International Day of Older People 2021
Webinar co-hosted by CNPEA and Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario

 

SUMMARY:
In the wake of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and on International Day of Older People, CNPEA and EAPO will explore the concepts of elder mediation and restorative justice. This practice, rooted in indigenous culture, is increasingly accessed as an alternative measure to criminal justice proceedings, particularly in matters that affect older adults.


An exciting panel of Canadian experts will share their experiences and perspectives. They will discuss how we can build collective responsibility at the heart of communities to create systemic structural changes.  Some of the questions they will explore:

  • What does mediation and restorative justice mean?
  • When are they a good option for seniors and families? 
  • Why are they particularly meaningful in matters of elder abuse?
  • What's the difference from a standard legal justice approach? Are these alternative approaches being integrated within the existing system to help reform the criminal justice system?
  • Does this type of response work and what are the long-term impacts in families and society?

PANELISTS

judy berangerJudy Beranger
Judy M. Beranger is an educator, counsellor, mediator, and author. She is Vice President of SeniorsNL, President of Family Mediation Canada and a Past President of the Elder Mediation International Network, (EMIN). She is a nationally Family Comprehensive certified advanced Mediator and Nationally and internationally Advanced certified Elder Mediator. She contributed to the development of the recently released International "Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults"  document. She also authored a report for Justice Canada in 2012 entitled Exploring the Role of Elder Mediation in the Prevention of Elder Abuse.


joanbraun headshot 2016Joan Braun
Joan is a professor at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law and a mediator at Vista Mediation Group. She is a lawyer called to the bar in British Columbia and Alberta and is a social worker registered in the province of BC. Prior to assuming the role of professor at Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, Joan worked as a mediator in private practice and as a lawyer in the social justice sector. While in private practice, she founded western Canada’s first legal aid clinic for older adults at the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support (Now SeniorsFirstBC). In 2015 – 2016 she was the ACR representative to the task force for the Eldercaring Coordination Pilot Project. Eldercaring Coordination is a new model for resolving guardianship and advanced planning disputes, which has now been implemented in the courts in several states.

 

resaeisen screencapResa Eisen, MSW., RSW
Resa holds a Masters Degree in Social Work and has been in the field of mediation as a practitioner and educator for 40 years. She practices person-centered elder mediation, often in high conflict family situations. Her Elder Mediation Training Program was the first of its kind in Canada. Resa is an accredited family mediator (OAFM), was a past board member of ADRIO, and now co-chairs the elder mediation section.

 

 

 

viviankerenyiVivian Kerenyi
Vivian has been a member of the Ontario and BC Bar since 1990. She began mediating in 1987 while still attending law school. She currently works as an in-house counsel on a part time basis and has a private mediation practice. She mediates a wide range of civil disputes including court related matters. She is currently a member of the Civil and Family Rosters of Mediate BC, and of the Child Protection Mediation Roster (M.A.G.) affiliated with Mediate BC. She is a mentor in the Court Mediation Program (Small Claims) and a Lead Mediator in Mediate BC's Family Mediation Program. She is also a certified Comprehensive Family Mediator as accredited by Family Mediation Canada.

 

 

jennifer llewellynJennifer Llewellyn
Jennifer Llewellyn is the Chair in Restorative Justice and Director of the Restorative Research, Innovation and Education Lab (RRIELab) at Schulich school of law (Dalhousie). In 2018 she served as the scholar in residence for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. Having published extensively on the theory and practice of a restorative approach, her teaching and research are focused in the areas of relational theory, restorative justice, truth commissions, peacebuilding, international and domestic human rights law, public law and Canadian constitutional law. Jennifer has advised governments and NGOs and supported many governments, projects and programs including the Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Program and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. Additionally, Professor Llewellyn facilitated the design process for the first-ever restorative public inquiry (into the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children) and served as a Commissioner for the Inquiry. She previously advised the Assembly of First Nations and Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the response to Residential School abuse. She has also worked in the field internationally with South Africa, Jamaica, New Zealand and the United Nations and co-authored two books on the topic.


This event is open to all. 
A 30-minute Q&A will follow the conversation.
ASL interpretation will be available.