EDSON DRUG COALITION RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM TO START SOON

A sizable grant from the province's solicitor general will allow the
Edson Drug Coalition (EDC) to begin its Restorative Justice Program
(RJP).

The funds of just over $24,000, targeted for the Healing Meth's Hurts
RJP, wraps up a two-year set-up period for the program, chairperson
for the EDC Edith Zuidhof-Knoop said.

"This is the funding that will help us put that plan into action.
We're now ready for it to be launched."

The RJP program will involve non-violent substance abuse offenders
recommended by the RCMP and the justice system. It brings together
offender and victim on a face-to-face basis overseen by EDC
coordinator Laurie McCallum.

"The hope is that by meeting with one another, both the victim and the
offender will have a bit more closure," Zuidhof-Knoop said.

She added the program will give victims of crime some say in terms of
what the consequences for the offender will be.

But both parties must agree to go through the process, Zuidhof-Knoop
said.

The funds from the solicitor general's department allowed the EDC to
hire McCallum as its coordinator, she added.

"If either the victim or the offender does not wish to participate,
they don't have to, that's the end of the process. If they are not
both comfortable with going ahead, it doesn't happen." Zuidhof-Knoop
said the RJP has received great support from both the Crown prosecutor
and the RCMP.

Meanwhile, the drug coalition decided to a slight name change from the
Edson and District Drug Action Coalition to EDC because of confusion
with another organization, she said.

Zuidhof-Knoop explained that too many people were confusing AADAC
(Alberta, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission) with EDDAC. She added
from now on the organization will be referred to as the Edson Drug
Coalition.