FACILITATORS WANTED FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM

An official for the Edson and District Drug Action Coalition (EDDAC)
is calling for facilitator volunteers for the Restorative Justice
Program (RJP).

The program is similar to the Youth Justice Program model, except, in
RJP's case, it's tailored for first time offenders of any age.

Facilitators receive special training which will allow them to lead a
group of community volunteers and to host RJP sessions.

It's a unique volunteer position, and something which not only
benefits the offender but the victims and the community as a whole.

"It's really for people who are interested in giving back to the
community," EDDAC coordinator Sherry Froehlich said.

The Edson RJP concept began with stakeholder meetings this past
January. EDDAC officials also consulted with officials and groups in
the Town of Grande Cache, which already has an RJP in place.

Under RJP, an offender would appear before the facilitator and the group.

It may sound like a potentially tense situation, but it isn't, Froehlich said.

"It's not a lynching. They have to admit to the crime and show remorse."

The committee and facilitator would then determine the restitution to
the victim(s) and the offender.

Froehlich said an RJP model was thought to be appropriate for Edson,
given the high amount of drug and substance-related crime in the community.

Froehlich said she'd like to see between five and eight mediators for Edson.

Training for the regional group would occur Sept. 8 to 10 in Jasper
at the Pallisades Centre.

The three-day session is expected to attract 35 would-be facilitators
from throughout the region which would include Edson, Grande Cache,
Hinton and Jasper.

For anyone interested in becoming a facilitator for the Edson RFP,
Froehlich suggests they drop off a resume to Mike Butler at the Edson
Civic Centre.

For more information on the program call Froehlich at 712-0143.