Building the Global Alliance … by Networking in our own backyard.

Source: (2005) Paper presented at “Building a Global Alliance for Restorative Practices and Family Empowerment, Part 3”, co-hosted by the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) and Real Justice Australia, March 3-5, in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. Downloaded 14 April 2005.

The tradition is that Restorative Justice had its beginnings in this province, thirty years ago, in a little town in
South Western Ontario named Elmira. In the last ten years, other people such as those associated with the
Federal Department of Corrections, staff and chaplains working with men and women both incarcerated and
released, interested in finding newer ways of working with offenders, became acquainted with Restorative
Practices. Aboriginal communities were searching their own cultural and spiritual roots to establish ways and
means of supporting their fellow First Nations peoples to regain their healthy balance in life, a common
difficulty illustrated by how far too many came afoul of the predominate society’s legal system. A form of
traditional practice was reinstated in many of their communities. And advocates for victims rights, started to
gain inroads into obtaining court recognized participation within the formal legal process. (excerpt)