The Comox Valley Community Justice Centre (the CJC), a volunteer-powered non-profit that uses restorative justice principles and practices to support peacemaking and the resolution of conflicts for the community through resolution conferences, dialogue, and education, has seen a record increase in case files over the past year. 

Restorative justice 鈥� an approach to dealing with conflict and crime that invites the person who caused the harm, the person affected by the harm, and the community to come to a meaningful solution 鈥� is becoming more salient in a social and political landscape that can feel overwhelmingly polarized.

鈥淢ore emphasis should be given to progressive strategies like restorative justice to reduce the dependency on police and the courts to solve mounting social problems,鈥� said Inspector Scott Mercer, officer in charge, Comox Valley RCMP. 鈥淚 endorse any initiative that focuses on repairing harm by giving those victimized an opportunity to communicate how an event affected them while making an offender take responsibility for their actions.鈥�  

The Community Justice Centre has been operating in the Comox Valley since 1998. Active cases have increased 40 per cent over the past year alone, highlighting the increasing need for dialogue and community addressing harm.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to handle this increase in the volume and complexity of case files thanks to our skilled and committed volunteers,鈥� said Karen McKinnon, managing director of the CJC, adding that the centre has 55 dedicated volunteers and two part-time staff members.

November 17 鈥� 24 is Restorative Justice Week. To find out more about the CJC or to volunteer, visit .