmira Case by those around the world, has also sparked restorative justice movements across Canada and internationally.

Below are more of CJI’s innovative approaches to conflict and crime.

Extending the reach of restorative justice

1978

Expanding on the first successful meeting between youth who committed crimes and their victims, CJI’s founder and first Executive Director, Mark Yantzi developed the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP). VORP grew and gained credibility in the community—today we receive hundreds of referrals from the adult and the youth court systems in the Waterloo Region.

In the late 1970s, we began Community Mediation Services which offers conflict resolution options for individuals, neighbours, families, and groups in the community. These programs ranged from sports mediation for local teams, to mediations for faith communities and in the workplace. We receive referrals from many sources including community agencies, families and neighbours, police and city bylaw departments.

2000

Elder Mediation Service (EMS) Recognizing that elder abuse was an issue in the Waterloo Region, in 2005 CJI is a founding partner is the Restorative Justice Approaches to Elder Abuse and Mistreatement project in partnership with other community services including Community Care Access Centre and the Waterloo Regional Police Services. In 2005, this approach develops into a specialized conflict resolution services for adults who are 55+.

2005

Restorative Practice in Schools. Knowing there is a better way to deal with disputes and violence in our schools, CJI partners with local school boards to creatively apply a range of restorative processes to quickly and effectively respond building conflict competent youth and a healthy school community.

2019

In 2019, CJI has partnered with the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW to offer restorative approaches in situations of harm stemming from Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia (anti-immigrant sentiment) and as a pro-active measure to build community between Muslims and the larger community. The program is entitled Sulah which has meanings related to reconciliation in many languages.

Applying Restorative Justice to Sexual Trauma

1982

Revive began in 1982, when CJI gave people who had been sexually abused a place to meet so they could talk about their experiences. Soon after CJI started a program to provide group support for these survivors of sexual trauma.

It is essential to provide therapeutic support for those who have been harmed physically, emotionally, and spiritually by the devastation of child sexual abuse. However, if we consider only the victim’s needs, our work is incomplete. That is like mopping the mess from a dripping tap without fixing the leak…Dealing only with the effects does not move us toward an abuse-free society.

—Mark Yantzi in his book Sexual Offending and Restoration

1986

In 1986, believing that people who had offended sexually could change, CJI staff pioneered healing support for offenders. In keeping with restorative justice principles, personal accountability and repairing harm were emphasized along with understanding the offense cycle and personal growth.

2007

In addition, Revive facilitates Facilitated Dialogues (FD). FD provides an opportunity for individuals and families to come together in a safe way to be heard, develop understanding and find a way to move forward through the devastation of sexual trauma.

2012 Responding to community demand.

In 2012, CJI started a Cybersex Offenses group. In 2013, we added support groups for partners (spouses) of people who have offended sexually, partners (spouses) of survivors, and a group for male survivors who have also offended sexually. CJI is a leader in helping all people affected by sexual trauma and continues to expand to meet community needs.

Applying Restorative Justice to Women in Prison

1995

Stride began as Project Another Chance (PAC) in 1995 founded by a former inmate. PAC was a telephone support and advocacy service for federally sentenced women in and on parole from the infamous Prison for Women (P4W) in Kingston. In 1998, with the impending closure of P4W and opening of the new federal prison for women in Kitchener, Ontario (Grand Valley Institution for Women-GVI) Stride became a program of CJI.

With a new focus on creating community circles of support for women leaving GVI, Stride evolved to offer reintegration support for women focused on empowerment, meaningful and responsible choices, respect, dignity, community engagement, capacity building, social justice, and accountability. CJI developed and implemented a nationally recognized Circles Program which matches trained volunteers with women wanting support as they re-enter the community. To facilitate positive relationships between community members and women in prison, CJI started a social recreation program called Stride Night. Crafts, sports, games etc. provide the backdrop for interaction as community volunteers and agencies visit the women in prison to help them prepare for successful reintegration.

2009

In 2009, CJI began Fresh Start Creations—an innovative program through which women in prison create artisan pieces that are sold in the community. 100% of the proceeds raised are donated to charities in the Waterloo Region that are chosen by the women. Fresh Start Creations enables the woman to think differently about their role and value to society while challenging the community to think differently about women in prison.

Applying the Stride Model to Others Wanting a Safe and Meaningful Place in Community

2012

Modelled after CJI’s successful Stride program, Backhome was started in 2012 in partnership with Ray of Hope. Later, CJI also collaborated with Lutherwood. Volunteers participate in recreational activities each week with youth at custody facilities in the Waterloo Region. Upon their release, teens can choose to be supported by a Circle of volunteers as they reintegrate. This program is no longer running due to a lack of funding.

2015

Following CJI’s Stride and BackHome programs, StrideMen began to fulfill the need to provide essential practical and social support needed to help men break cycles and build more constructive and productive lives in the community. By supporting men re-entering the community from Salvation Army’s New Direction half way house in Kitchener and Stonehenge’s therapeutic community in Guelph, StrideMen echoes CJI’s mission statement by demonstrating a commitment “to inspire safe, healthy and peaceful communities”. In 2017 StrideMen received three year funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, however once that funding ran out Stridemen was unable to continue.

2016

New Canadian Youth Connections (NCYC)Bringing youth together to have fun and make new friends creates caring, connected communities. CJI partners with Reception Hours Waterloo Region to bring together Canadian youth with New Canadian youth to play sports, do crafts and have help with homework. As new friends they have fun, practice English, get the lowdown on Canadian culture and eagerly get help with homework.

Using Restorative Justice Principles to Reduce Conflict Among Family Members

2007

Family Centred Programs began in 2007 as a collaborative effort between Community Justice Initiatives, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, and Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region. Using restorative justice principles, CJI’s Family-Centred Programs empower families to make decisions about their children in child protection through culturally sensitive, respectful meetings. Recognizing that parents identified by child protection services needed better skills to handle conflict, in 2012 we began offering one-on-one parent conflict coaching. In 2019 we we added a caregiver teen program that assists parents and teens in situations of conflict.