Modernizing BC’s Justice System - Green Paper
In February, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General released a Green Paper called Modernizing British Columbia’s Justice System. The Green Paper highlights several key issues in BC’s justice system, discusses reform initiatives and poses a series of challenges intended to form the basis for further exploration and recommendations.

Statement on Judicial Independence
On March 15, 2012, the Courts of British Columbia released a joint statement discussing the principle of judicial independence. The statement may be found on the Courts’ website.

BC Justice Reform
The BC Justice Reform Initiative was created to identify and recommend reforms to improve BC’s criminal justice system. The BC Justice Reform Initiative website offers an opportunity for the public and those who work in the justice system to give their input. The site includes the Chair’s blog, surveys, a feedback form and social media links.

Events

Teacher Workshops
The Society is known for providing exceptional professional development training for teachers. Teacher training workshops are held on professional development days and feature qualified and interesting speakers. The Society is presenting two workshops this spring and two workshops in the fall. Interested teachers can find more information on future workshops or register online at www.LawLessons.ca. Information about the first upcoming workshop is below.

Youth and Gangs
The next teacher training workshop will be an interactive session on the topic of Youth and Gangs. Topics include gang statistics and gang recruitment. Teachers will walk away with ready-to-use lesson plans and teaching materials for Grades 7-11.

Date: May 18, 2012
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Justice Education Society Classroom (850 Burdett Avenue, Victoria, BC)
Keynote Speaker: Paul Douglas, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit
Registration: Online at http://www.lawlessons.ca/teacher-training/registration

For more information, contact Sylvia Sangha by email Sylvia.Sangha(at)JusticeEducation.ca, fax 250-387-3090, or call 250-387-3303.

Resource Updates

Resource of the Month
A series of 10 large wall charts feature easy-to-follow illustrations showing the structure and procedures of BC’s justice system. Series A is introductory and designed for elementary school and ESL students (also available in French). Series B is more advanced and designed for use with high school, criminology and law students as well as justice system personnel. A guidebook is also available. Order this resource online at www.justiceeducation.ca/resources/wall-charts.

Website of the Month
FamiliesChange.ca combines animation, text, audio and video to help children, teens and parents better cope with divorce or separation. The parents section of the site features new videos to help parents understand their Child Support responsibilities. The site is a popular resource and a recent set of bus and web ads increased traffic to the site by 14% from January to March compared to the previous fiscal year.

Project Updates

The Society recently completed a number of exciting projects:

Law Lessons

The Society launched a new website for teachers and students at www.LawLessons.ca. The website consolidates a number of legal education resources and provides a single online destination to access a broad range of content including lesson plans, teaching units, the Justice System Education Program, teacher training workshops and teaching resources.

Dispute Resolution
The Society produced website content and a series of four animated videos that provide information about resolving disputes before they escalate. These videos are now available on AdminLawBC.ca:

•    Choosing a Dispute Resolution Option
•    Preparing for a Tough Talk
•    Understanding Disputes
•    Negotiating a Solution

In addition, the Society is working with administrative agencies to discuss these new resources and to examine how dispute resolution strategies can be integrated into current practices.

Child Support Resources on FamiliesChange.ca
Children do better when they have the financial support of both parents. They also have a right to it by law. When parents separate one of the first things they should think about is child support. Child support is the  money one parent pays to the other for the financial support of their child/children. New content that provides simple, plain language information about child support in BC is now live on FamiliesChange.ca.

ISO Forms
Most Canadian provinces have cooperative agreements with each other and a number of additional jurisdictions regarding changing or creating child support orders. The Society produced a series of FormSupport Guides to provide information about the Interjurisdictional Support Order (ISO) forms and instructions on how to fill them out. We produced a series of videos that provide guided support to help separated parents understand what forms need to be completed, based on their specific situation. These new resources were developed with funding and support from the Department of Justice Canada and BC’s Ministry of Justice. They will be online later this summer.

ProvincialCourt.bc.ca
The Society has developed a new website for the Provincial Court of BC. The site has a completely new look and a new judgment database. It represents a technological partnership with CanLII.org to display provincial court judgments. The site is now being tested on the court’s server and we expect the site to be live in May.

Clicklaw
In the Fall, Clicklaw introduced “widgets” which enable web developers to publish Clicklaw search results on other websites. Working in partnership with Courthouse Libraries and Open Road, the Society has extended the widget application by creating new XML feeds of Clicklaw search results. This alternate approach allows web developers to access Clicklaw content, but to vary to presentation format to suit the individual website that it is on. The Society is currently piloting this new approach, which will be extended in the future to other BC PLEI contributors.

Legal Rights for Youth
The Society is developing a new web resource for youth in BC. It consolidates a range of information to help youth understand their legal rights. “A lot of our resources for youth were developed for educational purposes. Youth are students,” said Rick Craig, Executive Director of the Society. “This new web resource is innovative because it provides information to youth based on their legal needs”. The topics on the site focus on legal issues that young British Columbians may face, such as driving, work or starting a business.

Program Updates

Immigrant PLEI Consortium: Settlement Workers Training Conference
On March 27 and 28, 2012, a training conference for BC Settlement Workers called 2012 Legal Information and Resources for Settlement Workers was hosted and carried out by the Law Foundation of BC, the Legal Services Society and the Immigrant PLEI Consortium (led by the Justice Education Society).

Over 140 participants attended from all over the province representing over 70 organizations and over 20 communities – all with the goal of increasing their knowledge in order to better inform their clients. Conference participants included a cross-section of approximately 25% of the settlement worker community in BC.

The conference provided legal information on a range of relevant topics by 38 presenters from 24 different organizations including five private law firms and four government offices. Many NGOs also provided staff time for presentations.

Many of above topics and sessions were videotaped by the People’s Law School. These videos, once edited and finalized, will be available for reference on www.ImmigrantLegal.ca.

Law Week 2012
In Celebration of Law Week 2012, a day of events was held in Nanaimo on April 14, the Okanagan region on April 18 and in Victoria on April 21. Hundreds of people attended various events in the three areas. Events included mock “fairy tale” trials, Police K-9 Unit demonstrations, tours and informative presentations.

An editorial in the Nanaimo Daily News commended the celebrations in Nanaimo, quoting the Society’s Regional Coordinator for Victoria, Sylvia Sangha, saying: “The kids are witnessing how the system works. The courts are open to the public and we even accept classroom bookings to allow children to see the court system in action.” Read the full editorial here.

Youth Against Violence

PSA Contest
The Use Your Voice PSA contest was organized by the Youth Against Violence: Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls program. The contest empowered young people across BC to take action on preventing violence in their communities by submitting any piece of art making a statement about ending violence against women and girls.

The winning submission was created by a youth team in Prince George. The team felt that adults tend to forget that children are watching and learning from their behavior. “We wanted to communicate a different way that people could and should interact, which is with kindness and empathy versus anger hostility and violence,” the team said in their submission.

Teacher Training Workshop
A professional development day teachers training workshop on Youth Against Violence (YAV): Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls was held for 37 teachers on Friday, April 20 at the Society’s head office with the support of the Vancouver School Board and Status of Women Canada. Teachers learned about violence against women and girls, heard from guest speakers from Out in Schools and Westcoast LEAF, and engaged in discussion about how their schools could get involved.

International Program

Violence Against Women Needs Assessment
The Justice Education Society’s International Program works with Canadian experts to find ways to combat the growing number of crimes of violence against women in Central America. A collaborative approach among justice system personnel including police, prosecutors, judges and support workers in the community is required to succeed.

In March 2012, two Canadian experts –Susanne Dahlin and Rita Buchwitz – travelled to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras with the Society’s Central America Project Coordinator Anne Catherine Bajard to complete a needs assessment and produce recommendations on how to ensure a gender-sensitive approach in the Society’s Central America training program for police and prosecutors. The assessment and recommendations focused on dealing with crimes of violence against women. The Society will review the recommendations and develop a strategy to address this growing concern.

JES Welcomes Mexican Delegation in Cultural Exchange
On March 25, the Society welcomed a delegation of five Mexicans in a cultural exchange called “Mexico and Canada Partnering in Indigenous Justice Traditions”. This one-week exchange is the result of collaboration between the Society and The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives at the Embassy of Mexico.

The Society’s International Program facilitated a dialogue with a Mexican non-profit research centre called the Center for the Study of Law Teaching and Learning (CEEAD). The discussion encouraged the sharing of experiences related to the justice system for indigenous/aboriginal communities that both organizations have worked with.

A second purpose of the visit was to provide an opportunity for the delegation to learn about the First Nations’ people in BC, their justice practices, culture, some of the key legal issues they are confronting and interesting programs that have been developed for them. Both the Society and CEEAD are keen to explore ways to collaborate in future projects to strengthen the capacity of Mexico’s justice system.

Society News

Websites and Resources
The Society achieved a new milestone over the past fiscal year with more than 318,000 visitors to our 30 PLEI websites. The top 5 websites were:

The Society now has 74 videos online on YouTube, where we have over 20,000 video views.

Board of Directors
The Society welcomes the Honourable Terence Schultes and Darin Thompson as the newest members of the Board of Directors, and would like to thank Susan Dahlin (Member-at-Large), Melissa Gillespie, QC (Representing Ministry of Attorney General), and Erika Kasai-Ulrich (Representing Schools) for their service on the Board of Directors.

New Staff
In February, The Society welcomed Bethany Benoit-Kelly as Communications Coordinator. Bethany is a recent transplant from Alberta and is pleased to be putting her communications experience to work as part of the JES team.

JES International Program Newsletter
The Society’s International Program newsletter was distributed in March. Click here to read it. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please send an email to Bethany.BenoitKelly(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Mock Trials Are Back
Due to teacher requests, JES has reinstated bookings for mock trials at our Vancouver Law Courts, Lower Mainland West, Lower Mainland South Fraser, Victoria and Okanagan offices. You can book this activity at CourtVisit.JusticeEducation.ca.

Why do a Mock Trial?
Participants can learn the most about our justice system by experiencing it themselves in a simulated trial, called a “mock” trial. A mock trial is a definitive, dramatic, experiential learning opportunity. It develops advocacy skills and critical thinking in addition to providing knowledge about the law. Mock trials are good for all ages as they demonstrate how a trial works.

What Mock Trials are available?
There are several scripted and non-scripted mock trials available for your use.

Where do the trials take place?
The group will perform its mock trial in a real courtroom.

Charge for Facilitating the Mock Trial
There is a charge for facilitating the mock trial. Please bring a cheque with you on the day of your visit made payable to the Justice Education Society. A receipt will be issued.

• Standard mock trials (up to 75 minutes) - $100
• Advanced mock trials (75 minutes to 3 hours) - $200
• Groups can also rent robes to perform mock trials in their own school settings for $30

d

Resource Updates

Resource of the Month
Being an Active Citizen
Being an Active Citizen is a 5-year program with 10 lessons per year for Social Studies grades 7-11. It enhances curriculum on law, government and citizenship by teaching students about the political and justice systems in Canada and BC and giving them tools and confidence to be active citizens.

Being an Active Citizen also encourages students to participate in their community as active citizens. This approach is important as it allows students opportunities to engage in active citizenship activities over a number of years and, in doing so, builds their interest and skills. It also allows for the coordination of this teaching to coincide with citizenship week, local government awareness week, one world week and law week every year.

The main purpose of the program is to allow students to go beyond learning in the classroom and become actively involved in their community. This active engagement within different aspects of the legal system, government and civil society will animate the concepts learned in class, and highlight for the students the importance of these subjects within their own lives. Learn more about Being an Active Citizen online at BCcitizenship.ca.

You can download all of Being an Active Citizen’s resources online or order a free CD.

Website of the Month
The Law Project
LawProject.ca helps students learn about BC justice issues by integrating videos, images and text to provide learning resources that students can then work with to create their own videos to explain their view on a justice issue. Teachers can modify supplied lesson plans to deliver instruction that is customized to meet their needs.

Current Projects

The Society is working on a number of exciting projects right now. Many of these projects are due in March – so stay tuned for forthcoming news about:

ProvincialCourt.bc.ca
The Society has been commissioned to launch a completely redesigned BC Provincial Court website. The new look includes improved navigation and a clean interface that allows multiple audiences to access a range of information about the court.

LawLessons.ca
The Society will launch a new website for youth and parents, plus teachers and students. It will consolidate a number of current web resources and provide a single online destination to access a broad range of content.

Teacher Workshops
The Society is producing a series of workshops that will provide professional development opportunities for teachers. The workshops will be available starting in May. Be sure to check LawLessons.ca (in April) to discover available topics.

ISO Forms
Most Canadian provinces have cooperative agreements with each other and a number of additional jurisdictions regarding changing or creating child support orders. The Society is producing a series of FormSupport Guides to provide information about the forms and instructions on how to fill them out. We are also producing a guided support video to help separated parents understand what forms need to be completed, based on their specific situations.

Dispute Resolution
The Society is producing website content and a series of four animated videos that provide information about resolving disputes before they escalate. The resources will live on AdminLawBC.ca and be available at the end of March. In addition, the Society will be developing workshops to introduce administrative law intermediaries to these new resources and to examine how dispute resolution strategies can be integrated into current practices.

Child Support Resources
We are producing content to provide simple, plain language information about child support in BC. The information will present positive, “can-do” information on FamiliesChange.ca. Look for it in April.

International Programs
The International section of JusticeEducation.ca is being updated to describe the varied work of our International Programs. Information has been updated on our active projects in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Vietnam.

Program Updates

Justice System Education Program
Tamarah Prevost, a project assistant with JES, will facilitate the Justice System Education Program (JSEP) in our Lower Mainland South Fraser office for two days per week until the end of March.

JSEP provides an overview of the justice system. Participants visit the courthouse, speak with justice system professionals and experience court in action. To book a visit for your group – in Surrey or another location throughout BC – visit CourtVisit.JusticeEducation.ca.

International Program

Special Methods of Investigation
December 2011 was a significant month for the Society’s Special Methods of Investigation (SMI) project. After extensive preparation, new units for Forensic Video Analysis in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras were officially inaugurated, following the delivery of additional equipment. JES has trained personnel in the three countries, thereby helping create a regional network of forensic video analysts who can use standardized techniques and share expertise on the use of the tools available to them. To facilitate the units’ operation and knowledge sharing, a blog has been created, operational procedures have been developed and a procedures manual is being drafted.

In January, a joint mission representing JES and the RCMP travelled to Guatemala to carry out a needs assessment in the area of source development and management. In order to learn more about Guatemala’s current practices, procedures and resources, they held meetings with officials from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the National Civil Police, the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, and the National Commission on Police Reform. The assessment will provide the basis for the creation of a Source Development Unit, which is contemplated in the SMI project.

JES also organized a seminar on ballistics from January 21-24 in Honduras. The seminar, which was hosted with Canadian experts on forensic technology, was offered to members of Honduras’ Public Prosecutor´s Office and the National Civil Police. Attendees, including the Attorney General and the Minister of Security, learned about the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), how the system is used in Canada, and how it could aid criminal investigation in Honduras.

The Special Methods of Investigation project is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Criminal Investigation in Guatemala
In Quetzaltenango, JES has been undertaking a number of planning activities in the past months for the implementation of a model that will help coordinate prosecutors and police, allowing them to strengthen their capacities in criminal investigation. The National Civil Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office will be monitoring the model closely for potential replication throughout the country in future years. The project is now starting with renovations to the local police headquarters for an improved physical work environment. The renovated quarters will be used by JES in the future to train new investigators.

International Newsletter
The JES International Program’s newsletter will be emailed next month. You can email kevin.smith(at)JusticeEducation.ca to subscribe.

Courtlink Testimonials
Courtlinks are part of the Northern Native Public Legal Education Program, which is run out of our Northern Office in Prince George. The Aboriginal Youth-at-Risk component is designed for students enrolled in an alternate class situation or alternate program at the upper elementary or high school level. The program emphasizes property crime and or vandalism, violence/assault and lying but could also include racism, gangs, drugs and careers in the courts.

Recently, Annette Russell, the Society’s Aboriginal Programs Coordinator, received two testimonials from a teacher and principal whose classes participated in the program.

“…The more time our students spend with justice folks in a positive and non-confrontational setting increases the likelihood that they will see Justice Personnel as people who can help them in life, and not necessarily as adversaries…

“As always, receiving reference and resource documents well in advance of presentations or trips has made all of our experiences exceptional. Your planning, flexibility, good will and mature and humourous call for high expectations has been the cornerstone strength of working on these projects, Annette. This approach works well with our students, many of whom have experienced educational failure, have low patience for authority and tend to shy away from structured activities, particularly when plans fall through or when authority is blunt.

“Thank you for the opportunity to participate in CourtLink and related programs and I know that we will continue to look to you and the CourtLink resources, including web based resources, to provide our students with practical and relevant learning experiences that are key to their understanding of the structure and basic legal processes of our justice system…”

- Secondary school teacher and principal

“As a group, both adults and students, we came away from this workshop with a far greater understanding of the justice system, the roles that its’ constituent members play, our own rights and responsibilities, and perhaps most profoundly, how the choices we make daily in our lives have consequences, both personally and legally. We have the ability and the power to make sure those choices are positive ones, to help us grow and develop as individuals and citizens. There is no forgone quality to choices – we make them and are responsible for them.

“We are most appreciative of and grateful for the opportunity this workshop provided our group, to have a very personal and intimate experience with the justice system and the people and rules that underpin it…

“I have absolutely no reservations in fully supporting this Justice Education Society program. In more than twenty five years of teaching and administrating it stands out as one of the most useful and meaningful student experiences available.”

- Elementary and secondary school teacher

Events

Court Information Program for Immigrants Events
The Binh Luong, the Chinese and Vietnamese Court Worker for the Court Information Program for Immigrants, will be speaking and answering questions twice in February.

First, on February 4 at 10:10 am, he will be appearing on Fairchild Radio (AM 1470 or FM 96.1) about general legal information and administrative law. The program will be in Vietnamese.

And on February 18 he will be speaking at the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House (800 E. Broadway, Vancouver) about general legal information for Vietnamese Montagnard immigrants. The event is from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Pro-D Teacher Training Workshop
JES is holding a free Pro-D Day Teachers Training Workshop on “Youth Against Violence: Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls.” This program focuses on mobilizing youth groups across BC to plan awareness-raising events in their communities.

Workshop participants will learn about this program, which fits well with Social Justice classes but can also be adapted to a variety of settings. Teachers will walk away with ready-to-use lesson plans and teaching materials for grades 8-12. The Youth Against Violence program supports the We Can End All Violence Against Women BC campaign and is funded by Status of Women Canada under the Blueprints Initiative.

Date: April 20
Time: 9 am to 12 pm
Location: Justice Education Society classroom (260-800 Hornby St., Vancouver, BC)
Registration: Online at TeachersLawInstitutes.ca

Society News

The Society welcomes Jacqueline Wood as its new project manager, PLEI. Jacqueline’s experience in the legal community will be a great asset as she works on many exciting projects for JES.

In addition, Jaclyn Moore has joined JES as a project assistant. She had previously been a valuable volunteer for the Society.

JES is also very sad to say goodbye to Kevin Smith, its communications and events coordinator. We are currently accepting applications for the position.

Ghosts of Violence
Ghosts of Violence – a multimedia ballet created by the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada – is being performed in Vancouver on Dec. 1 and 2 to bring the issue of domestic violence against women into the spotlight. In Canada, 10 per cent of women are abused each year by a spouse, partner or boyfriend.

The performances take place at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 2 at the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre at SFU Woodward’s (149 W Hastings St, Vancouver). Tickets are $35; students and seniors pay $21. Purchase tickets online at WeCanBC.ca or call 604.873.3311.

“This is a difficult subject, it is very emotional to dance,” said Anya Nesvitaylo, who plays the lead female role. “I feel a huge responsibility in this ballet. This work is so important for everyone, everywhere.”

Beautiful dancing, choreographed violence and five multimedia screens present a powerful call for awareness, understanding and action.

“I can give these silent victims a voice,” said Artistic Director Igor Dobrovolskiy, who created the ballet. “I use a lot of symbolism because we want to create dialogue - we want people to see this performance and to talk about what they have seen.”

In addition to the performance itself, there will be a number of supplementary events, such as a dialogue with the creators of the ballet, local community groups and organizations that work on addressing violence in our community.

“These events provide the audience with an opportunity to discuss and learn about the ballet’s messages,” said Anastasia Gaisenok, project coordinator for We Can BC, which is bringing Ghosts of Violence to Vancouver as part of a three-year national tour.

Michael Boucher, director of cultural development and programming at SFU Woodward’s, added, “SFU Woodward’s Cultural Unit is thrilled to join forces with the We Can BC Coalition in presenting Ghosts of Violence, a ballet by the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada. This unique performance represents the struggles of women who have been victims of domestic violence and homicide. Through passionate storytelling, the performance will raise awareness and dialogue around a critical societal issue which is often overlooked.”

BCSSTA Conference
JES thanks all the teachers who attended our presentations or stopped by our table at the BC Social Studies Teachers Association’s Fall Conference. Many enthusiastic teachers learned about Being an Active Citizen and The Law Project. See you next year!

JES Work Presented by Rick Craig
Rick Craig, executive director of the Society, continues to be active across Canada in leading presentations that describe how JES is using technology to deliver legal education programs and resources.

On October 14, he outlined the Society’s self-help resources for the Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta. JES has received requests to adapt its resources for self-representing litigants from Albertan judges for use in their province.

Also, on December 6 Rick will participate in a panel titled Judicial and Security Sector Reform in Central America at the Ministerial Dialogue on the Americas, which is taking place in Ottawa. Rick will detail the Society’s work in the region, which you can read about here.

Take Your Kids to Work Day
On November 2, the Society’s Vancouver Law Courts regional office invited staff at the Vancouver Law Courts and Robson Square courthouses to bring their Grade 9 students to work. 55 students went courtwatching and heard speakers – including a court clerk, sherriff and Supreme Court justice – explain their careers in the justice system. In particular, Crown Counsel Linda Selbie MacDonald told an inspirational story about one of the youth she dealt with.

And in New Westminster on November 3, three law clerks facilitated a day for grade nine students. Seven justice system personnel spoke, including a Crown Counsel, defense lawyer and Justice of the Peace.

New Resources

Virtual Self-Help
On November 1, the Society started an exciting new project that will introduce virtual public legal education and information (PLEI) services to British Columbians. This will be accomplished by providing interactive, guided assistance on SupremeCourtBC.ca, SmallClaimsBC.ca and AdminLawBC.ca, and by launching online chat and telephone support for clients with civil matters in BC’s Supreme Court.

Working in cooperation with a range of PLEI organizations including the Ministry of Attorney General, Vancouver Justice Access Centre, Legal Services Society, PovNet, People’s Law School, Courthouse Library and others, the Society will develop resources and services throughout 2012, with the rollout of new virtual self-help tools and services in January 2013.

The Law Project
LawProject.ca launched in October. This multimedia website helps students learn about BC justice issues by integrating videos, images and text to provide learning resources that students can then work with to create their own videos to explain their view on a justice issue. Teachers can modify supplied lesson plans to deliver instruction that is customized to meet their needs.

WeCanGlobal.org
On November 25, the Society launched its latest website: WeCanGlobal.org. This new resource is the online home of the worldwide We Can End All Violence Against Women campaign. WeCanGlobal.org features information, news, history and Change Maker stories for 15 countries with active national campaigns. In conjunction with the website, the Society also launched www.Facebook.com/WeCanGlobal as a new online destination to provide information and recruit Change Makers into the campaign.

Youth Against Violence
The Youth Against Violence program, funded by the Status of Women and in support of the We Can BC Campaign, is continuing to run across BC. This program works to mobilize groups of youth in schools and communities to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. To date, training has been conducted in Nelson, Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island, and throughout the Lower Mainland.  Recruitment and training will continue on an ongoing basis across the province. Anyone interested in getting involved or learning more should contact Tamarah.Prevost(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Annual Report
Our 2010-11 Annual Report is now available online. Highlights include introducing over 20,000 students to BC’s court, serving over 5,600 immigrants through our Court Information Program for Immigrants and achieving over 270,000 visitors to our websites. You can also order a hard copy of the report by emailing Info(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Resource Updates

Resource of the Month
Though the Heavens Fall is a documentary that describes the Court of Appeal - what it is, what it does, and how it upholds values that are cornerstones of a free and democratic society. It highlights important changes, such as the introduction of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as gay marriage, and illustrates how concepts such as the rule of law and judicial independence are critical to the health of our justice system. A teacher’s guide is included.

Website of the Month
Are you a victim of or witness to a crime in British Columbia? VictimsInfo.ca will give you the resources and information you need to deal with the consequences of crime. Topics include Services for Victims, Reporting a Crime, Criminal Charges, Going to Court and Sentencing.

Program Updates

We Can End All Violence Against Women
In support of the We Can End All Violence Against Women BC campaign, JES Project Assistant Tamarah Prevost had the opportunity to attend the We Can Global Network conference in Nepal on October 28-29.

In addition to Canada, 14 countries were represented, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Burundi. Attendees learned about how the We Can campaign changes in so many diverse cultural contexts. The We Can Global Network was launched on November 30 and in years to come the campaign will work to have this day recognized worldwide as We Can Day – a day to support ending all violence against women. For more information about the campaign, and to learn about We Can Global, visit WeCanGlobal.org.

Society News

New Staff
JES is excited to welcome three new staff members to our team!

• Shadi Riahi – Administrative Assistant/Receptionist
• Daniela Ugarte – International Finance Assistant
• Elias Tekle – Senior International Accountant

Movember
Five JES staff members grew mustaches for Movember – the annual campaign to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. Together JES staff, family and friends raised over $1,100! A special thanks goes out to all Robson Square courthouse staff that supported our head office’s bake sale!

Holiday Hours
The Society’s BC-based offices will be closed to the public from December 23 until January 3. JES wishes all of our Justice In Our Times readers a happy holiday season!

ProvincialCourtBC.ca

JES is working with the Provincial Court of BC to produce a new and improved ProvincialCourt.bc.ca. A new design approach will help the site focus on the primary audiences it serves: the public, the legal profession and the media. The new look will go live early in the new year and, by Spring, ProvincialCourt.bc.ca will have a new judgements database that provides a more powerful ability to search decisions.

CourtofAppealBC.ca

JES is also working with the Court of Appeal for BC to develop a new website: CourtofAppealBC.ca. The online self-help guide will provide a broad range of information about BC’s most senior court, with a special focus on resources for self-representing litigants.

While the Court of Appeal is commonly known as the lawyer’s court, last year over 20% of applications were from self-representing litigants. New content, a series of guidebooks and video resources will provide a range of assistance for those seeking legal recourse regarding a disputed Supreme Court decision.

Supreme Court Guidebooks

JES has published two new civil Guidebooks on SupremeCourtBC.ca: “Discharge from Bankruptcy” and “Small Claims Court Appeals.”

These practical reference materials have been added to the collection of now 24 Guidebooks for Representing Yourself in Supreme Court Civil Matters.

We Can Global

JES has been hired to produce a new international website for the We Can End All Violence Against Women campaign. The new site will be located at WeCanGlobal.org and it will be the campaign’s first international presence online. It will launch on November 25.

The site will include global content, as well as a number of national micro-sites and a secure section for We Can staff to share private communications and resources. In addition, JES will be creating a global Facebook campaign to support the new website.

Interjurisdictional Support Order Guides

Interjurisdictional Support Orders (ISO) help claimants apply for a family law support order in another province, territory or country (where the other parent has moved) without having to go there. Claimants can also apply to change an existing order.

BC currently has 15 forms that can be used, on topics ranging from child support to evidence of parentage. Each form is accompanied by a FormSupport guide that helps users understand how to complete the forms.

The forms are being updated by the Ministry of Attorney General. In turn, JES is creating new FormSupport guides. In addition, the Society will be creating a form selection function that includes an animated character with guided pathways to help parents select the correct forms. Look for them to be online by January 2012.

Events

JES Webinars

JES will be leading two webinars on October 21. The webinars will be one hour in length and will enable social studies teachers throughout the province to access information sessions on two legal teaching resources.

The first webinar will be on our resource Being an Active Citizen, which contains five teaching resources for Social Studies grades 7-11. Law 12, Civics 11, First Nations 12 and Social Justice 12 teachers can also use the lessons for their programs. Each grade features about a series of lessons on the topics: Government, Law and Community Engagement. The goal of the resource is to help develop students as active citizens.

The second webinar will be on The Law Project - an interactive website which allows users to explore issues relating to human rights, social justice and the law. It meets the curriculum content requirements in Social Studies grades 9-11, Civics 11, Law 12, Social Justice 12 and First Nations 12. As students move through the site, they collect images and videos that can be used to make their own movies about their point of view on a variety of topics. There is also a teacher’s centre that includes matches to the learning outcomes, lesson plans, rubrics for assessment and student organizers.

We will be using UStream.tv to broadcast the webinars. October 21 is the province-wide professional development day for teachers  - so we hope you can join us. Pre-registration is required to receive some program materials prior to the webinars.

To register send an email to marylou.leung(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Ghosts of Violence Ballet

SFU Woodward’s and the We Can End All Violence Against Women BC Campaign present Ghosts of Violence - a ground-breaking multimedia ballet which brings the issue of domestic violence against women into the spotlight. The ballet, conceived and choreographed by the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, is an innovative and inspirational call for awareness, understanding and action.

This original ballet brings to life stories inspired by women who have died at the hands of a partner. Through movement, theatre, music and videography, this ballet captures their memory – their struggles, their hopes, their joys and our loss.

Performances will be supplemented by community displays, public dialogues and multi-media installations. For more information on the program and sponsorship opportunities contact admin(at)wecanbc.ca

Dates & Times
December 1-3
All performances at 7:30 pm

Location
Fei & Milton Wong Experimental Theatre (SFU Woodward’s)
Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W Hasting St, Vancouver, BC)

Tickets
Early bird tickets are available until October 31
General: $35 / Seniors and Students: $21 / Promo Code: WCBC
Call 604.873.3311 or purchase online through www.WeCanBC.ca

Pro Bono Going Public

JES participated in this year’s very successful “Access Pro Bono Going Public” event. It was held in Victory Square in Vancouver on September 9.

By the end of the day, about 200 Vancouverites received free legal advice from a lawyer. JES, Clicklaw and the Legal Services Society shared a table to provide free legal information. Popular referrals on the day included checklists from the Society’s Legal Help materials, SmallClaimsBC.ca and SupremeCourtBC.ca.

Law Clerk Appreciation Lunch

In June, the Society’s Vancouver Law Courts regional office hosted a Law Clerk Appreciation Lunch to acknowledge the support of Law Clerks through the year. The clerks volunteer in a number of roles for the office, including conducting school and community group orientation sessions, facilitating judges’ sessions, and leading mock trials.

Above from left to right: Law Clerk Zara Rahman, The Honourable Madam Justice Risa Levine, Law Clerks Angeline De Vera and Yichuan Wang, Vancouver Law Courts Regional Coordinator Tiffany Lee, Law Clerks Melania Cannon, Emily Lapper, Micah Weintraub, Jennifer Vallance and Peter Millerd, Vancouver Law Courts Regional Coordinator Danielle Horwitz.

Following is an excerpt from a speech given at the lunch by The Honourable Madam Justice Risa Levine, who is a judge for the Court of Appeal and a JES board member.

“You did all of this educational work within your own busy schedules and with a great deal of enthusiasm and skill. The students, teachers and our staff here at the Justice Education Society benefited from your experience and interest…

Thank you for constantly and consistently responding to the litany of requests to help with groups, and for always being so prepared. Your preparation for each of the programs you participated in was unsurpassed.

Your assistance has been greatly appreciated. Through your acts of volunteering, you have demonstrated your interest in, and commitment to, public legal education.”

Resource Updates

SmallClaimsBC.ca

JES is completing a significant revision to our popular SmallClaimsBC.ca website. We have expanded the content to provide information and videos that now apply to all British Columbians, rather than those just in the pilot locations of Vancouver and Richmond.

The site will be live in October and will include access to Small Claims Court forms (Filing Assistant and PDF forms), the rules, fees and procedural guides. In addition, the site will provide 8 instructional videos to help self-representing litigants navigate their way through Small Claims Court processes.

Resource of the Month: Getting Legal Help

In March, JES launched a series of online legal help resources along with Access Pro Bono, the Law Society of BC and Salvation Army Pro Bono Program. All of the resources are available in English, Punjabi and Chinese.

Videos

Three videos depict a legal expert answering questions for a group of new immigrants at a workshop. Topics include:

• Getting Legal Help
• Paying for Legal Services
• Preparing to Meet a Lawyer

j
Worksheets

Practical tools provide information and typical questions to help British Columbians address their legal issues.

• Meeting with a Lawyer
• Representing Yourself
• Unbundled Legal Services

j
Resource Directory

An extensive directory provides information about and links to numerous online, in-person and phone-based resources.

This project was funded by BC’s Ministry of the Attorney General.

Website of the Month

CourtsofBC.ca provides educational information and instructional videos about BC’s Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. In the videos Alex, a student interested in learning more about BC’s court system, speaks to three judges about the role and functions of the three courts. In addition to the videos, this resource also features downloadable student handouts and a Teacher’s Guide.

Law 12 Now Accepted at UBC

This year, UBC began accepting Law 12 for entry – which means that students can now use it to contribute to their GPA for their admission applications.

According to Peter Katsionis, a Law 12 teacher at Churchill Secondary School, this has increased enrolment in law classes by about 25% across BC.  It has also changed the classes’ composition – from students taking the course as an elective to students more focused on achieving higher grades.

With more Law 12 classes across the province, the Society’s regional offices may see an increase in the number of courthouse orientations, mock trials, judges’ sessions, etc. We will provide an update at the end of the school year!

Program Updates

Immigrant PLEI Consortium

On September 14 and September 22, the Immigrant Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) Consortium used webinars to reach and train over 150 Settlement workers from all over the Lower Mainland. The webinars are a very exciting way to use technology to easily reach people in the comfort of their offices.

Youth Against Violence

Youth Against Violence: Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls is an initiative aimed at engaging with youth across BC on violence prevention in their communities. This is a two-year project, funded by the Status of Women Canada that JES is leading in support of the We Can End All Violence Against Women BC campaign.

Program participants will have opportunities to acquire valuable skills and hands-on experience in leadership, workshop facilitation, and event planning, while learning about an array of issues related to gender equality and violence prevention.

JES is currently recruiting youth and adult mentors from the Interior of BC and Vancouver Island regions specifically, although we also have space for any teachers, students, and anyone working with youth across the province. If you are involved in social justice projects and clubs and are interested in learning more, contact Tamarah.Prevost(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

JES International Programs

The Society’s International Programs Summer Newsletter was emailed in August. You can read the newsletter and learn about our work in Central America, Ethiopia, Vietnam here.

Society News

The Society is happy to welcome Adriana Haakaus as our new International Program Assistant. Adriana brings with her many years of experience in communication and international work.

Also, JES is sad to announce that September 30 was Sandra Wilking’s last day as the IPC’s project manager. We wish her the best in the future.

Many JES employees now have new phone numbers: Evelyn Neaman (604-331-5428), Anne Catherine Bajard (604-331-5410), Edgar Morales (604-331-5426), Adriana Haakaus (604-331-5411) and Kathryn Rose (604-660-5123).

SmallClaimsBC.ca
Currently, SmallClaimsBC.ca provides an introduction to the Small Claims Pilot, which aims to ensure faster and earlier solutions to small claims cases.

The website will be updated on August 31 to feature information relevant to all British Columbians headed to Small Claims Court. Three new videos will be produced - on the small claims process, settlement conferences and collecting awards - and many checklists will be created.

The site’s current videos explain summary and simplified trials, mediations, trials and trial conferences. The site also provides access to all Small Claims Court forms and a video on how to complete them.

We Can Global Website
The Justice Education Society (JES) is now developing a new website for the We Can End Violence Against Women global campaign.

As an active coalition member of the BC campaign, the Society developed WeCanBC.ca. The global campaign’s new website will be WeCanGlobal.org. It will include information, news and events for the global movement as well as national campaigns. It will also integrate an international Facebook campaign.

The website will be launched during this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. Stay tuned for more information.

Justice Through Knowledge: A New Vision for Public Legal Education in Vietnam
Shot entirely in Vietnam, this documentary follows a delegation of Canadian and Vietnamese experts as they apply a model for developing public legal education. Viewers are invited into conversations about legal rights and obligations with women, farmers, and local community leaders and learn how public legal education can lead to justice through knowledge. It is available in English and Vietnamese and available for purchase for $20. It can also be viewed free online.

New Programs

Civil and Family Justice Committee
Rick Craig, executive director of JES, is a member of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil & Family Matters. The committee is comprised of justice system personnel throughout Canada and chaired by The Honourable Thomas A. Cromwell of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Rick will be chairing a working group on public legal education (PLE) triage and referral, which will examine best practices across Canada in developing PLE.

British Columbia is also represented on the committee by Mark Benton, QC, who is the executive director of the Legal Services Society, as well as Jerry McHale, QC, who is the assistant deputy minister with the Justice Services Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General. Both Benton and McHale chair other subcommittees.

Updates from the committee will be published in Justice In Our Times.

Events

Art in the Court
This year’s additions to Art in the Court were unveiled on June 14 at the Robson Square Courthouse in Vancouver. 34 pieces of art were contributed by students from 14 Vancouver secondary schools and two alternative programs.

Art in the Court is an ongoing partnership between JES, Vancouver School Board, and Robson Square Provincial Court that improves the atmosphere of the courthouse. The pieces of art were professionally framed by Hambleton Fine Arts Services and a grant from the City of Vancouver to honour its anniversary was instrumental in covering these costs.

In addition, King George Secondary School student Jacky Ngai was honoured by having his acrylic representation of the Vancouver Art Biennale’s blue trees chosen as the feature artistic work. I Can See the River Now was selected based on exceptional technical and aesthetic value.

The evening was emceed by The Honourable Judge Pedro L.J. de Couto, who is president of JES. Powerful speeches were delivered to students, parents, and special guests by Dr. Val Overgaard and Mr. Steve Cardwell from the Vancouver Board of Education, and The Honourable Judge Patrick Chen.

Judge Chen’s remarks at the reception were particularly impactful. Following is an excerpt, reprinted with his permission.

“You know, there is a link between art and the law, that is not always appreciated and often taken for granted.  We are fortunate to live in a country where all citizens enjoy individual rights and freedoms and where access to those rights and freedoms is enforced by a free and independent judiciary, operating in a system of justice based on the rule of law.

I think we sometimes forget and fail to appreciate that it wasn’t always like this.  The rights and freedoms which most of us now take for granted have evolved over a very long time.  In the long history of mankind, these rights and freedoms are recent and have existed for only a remarkably short time.  Even today, when you look at all the countries around the world, these rights and freedoms are enjoyed by only a very small minority of the world’s people.

I don’t know if you know this, but one of China’s leading artists – one of the designers of the famous “bird’s nest” stadium built for the Beijing Olympics - was recently arrested after producing works critical of the corruption in his country.  He has been imprisoned and held without bail or trial for months now.  In fact, artists in many countries where the rights and freedoms we enjoy do not exist, are persecuted for using their art to express thoughts, beliefs and opinions critical of the state.

Art does not exist in a vacuum.  Creative energy and original thought flourish in an environment of freedom and individual rights.  Your right to freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression is a fundamental right, guaranteed under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  In Canada, we have a society that values creativity and original works, and a legal system that protects, nurtures and rewards them through the concept of intellectual property…

… You young students stand at the cusp of blazing your own trail through life, but I want you to know that you have already made a good start on your life journey.  You have already made a difference.  This courthouse is a better place because of your talent and your contribution, and for that you have my heartfelt appreciation and that of our entire judiciary.  Thank you so much.”

Resource Updates

Annual Report
The Society’s 2010-2011 Annual Report is in production and will be published in August. Email kevin.smith(at)JusticeEducation.ca to receive a copy.

International Newsletter
The JES International Program’s newsletter will be emailed next week. You can email kevin.smith(at)JusticeEducation.ca to subscribe.

Resource of the Month
Your Human Rights in BC is a series of five videos – available in English, Mandarin and Punjabi - that teaches immigrants about human rights in BC and Canada. In the videos, workshop participants get answers to their questions about discrimination and learn more about their human rights.

Website of the Month
KidsBC.ca is an animated, highly interactive website designed to help BC kids experiencing parental divorce or separation. The virtual world of “Changeville” provides a range of information and activities for children aged 6-12 to explore alone or with one or both parents.

Program Updates

We Can BC in the News
Natalie Hill, a summer student with We Can BC, wrote a moving editorial in the Globe and Mail about her classmate Rumana Monzur, who was allegedly attacked by her husband in her home country of Bangladesh while on a break from her studies at UBC.

Court Information Program for Immigrants
On July 6, Binh Luong, the Court Information Program for Immigrant’s (CIPI) Chinese and Vietnamese court worker, delivered an information session for 40 Korean new immigrants. The audience, which included some families, learned about BC’s courts, the CIPI program, and the JES.

Binh will be delivering another session for Mandarin-speaking immigrants on September 8 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Burnaby Public Library (1st floor program room, 6100 Willingdon Ave.). The session will cover general legal information and Small Claims Court.

Staff News
JES is sad to announce the departure of three employees: Joan Brett, Heather Nyberg, and Glenn McArthur. The impact these individuals made on the Society will be felt for many years.

Francisco Del Castillo has been warmly welcomed to JES as its new Senior International Accountant.

Supreme Court Guidebooks
Two new Guidebooks for Representing Yourself in Supreme Court are being produced: How to Appeal an Order Made in Small Claims Court and Discharge from Bankruptcy. Both guidebooks will be hosted on SupremeCourtBC.ca, along with the 22 guidebooks already on the website.

Follow us on Twitter or Facebook to find out exactly when the guidebooks are uploaded to SupremeCourtBC.ca.

New Programs

Youth Against Violence
We are pleased to announce a new two-year project for violence prevention among youth funded by the Status of Women Canada. The Justice Education Society (JES) will be working with teachers and youth in schools (grades 6-12) to promote gender equality and non-violence as a part of the We Can End All Violence against Women BC campaign.

Program participants will have opportunities to acquire valuable skills and hands-on experience in leadership, workshop facilitation, and event planning, while learning about an array of issues related to gender equality and violence prevention.

We are currently looking for teachers and students involved in social justice projects and school clubs who would be interested in participating in this exciting initiative.

For more information contact Tamarah.Prevost(at)JusticeEducation.ca

Events

Art in the Court
Since 1995, the JES and Vancouver School Board have cooperated to hang student artworks in the Robson Square Provincial Courthouse.

Over the years, more than 200 art pieces have given thousands of people enjoyment and helped to inspire youth and parents dealing with family issues in the court.

This year, supported by the City of Vancouver, 34 pieces have been selected to celebrate Vancouver 125: Past, Present and Future.

In June, the JES will host a gala evening in the courthouse to unveil the works and congratulate the students. For more information, see Art in the Court.

Resource Updates

Resource of the Month: Legal Independence: It’s Your Right
Legal Independence: It’s Your Right is a free resource that uses real-life examples in an engaging, 10-minute video to help Civics 11, Social Studies 11 and Law 12 students understand the concepts of judicial and legal independence. A Teacher’s Guide is available. This project was developed in partnership with The Law Society of BC.

Website of the Month: GangPrevention.ca
GangPrevention.ca aims to prevent youth involvement in gang activity by distributing information and resources to parents, teachers and the youth. These resources de-glamourize the gang lifestyle and show youth the reality of gangs – a life of violence, drugs and criminal activity.

JES Resources Now Online
The JES has recently made many of its resources available online at www.JusticeEducation.

LegalPix
LegalPix uses symbols and pictures to depict various legal scenarios that assist persons with special communication needs and their instructors/caregivers in understanding BC’s justice system. Books are available online for the following subjects: Landlord and Tenancy, Victims and Witnesses of Crime, and a Preparing Victims and Witnesses for Court card set.

First Nations Journeys of Justice
With the vision of building bridges between the First Nations and Canadian systems of law, First Nations Journeys of Justice honours oral history and teaches concepts and practices of justice from the perspective of First Nations ways of knowing. The program contains modules for grades 1-7. Each grade contains three separate units, which should be done in order, as concepts and stories previously introduced are often reviewed in later units.

The Paisley Snail: Donoghue v. Stevenson
This case provides an excellent look into civil law and negligence. Designed for Law 12 as well as university and college students taking law courses, this entertaining video helps students understand the role of the courts in making laws. A teacher’s guide is included.

Society News

Victoria Law Day
The JES participated in Law Days in Nanaimo, Vancouver, Prince George and Kelowna.

In Victoria, almost 600 people attended, making the occasion one of the city’s most successful Law Days ever. Activities including a demonstration by the local police department’s K9 Unit, a public forum and a mock trail performed by children. The RCMP also hosted a “Walk-the-Line” station, where members of the public could try to walk in a straight line wearing goggles that simulated .07 and .17 blood-alcohol levels.

New Legal Help Resources Online
The Justice Education Society, in partnership with the Law Society of BC, Access Pro Bono, and the Salvation Army Pro Bono Program, has produced a series of new legal help resources in English, Mandarin and Punjabi. Online at www.CourtInformation.ca, the resources help British Columbians access legal services.

Videos
Three videos depict a legal expert answering questions for a group of new immigrants at a workshop. Topics include:

• Getting Legal Help
• Paying for Legal Services
• Preparing to Meet a Lawyer

Worksheets
Practical tools provide information and typical questions to help British Columbians address their legal issues.

• Meeting with a Lawyer
• Representing Yourself
• Unbundled Legal Services

Resource Directory
An extensive directory provides information about and links to numerous online, in-person and phone-based resources.

This project is funded by BC’s Ministry of the Attorney General.

Online Parenting After Separation
Parenting After Separation (PAS) workshops have been delivered in British Columbia since 2004. They provide a facilitated, three-hour session for separating parents to learn skills and strategies to better manage their family break-up.

To help reach parents in remote locations, the Justice Education Society has developed a comprehensive Online PAS course that covers the same topics as the in-person workshops.

The course is multimedia rich and includes videos, audio, text, worksheets and interactive exercises. Virtual facilitators guide participants through the course content to help them make positive decisions about the way they resolve their parenting issues after separation.

To view the course, visit www.FamiliesChange.ca and click “Online Parenting After Separation.”

Online PAS was developed in partnership and with funding support from the Department of Justice Canada and BC’s Ministry of the Attorney General.

Youth and Gangs Resources
The Justice Education Society (JES) hosted a series of workshops titled “Youth and Gangs” in February and March 2011 and the workshop resources are now available online. The workshops helped immigrant youth, parents and settlement workers understand the dangers of gang involvement and where they can get assistance. Over 400 people attended the workshops and the resources are now online.

Video
JES produced an educational video that illustrates the dangers of gang involvement. It presents a scenario where young gang members struggle with their criminal activities, feel threatened, and recruit another youth into their gang. The video is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish and Punjabi.

Factsheets
An interactive factsheet provides an overview about gangs in British Columbia. It describes who joins gangs, lies gangs tell, how to avoid getting involved and tips for parents. The fact sheet is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish and Punjabi.

Teaching Resources
To help teachers and students discuss the information in the video, a series of teaching resources have been produced: Video Discussion Questions, Facts About Gangs Quiz, and Facts About Gangs Quiz Answer Key.

This project is funded by BC’s Ministry of the Attorney General.

Human Rights Videos

The Justice Education Society and BC Human Rights Coalition have produced a series of videos that help immigrants understand their human rights in BC and Canada. Online at www.JusticeEducation.ca, five videos in English, Mandarin and Punjabi cover the following topics:

• Human Rights in Canada: An overview for newcomers
• Discrimination in the workplace
• Discrimination and renting
• Pregnant? You have rights
• Making a Human Rights Complaint

d
This project is funded by BC’s Ministry of the Attorney General.

Events

Free Public Film Screening
The Justice Education Society and We Can BC are partnering with numerous organizations to present Watch Your Drink - a free public film screening and forum on drug-facilitated sexual assault.

The event takes place on April 19 at SFU Harbour Centre. RSVP by April 15 to povaww2011(at)gmail.com.

This event is a part of the Provincial Prevention of Violence Against Women Week (April 17-23, 2011). For more information visit www.WeCanBC.ca.

Teachers’ Law Institute
On February 18, the Justice Education Society held Teachers Law Institutes in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. The subject of the Institutes was “Active Citizenship” and participants were introduced to Being an Active Citizen – a resource for teachers of social studies from grades 7 to 11.

Above: Former Attorney General Wally Oppal talks to participants at the Vancouver Teachers’ Law Institute.

Resource Updates

ImmigrantLegal.ca
ImmigrantLegal.ca has been updated with 24 videos from family law and domestic violence workshops the project organized last year. The workshops taught Settlement Workers, bilingual/bicultural counsellors and other people working with immigrants about family law and domestic violence.

Featured workshops include:

• An Introduction to the New Family Law Rules
• Immigrant Legal Resource Toolkit: Family Law and Domestic Violence
• Family Law and Domestic Violence: Experts Panel
• Intersection Between the Settlement Process and Domestic Violence

d
Also, the Frequently Asked Questions for the website’s Employment Standards and Residential Tenancy sections have been updated.

CourtTips Videos
These videos, hosted on SupremeCourtBC.ca, are designed for parents that are going to Supreme Court to change or vary a child support order. They prepare parents for what to expect in court, presenting your case, and avoiding the pitfalls of family matters. The videos have been updated to reflect the new Supreme Court Rules, which were implemented last July.

We Can BC
We Can BC’s website has been updated to include a Facebook “fanbox,” which displays the organization’s recent Facebook posts. You can also now donate online using a credit card or PayPal account.

The funds raised support We Can’s educational workshops, training for Change Makers in schools and communities, production of outreach materials, and the organization of public events that raise awareness and promote open dialogue on the issue of violence against women.

FamiliesChange.ca
This website’s Teens Section has been updated with a new, more user-friendly navigation. And the Kids Section now features a prominent link to KidsBC.ca – an animated, highly interactive website designed to help BC kids experiencing parental divorce or separation. The virtual world of “Changeville” provides a range of information and activities for children to explore and is targeted to children ages 6 to 12.

Program Updates

Youth Cadets Court Visit
The RCMP Youth Cadet Academy is an annual event that happens during spring break for School District #57 (Prince George). The RCMP Youth Cadets are a group of youth in grades 11 and 12 that have applied to learn more about the RCMP and what to expect at depot. These youth come from all over northern BC and are giving up their spring break to participate in this eight-day camp.

On the camp’s seventh day, the group visited the Prince George Law Courts, where Joan Brett, the Justice Education Society’s Northern Regional Coordinator, coordinated a day full of activities. Click here to read her recap.

Society News

Board News
On February 25, former Justice Education Society (JES) board member Margaret Ostrowski, QC received the Women Lawyers Forum Award of Excellence from the Canadian Bar Association’s BC Branch (CBABC).

The award celebrates the accomplishments of a woman who has succeeded in breaking new ground for women in the legal profession in British Columbia. It recognizes an exceptional woman who has taken risks, fostered change and opened doors for women lawyers.

Margaret spent much of her legal career working on access to justice issues including issues of importance to women lawyers. Among her accomplishments are, as CBABC President in 2000, sponsoring the President’s Forum “Creating Success—A Symposium for Women in Law.” As well, she established an association of women and the law which later became the Women Lawyers Forum.

JES joins her colleagues at the CBABC in congratulating Margaret for her outstanding achievement and wish her continued success in inspiring women lawyers throughout the province!

Staff News
The Justice Education Society is sad to say goodbye to a number of people who contributed significantly to many projects: Judy Feng, Jennifer Boundy, Dylan Mazur and Renico Van Wyk.

Just a Click Away Conference
The Justice Education Society collaborated with public legal education organizations across Canada to organize a conference called “Just A Click Away: A National Conference on Technologies for Public Legal Education & Information.”

The Conference took place on February 23 and 24 and included several well-received presentations by JES staff.

JES International Programs Newsletter
The Justice Education Society’s International newsletter was distributed in February. Click here to read it. To sign up to receive the newsletter, email Kevin.Smith(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Teachers’ Law Institutes
The JES, with the support of the Vancouver Foundation, is once again organizing a series of Teachers’ Law Institutes. These workshops provide teachers with an exceptional professional development opportunity for learning about the law and BC’s legal system. This year’s focus is on a new resource called Being an Active Citizen.

There will be four free workshops held on district-wide professional days in Vancouver (Feb. 18), Victoria (Feb. 18), Kelowna (Feb.18), and Prince George (Mar. 4). A copy of Being an Active Citizen will be given to each participant.

To register for an Institute and view its agenda, visit TeachersLawInstitutes.ca. There is limited enrolment so register now!

Immigrant Youth and Gangs Seminars
The JES will be hosting a number of seminars on immigrant youth and gangs in February and March. The focus of the presentations will be to help immigrant youth and parents understand the dangers of gang involvement and where they can go to get help.

There will be two training workshops for immigrant settlement workers, four community seminars for Punjabi, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese speaking communities and four youth forums. For more information on the dates and times of these events please contact us at 604.660.9870 or info(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

We Can BC Events in Victoria
The JES is pleased to present a number of events in Victoria in support of the We Can BC campaign.

We Can End All Violence against Women Workshop
This interactive workshop will explore different forms and types of violence, societal attitudes and beliefs that support them, and how change can happen. It takes place on Feb. 9 in Victoria.

We Can BC: Building the Movement
We are inviting representatives from various organizations, educators and community activists to learn more about the We Can BC campaign, and the ways to get involved locally. This workshop takes place on Feb. 9 in Victoria.

To find out where the events take place, event details and RSVP information, please visit We Can BC’s website.

These events are part of a provincial initiative funded by the Department of Justice Canada in support of the We Can End all Violence against Women BC campaign. For more information about this project, contact  Anastasia.Gaisenok(at)JusticeEducation.ca

Law Day
2011 Law Week events in British Columbia will be held from April 9 to 16. Law Week events include the popular Dial-A-Lawyer program, mock trials, a public speaking contest for students, free law classes, citizenship ceremonies, courthouse tours and a fun run and free public forum in Vancouver.

Law Day will be held in Victoria on April 16 at the Victoria Courthouse as well as in Nanaimo on April 9 at the Nanaimo Courthouse. Look for more dates in cities throughout BC to be announced on the CBA BC website.

Announcements

New Website Aims to Reduce Gang Violence
GangPrevention.ca launched in December, giving British Columbians resources to prevent youth from joining gangs. The website aims to prevent youth involvement in gang activity by distributing information and resources to parents, teachers and the youth. These resources de-glamourize the gang lifestyle and show youth the reality of gangs – a life of violence, drugs and criminal activity.

“Educating youth and their families about the perils of gang life is critical to keeping our children out of gangs and organized crime,” said Rich Coleman, former Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This new website showcases efforts to curb gang activity from schools and communities across B.C., as part of the provincial gang prevention strategy. It also provides a single point of entry for current, useful resources on gang prevention for youth, parents, teachers, caregivers and the public.”

The website features two sections. Youth, families and communities can access over 30 resources, including Steering Kids Away From Gangs: What Parents Need to Know, numerous videos that teach youth about the realities of being in a gang, and a Community Crime Prevention guide.

The second section allows teachers and service providers to access dozens of resources, such as a BC Gangs 101 webinar and Strength-based Approaches to Youth Gang Prevention in BC.

Additionally, the website features a list of service organizations that can help those affected by or at risk of gang involvement, such as crisis lines, victim services and police agencies. There is also a list of events focused on issues related to gangs.

“When youth visit this website they will find a wealth of information that will hopefully persuade them not to join a gang if they have been approached to do so,” said Rick Craig, executive director of the Justice Education Society. “It’s also important to provide resources for parents and teachers who spend a lot of time with these youth and can see the warning signs they exhibit before making choices that can lead them down this dangerous path.”

Designed and developed by the Justice Education Society, GangPrevention.ca is supported by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Community Assessment and Action Networks (CAANs) across BC. CAANs consist of service providers who work collaboratively to address youth gang violence and involvement in gangs.

New Supreme Court Videos
Three new videos have been added to SupremeCourtBC.ca! The first, featuring Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Bauman, introduces the court and website. The next video provides information about Supreme Court rules, procedures, and forms. In the last video, viewers learn about making or responding to an application in chambers. An application asks the court to make an order to resolve issues that come up in your case before it goes to trial and all applications before trial are heard in chambers.

New Small Claims Court Video
To complete the project, which added 10 new court forms that use the Ministry of Attorney General’s Filing Assistant, a new video tutorial was created. The how-to video describes how to complete Small Claims Court forms – in print, online and with the Filing Assistant.

LawConnection.ca
LawConnection.ca has been updated with a new issue: International Criminal Court. Learn about why the court was created, how it works, and the four crimes that the court can prosecute.

Each issue features a backgrounder written by a Law Clerk with the BC Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, as well as teaching resources created by SFU’s Centre for Education, Law and Society.

LawConnection.ca provides BC teachers and students with an opportunity to learn about important issues happening in the law today and a chance to engage in activities and discussions that enhance the learning process.

On Feb. 1, the website will be updated with its next issue, which covers Alcohol and the Law. And there are more updates coming! To find out when they happen, follow us on Twitter or Facebook!

Public Legal Education Conference
Just a Click Away - a national conference on technologies for public legal education and information – takes place on Feb. 23 and 24 in Vancouver.

The conference is aimed at those who provide and support public legal education and information (PLEI), and want to improve how the Internet and emerging technologies can be used to deliver PLEI. The conference will feature such themes as best practices for public legal education websites, evaluation of online PLEI, and using social media and web 2.0 technologies. The Society will be presenting at four of the sessions.

New look for CourtInformation.ca
CourtInformation.ca has been updated and revised to feature a new homepage design, new navigation and new resource listings. The website contains information on numerous BC and Canadian law in six languages: English, French, Punjabi, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. Topics include family law, civil law, BC courts and criminal law.

New Staff
The JES is very excited to welcome a number of new employees: Lisa Steacy (Receptionist/Administrative Assistant), Jennifer Boundy (Mexico Justice Project Assistant), Anne Catherine Bajard (Latin American Project Coordinator) and Edgar Morales (International Projects Assistant).

In addition, Kathryn Rose has taken a new position and is now the Society’s Administrative Coordinator.

Project News

Court Link Testimonial
The following testimonial comes from a two-day Court Link program recently held in Quesnel. Court Link programs address the justice-related issues of Aboriginal youth who are at risk for trouble with the law, school dropout and substance abuse.

“I found the Court Link program that our students participated in to be very informative and highly beneficial to the students’ understanding of the justice system. All of the students returned to the school and expressed enthusiasm for their involvement in the program. All our students learned the difference between criminal cases and civil cases. They particularly enjoyed the interactive, face-to-face discussions with the special guests that you invited to speak with us.

“Some of our students gained valuable career information. On return to the school two young men spoke about becoming Sheriffs, while another student spoke of becoming a lawyer and another a court clerk. Thank you for organizing this interactive, informative and worthwhile educational experience for our students.”

We Can BC in the News
Tamarah Prevost, who works for the JES on the We Can BC campaign, recently wrote an engaging editorial for the Georgia Straight about preventing violence against women.

Human Rights Videos
The JES is working with the BC Human Rights Coalition to produce a series of videos that will teach immigrants about their human rights in BC and Canada. There will be five videos produced in English, and each one will be available in Chinese and Punjabi.

Topics include:

• Human Rights in BC (overview)
• Protection from Discrimination
• Discrimination in the workplace
• Discrimination in tenancy and services
• Pregnant? You have rights

The videos will be posted on JusticeEducation.ca by March 31.

Pro Bono / Unbundled Legal Services Videos
The JES is producing a series of videos along with Access Pro Bono, the Law Society of BC and Salvation Army Pro Bono Program. These web-based resources will prepare clients to receive pro bono and unbundled legal services and will be in English, Chinese and Punjabi. Content will also be delivered via videos, fact sheets, checklists, on-screen text and video transcripts.

Topics will include:

• The Role of Lawyers and the Courts
• What Are Your Options?
• Preparing to Meet With a Lawyer

The videos will be posted on ImmigrantLegal.ca by March 31.

Year-End Website Numbers
The Society’s 24 websites received more than 254,000 visitors during 2010. Our three most popular websites were JusticeEducation.ca, SmallClaimsBC.ca and SupremeCourtSelfHelp.bc.ca.

These statistics are for the Society’s public websites only. The Society also maintains four websites that are password-protected so that only specified users can visit them.

Being an Active Citizen Project on Facebook
Being an Active Citizen provides information and resources for high school students to become active citizens and for teachers to access citizenship teaching resources. You can now follow the project on Facebook, where you will receive project updates and news stories about youth being active citizens in their communities.

Facebook & Twitter
Follow us on Twitter or Facebook to receive daily updates about justice news in BC as well as the JES.

The 2011 Institutes will take place at four locations in British Columbia. The sessions will cover Being an Active Citizen - a teaching resource that enhances present BC Social Studies curriculum on law, government and citizenship. The program educates students on their important role as citizens by providing them with knowledge and understanding of the structure and operation of Canada’s and BC’s political and justice systems. It also gives students tools and confidence to embrace active participation in the life of their communities. Being an Active Citizen is a sequential five-year program with 10 lessons per year for Social Studies grades 7-11. Learn more at BCCitizenship.ca

Upcoming Institutes

February 18, 2011
Vancouver (9:00 am)
Victoria (9:00 am)
Kelowna (9:00 am)

March 4, 2011:
Prince George (10:30 am)