International Programs Newsletter
The Society’s International Program released its Summer newsletter today. You can view the newsletter here. To subscribe to future editions, email Kevin.Smith(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Court Information Program for Immigrants
Binh Luong, the Chinese and Vietnamese Court Worker for the Society’s Court Information Program for Immigrants, will be delivering two public workshops in September.

On September 8, Binh will deliver a family law workshop for new immigrants that speak Chinese at the Richmond Public Library (100-7700 Minoru Gate) from 10am to noon.

And, on September 15, Binh will deliver a legal information workshop for new immigrants that speak Chinese at the SUCCESS office at 28 West Pender St in Vancouver from 10am to noon.

To learn more about the Court Information Program for Immigrants, visit www.CourtInformation.ca.

Transit Advertising
Advertisements for the Court Information Program for Immigrants were placed in bus shelters throughout Vancouver in August. There are also 100 ads placed in buses driving in numerous Lower Mainland communities and, beginning in September, ads will appear in 100 SkyTrain cars.

Have you seen one of the programs ads? If so, send your feedback to CIPI(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Facebook & Twitter
The Society has recently increased how frequently it publishes BC justice news on its Facebook and Twitter pages. Become our friend (Facebook) or follow us (Twitter) to receive links to 2-3 interested justice-related stories per day.

Project News

Online Parenting After Separation
The Society is currently developing an Online Parenting After Separation course for parents living in BC where no in-person sessions are held. The course will include a facilitator presenting the program, interactive activities and informative videos about the process of separation and divorce and its effect on parents and their children. Pilot testing will be conducted this fall and the final program will be launched in Spring 2011.

SupremeCourtBC.ca
SupremeCourtBC.ca was launched on July 1 and in its first two months has already received over 3,000 visitors. We look forward to this site becoming a go-to self-help resource. In August, another Judicial Review Guidebook was added to the site and Applications to Court was updated to reflect amendments to the new Supreme Court rules.

SmallClaimsBC.ca
SmallClaimsBC.ca is being further developed through two different projects. In the fall, 10 new “smart” forms will be integrated with the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Filing Assistant. We will also be expanding the site to include more information and videos for self-help representatives throughout the province.

Publications
The Society’s 2009-2010 Annual Report is heading to the printer this week! Find out the exact second you can order it (for free) by following the Society on Twitter or Facebook.

We also just received a large batch of Courts of BC – our teaching resource about our province’s three courts. To order the resource just in time for the new school year, visit www.JusticeEducation.ca, phone 604.660.9870 or email Info(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

To subscribe to the Justice In Our Times newsletter, email Kevin.Smith@JusticeEducation.ca

Supreme Court New Rules
On July 1, the Supreme Court of BC introduced new civil and family rules, which are meant to make the civil and family justice systems more responsive, accessible and efficient. The Justice Education Society has created a new series of guidebooks to reflect the rules changes.

Guidebooks for Representing Yourself in Supreme Court Civil Matters includes 22 new publications, with annotated forms attached. In addition, the Society will produce two news videos: Supreme Court Procedures, Rules and Forms, as well as Supreme Court Chambers Applications. The Society is also developing a series of short how-to videos which will provide guidance on completing Supreme Court civil forms.

SupremeCourtBC.ca
On July 1st, the Justice Education Society (JES) launched www.SupremeCourtBC.ca. This new website brings together a number of Supreme Court resources produced by the Society. The focus of the site it to provide British Columbians with an introduction to the Supreme Court and to make it easy for them to access key self-help resources. Along with the 22 new Guidebooks, annotated forms and Supreme Court videos (described above), the website will be the new home of Civil Case Tip Sheets, Court Tips for Parents, Family Law and You, Representing Yourself in CriminalCourt, and more.

JES In the News
The Legal Services Society’s Electronic Legal Aid Newsletter recently featured an article that detailed many of the JES’s programs and resources.

Vancouver Justice Access Centre
On June 15, Vancouver’s Justice Access Centre (Vancouver JAC) was officially opened. The Centre provides hands-on support for those with family justice and civil justice matters. The Vancouver JAC is led by the Ministry of Attorney General. Other agencies involved include the Mediate BC Society, Legal Services Society and several organizations that provide legal advice. The centre also links with other community and government services.

The centre’s focus is on solving problems through out-of-court settlements, but also to better prepare those who do go to court. This broader approach will allow staff to recognize and help solve the social problems that often accompany clients’ legal problems.

In addition, the Supreme Court Self-Help Centre is now called: JAC Self-help and Information Services. As a result of these changes, www.SupremeCourtSelfHelp.bc.ca was updated and a broader range of information is now available online. The Society has worked closely with the Ministry of the Attorney General to revise the site and we look forward to further improvements to this popular online resource.

Facebook & Twitter
The Society has recently increased how frequently it publishes BC justice news on its Facebook and Twitter pages. Become our friend (Facebook) or follow us (Twitter) to receive links to 2-3 interested justice-related stories per day.

We Can BC Volunteers
Volunteer with We Can End All Violence against Women this summer! If you are interested in women’s rights and social justice, and want to have fun while you make a difference, then participate in the organization’s festival and concert displays.

This is an excellent opportunity if you want to make a positive change, become a part of the We Can family, and are interested in doing outreach and advocacy for We Can. Learn how to effectively communicate and engage the public on the issue of violence against women at festivals and concerts this summer!

Contact Tess.Gregory@JusticeEducation.ca for information about this exciting volunteering opportunity. For more information on the campaign, visit www.WeCanBC.ca. The JES is a coalition partner of We Can BC.

Project News

Oral Trial Techniques
This month, the Justice Education Society (JES) organized a ‘Train the Trainers’ course on Oral Trial Techniques as a component of the Canadian International Development Agency’s project in Guatemala. Five judges and four prosecutors took part in this two week-long training, as did the Society’s Central America Coordinator and Vice-Coordinator, a representative from CAFCA (the project-implementing body in Guatemala), and three guests from the office of El Salvador’s Attorney General.

The training program was developed by JES experts to reflect Guatemala’s legal reform needs, which were determined through exchanges both to and from the country in July 2009 and January 2010.

The program thoroughly examines pre-trial case preparation as well as case presentation at trial. It included many discussions comparing the Canadian and Guatemalan court systems and procedures, and of how Canadian best practices could help improve and expedite these procedures in Guatemala. Canadian investigative experts joined BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges to share their experiences with their Guatemalan counterparts.

This training initiates the third phase of the project in Guatemala; in the future it will be adapted to be continued in El Salvador and Honduras.

Helen Mack Event
On May 10, over 70 people attended a presentation by Helen Mack Chang, a Guatemalan human rights advocate who was recently nominated to become the Commissioner for Police Reform in Guatemala.

The event, which was organized by the Justice Education Society (JES), began with an impassioned presentation by Helen on the current realities of Guatemala. She covered many topics, including the growing violence in Guatemala and the urgent need for justice reform.

Helen then fielded lively questions from the audience including many from Guatemalans who have immigrated to Vancouver following the civil war. Questions included her vision for a less violent country, her plans for reforming the police sector, and whether she fears for her personal safety if she takes on this position.

Helen founded the Myrna Mack Foundation after her sister, a social anthropologist and human rights activist, was brutally assassinated by the Guatemalan military in 1990. The Foundation combats impunity in Guatemala and contributes to the modernization and democratization of the country’s justice system.

Funding for this event was generously provided by the Canadian International Development Agency.

Staff News

It was with sadness that the Society recently bid adieu to three interns who contributed greatly on many projects: Tamana Sediqi, Emily Gorham and Judy Feng.

And, on the other hand, the Society is excited to welcome a group of new interns: Rebecca Gu and Jessica Magalios will be assisting the International Team, and Dušan Despot is working with the Communications Department.

The task of continuing to parent while working through the legal, emotional, social and financial turmoil of the separation process can be very difficult. The goals of these workshops are to assist parents to understand how to address the financial issues connected with separating and how to develop business-like strategies for dealing with these issues, both immediately and for the long term. All workshops include some of the following topics:

• Becoming financially independent
• Dealing with your ex and your children about money
• Dealing with budgeting and debt issues
• Child Support, spousal support and property/asset division issues
• Useful resources and self-assessment tools

Pre-registration Required
Child Care services are NOT provided
Parents will be registered in separate sessions

CALL

Justice Education Society
Local: 604-775-0856
Toll Free: 1-800-775-0856

*** PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT PORT COQUITLAM IS NOT WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY***

CourtInformation.ca
The Society’s Court Information Program for Immigrants has a new online home. CourtInformation.ca provides information on a variety of topics – from Canadian Law to BC Courts and Family Law.

The website features numerous videos, links to online resources, as well as translated information from the popular resource Learning About the Law in six languages: English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Spanish and French.

The Court Information Program for Immigrants eliminates language barriers to BC’s courts by providing free information and referrals to new immigrants and refugees appearing in court.

ImmigrantLegal.ca
The Immigrant PLEI Consortium (IPC) also has a new website – ImmigrantLegal.ca. The IPC is a collaboration of 12 organizations working together to improve the delivery of public legal education and information (PLEI) to immigrants.

The website features a wealth of information on the two topic areas the IPC focused on during year one: employment law and residential tenancy law. Resources include fact sheets, frequently asked questions, workshop videos and an online, interactive map of service organizations.

Victoria Office Reopened
The Justice Education Society has reopened its Victoria office and is now offering services on a limited basis.

Effective immediately, the office will provide services to schools and community groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. These services are part of the Society’s Justice System Education Program, which includes courtwatching, court orientations, mock trials, judge/lawyer sessions as well as career and personal planning.

The office had been closed since August due to funding cuts by the provincial government. The reopening is made possible by funding provided by the Victoria Bar Association and by the Notary Foundation of BC. In January, the Victoria Bar Association urged its members to donate to the Society and agreed to match the donations on a dollar-for dollar-basis.

Event: Human Rights in Guatemala: A Challenging Reality
The Justice Education Society invites you to a free presentation by Helen Mack Chang, a Guatemalan human rights advocate and Commissioner for Police Reform in Guatemala. The event takes place on May 10 at 7pm in Room 7000 at SFU at Harbour Centre (15 West Hastings Street, Vancouver).

Helen Mack Chang founded the Myrna Mack Foundation after her sister, a social anthropologist and human rights activist, was brutally assassinated by the Guatemalan military in 1990.

The Foundation combats criminal impunity in Guatemala and contributes to the modernization and democratization of the country’s justice system. Helen has battled state structures that conceal human rights violations and revealed corruption between state officials and organized crime and drug trafficking.

Space is limited. RSVP to 604.660.0588 or RSVP@JusticeEducation.ca by May 7. For more information, visit www.JusticeEducation.ca/International/Events.

MOU Signed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Honduras
The Justice Education Society’s Strengthening Effective Justice Systems project continues to expand in Central America. In February, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Honduras. It was a great honour to have Peter Kent, Canada’s minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas), attend the MOU signing. MOUs mark a commitment from local authorities that is essential for the project’s efficient implementation and sustainability.

Fundraising Gala & Dinner
You are invited to a fundraiser for We Can BC named Uniting Diverse Communities to End Violence against Women. The colourful evening will feature multicultural entertainment, fusion cuisine dinner and a silent auction. There will also be door prizes and community display tables.

The event takes place on May 28 at the Pearl Palace (201-13030 76 Ave., Surrey). Doors open at 6pm and the program begins at 7pm.

Tickets are $50 per person or $400 per table of eight. Contact Admin(at)WeCanBC.ca or 604-760-5727 for sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets.

Speakers at the event will include Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour and Indira Prahst, a sociology instructor at Langara College. There will also be a theatrical performance by New World Theatre.

Web 2.0
The Society is now posting its events and BC justice news on its Facebook page. Visit www.Facebook.com/JusticeEducation to receive the updates and help build our community of “fans.”

Staff News
Iain Henderson has joined the Society’s Finance Department as the new Accounting Clerk. He will be working Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and can be reached at 604.660.5123 and Iain.Henderson(at)JusticeEducation.ca.

Margarita Virata Santos, the Parenting After Separation programs administrator, has a new phone number. She can now be reached at 604.660.8409.

Project News

Downtown Community Court Videos
Three new public legal education videos on Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court (DCC) can now be viewed:

• Introduction to the DCC
• How it Works
• Involving Community

The court, the first of its kind in Canada, takes a problem-solving approach to dealing with offenders who may have issues with health, homelessness, and drug addiction.

AdminLawBC.ca Now Multilingual
AdminLawBC.ca, Canada’s premiere website on administrative law, has extended its audience by adding information and videos in four languages – English, Chinese (Simplified), Punjabi and Spanish.

Users can now read information and watch instructional videos in their own language to learn more about administrative law, tribunal hearings and preparing a case.

Justice System Education Program
Supreme Court Justice Mark McEwan recently featured the Society’s Justice System Education Program in an article he wrote for the Vancouver Sun. The Society filmed four judge sessions and provided transcripts to Justice McEwan, who used the information to write the article. The videos are currently being edited and will be available to teachers by Fall 2010.

Though the Heavens Fall Screening
On March 22, over 50 people viewed a free screening of Though the Heavens Fall – a documentary celebrating the BC Court of Appeal’s 100th anniversary. The film was very well-received and followed inspiring speeches from the Honourable Judge Pedro de Couto, the Society’s president, as well as the Honourable Chief Justice Lance Finch of the Court of Appeal.

The DVD and Teacher’s Guide can be purchased for $20. You can also view the film’s trailer. The film will also be played on the Knowledge Network on April 30 at 7pm as well as May 3 at 11pm. In addition, a book has been written by Christopher Moore, a well-known writer of Canadian history and the author of several works of legal history, to commemorate the anniversary.

Being an Active Citizen
This project is moving into the implementation phase as teaching resources for BC Social Studies grades 7 to 11 have been completed. By learning about the law and how government functions, students will understand how they can participate in decisions being made in their communities.

BCCitizenship.ca, the project’s website, will be re-launched with a new design in May. Teachers and students will be encouraged to share their active citizenship experiences on the website as well as the project’s upcoming Facebook page. Teachers will be able to download the project’s teaching resources from the website.

Stomp Out Violence Run
On April 7, We Can BC partnered with Dr. Roz’s Healing Place to organize the Stomp Out Violence Cross Country Run. The Justice Education Society is a Coalition Partner of We Can BC.

The Society hosted a news conference to launch the event. Dr. Roz Roach, executive director of Dr. Roz’s Healing Place, Rick Craig of the Justice Education Society and Miriam Palacios of Oxfam Canada (which is also a Coalition Partner of We Can BC) spoke about the impact of violence and the need to prevent it. They were then joined by colleagues and supporters on the 20 km run – two laps of Stanley Park’s Seawall.

The run is part of a national fundraising campaign to build the Changa House - National Youth Centre for Change in Scarborough, Ontario. The Youth Centre will provide long-term programming for Canadian youth and youth-at-risk.

New Resources
The Society has produced many new resources to promote its programs and websites as well as educate the public. This includes a Courts of BC brochure and promotional cards for VictimsInfo.ca, KidsBC.ca, SmallClaimsBC.ca and “Resources for Parents.” Contact us (604.660.9870) if you would like to display these resources in your office.

The site is the result of four years of research and development with collaboration from national leaders in law, education, community service and disability. It serves all Canadians interested in improving legal and justice systems across the country.

The reception will be hosted by Reach Canada and will take place at the Justice Institute of British Columbia at 555 Great Northern Way from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday March 11, 2010. There will be a short presentation and refreshments will be served.

Space is limited for this gathering, so please RSVP your availability by email to Mr. Blake Williams; he may be reached at lmsi@shaw.ca.

Children & Parents After Separation
The Justice Education Society has developed a new, FREE workshop to help parents make informed decisions about their separation and help their children cope with a family break up. Children & Parents After Separation is a certificate-granting pilot program that provides a whole-family learning alternative to Parents After Separation. The program is offered in Vancouver and New Westminster on a first-come, first-serve basis. Space is limited. Register online or contact us (604.660.5123) for more information.

Justice Brenner Tribute Dinner
On January 21, a tribute dinner was held for the recently-retired Honourable Donald Brenner, Q.C. The event was a fundraiser, with a portion of ticket proceeds donated to the Justice Education Society and Access Pro Bono. The evening was a fabulous tribute to the personal accomplishments of Justice Brenner and the Society was honoured to be part of the event.

Justice Education Society Donations
The Society is a non-profit organization that has been pioneering public legal education in British Columbia for 20 years. At this moment, the Society is facing the greatest challenge in its history regarding programs for BC schools. This year, funds were cut by over 60% and we have been forced to close regional offices. Donations support our mission to improve access to justice in BC and will help us to continue services to BC youth. All donations over $25 receive a charitable tax receipt. You can donate online or contact 604-660-9870 for more information.

Justice System Education Program
The Society’s most popular program introduces British Columbian to our courts. Participants visit the courthouse, speak with justice system professionals and experience court in action. Schools, ESL classes and community groups can now book online.

Currently, the following court locations are available for booking:

• Victoria
• Vancouver- 800 Hornby Street
• Vancouver- 222 Main Street
• North Vancouver
• New Westminster
• Port Coquitlam
• Surrey
• Abbotsford
• Chilliwack
• Kamloops
• Kelowna
• Prince George

Here is a recent testimonial from a Law 12 teacher who took his class to our Okanagan office to go courtwatching:

Thank-you so much for hosting my class today.  You did an excellent job and I know the kids really appreciated it.  At times they can be a bit unruly but they were saying nothing but positive things about their court visit on the way back.  It was a big hit and I have you to thank for organizing all of this :)  It helps them big time when they can see a real-world example of something they are learning.  Law is a difficult course for some of these alternative ed. students, but I know they will do better because of what they learned today.

International Team Events
The Justice Education Society’s International Team is bringing Semhal Getachew, an Ethiopian human rights lawyer and activist, to speak at several events surrounding International Women’s Day in March.

International Women’s Day: Women’s Voices at the Table, which takes place on March 6, is organized by the Society’s International Department, We Can BC and other organizations. The event will recognize the importance of women’s voices in local and global decision-making.

Getachew will also be speaking on femicide and violence against women in relation to the Highway of Tears at the University of Northern BC on March 9. The event is named Women’s Silenced Voices: The Issue of Femicide from Ethiopia to the Highway of Tears.

Free Screening: Though the Heavens Fall
The Society is hosting a free screening of Though the Heavens Fall, a film commemorating the BC Court of Appeal’s 100^th anniversary. The event will take place on March 22 from 6pm-7pm, at UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street). Please RSVP (604.660.0588) by March 19.

Project News

Downtown Community Court
The Society has completed its project to produce three new public legal education videos on Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court (DCC):

• Introduction to the DCC
• The DCC – How it Works
• The DCC – Solving Problems

The court, the first of its kind in Canada, takes a problem-solving approach to dealing with offenders who may have issues with health, homelessness, and drug addiction. The videos will be published in March at www.CommunityCourt.bc.ca.

Supreme Court Self Help
The Society is developing new guidebooks on the upcoming rule changes at the Supreme Court of BC. In January, the Society took over the management and maintenance of the Supreme Court Self Help Centre’s website. This popular website provides help for self-representing litigants with civil or family matters. It is the primary resource for staff working at the Supreme Court Self-Help Information Centre and the home of the guidebooks.

Most Popular Online Legal Resources in 2009
Last year, over 150,000 visitors were able to get legal information on websites produced by the Society. We are a leader in developing online legal publications and in 2009, our top five websites were:

KidsBC.ca Getting Great Reviews
Kids experiencing a parental divorce or separation have given some great feedback about KidsBC.ca, a website the Society created to help them cope with the emotions of going through a family break up. Kids explore Changeville, an animated town with information and activities that help them understand that they are not alone. There is an online feedback form and some comments include:

• I love it, my parents are divorced and since I’ve signed up for Changeville I have changed.
• I think this site rocks. It really helps me sort through what I am feeling in my life, and tells me that I am not alone. Keep it up…there should be a site like this for adults too.  I’m sure it would help them.
• I think it is a very good website, it helped me alot to know I’m not the only one and good tips of what to do.
• Wow, This website is amazing!!  I’m a social worker, and I see children of divorce all too often. This will be a very helpful tool.

Staff News

Victoria Office Re-Opens
With fundraising support - especially from the Victoria Bar - Sylvia Sangha has returned and re-opened the Justice Education Society’s Victoria office. The office will be open Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. Sylvia can also be contacted on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Rick Craig Joins Governor General on State Visit
Rick Craig, the Justice Education Society’s executive director, was invited to be part of the Governor General’s State visit to Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica from December 6-15. Rick has been documenting the trip on the Governor General’s website.

He detailed Guatemala’s struggle with an extremely high level of violence and documented his experience speaking on a panel about the rights of indigenous women in Chiapas, Mexico. State visits by a governor general play an important role in Canada’s relations with other countries. They are the highest form of diplomatic contact, and they mark further developments in bilateral relations and exchanges among peoples.

Rick and other delegates on the trip interacted with their Mexican, Guatemalan and Costa Rican counterparts as well as played an active role in Their Excellencies’ meetings with civil society.

The Honourable Donald Brenner, Q.C. – Tribute Dinner
On January 21, a tribute dinner is being held for the recently-retired Honourable Donald Brenner, Q.C. The event is also a fundraiser; a portion of each ticket sold will be donated to the Justice Education Society and Pro Bono Law of BC/Western Canada Society to Access Justice. The night is hosted by The Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch, The Law Society of BC, UBC Law Alumni Association, and the Vancouver Bar Association. For more information, please contact Meghan Kavelman (604.646.7855).

We Can BC
This year’s “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence” ran from November 25 to December 10. The campaign kicked off with a press conference at the Vancouver Public Library and the launch of www.WeCanBC.ca, which was redesigned by the Justice Education Society. This year, the We Can BC campaign added several significant endorsers, including the City of Vancouver, the City of Burnaby and BC’s NDP caucus. Visit the website to register as a Change Maker and go to Facebook to show your support.

Court Visit – Online Booking System
On January 5, the Society will launch a new booking system at www.JusticeEducation.ca which will enable groups to book court visits online. At courthouses where the Society has regional coordinators, groups can participate in Court Orientations, Courtwatching and Mock Trials as well as sessions with judges, lawyers and other court personnel. In addition, through the Society’s Court Education Network, groups will be able to book their visit to a number of other BC courthouse locations. Visit our website in January to learn more and book your group’s court visit online.

Though the Heavens Fall
Produced by the Society in partnership with the Knowledge Network, Though the Heavens Fall will be broadcast on January 5 at 7pm as well as January 13 at 11pm. The film was produced to mark the 100th Anniversary of the BC Court of Appeal. The companion Teacher’s Guide will be distributed along with the DVD to Law 12 teachers in January. You can view a videoclip from the movie on the Knowledge Network’s website.

Legal Independence: It’s Your Right
Legal Independence: It’s Your Right, a new, free resource created by the Society and The Law Society of BC, has been extremely well-received. Global BC covered the publication’s launch at a Windsor Secondary Law 12 class and it was also featured in the Prince George Citizen.

Legal Independence: It’s Your Right 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.

Both the resource video and teacher’s guide are available for free online as well as for order.

New Publication
The Society’s 2008-2009 Annual Report is now available. Last year saw many accomplishments and challenges. View the online PDF to learn more.

Project News

Being an Active Citizen
Schools throughout the Lower Mainland and Victoria are almost finished piloting Being an Active Citizen - a new resource that will better prepare students to be informed and engaged citizens in their communities. The pilots are being held in two elementary and 10 secondary schools in six school districts. More than 650 students in 23 classes will be providing their feedback.

Being an Active Citizen teaches Social Studies students in grades 7-11 about their important role as citizens. They learn about the structure and operation of government and their justice system while gaining experience with tools that can be used by active citizens, such as petitions, election ballots and letters to the editor. The pilots will end in early January and the final materials will be distributed to schools in Spring 2010. For more information, including how to write your own letter of support for the project, visit www.BCCitizenship.ca.

Children & Parents After Separation
Materials for the Children & Parents After Separation program are nearing completion. Pilots of the program, which will be offered as a whole-family alternative to our Parenting After Separation program, begin on February 6. The program includes information for children, youth and parents about the ways in which children and youth respond to a parental separation or divorce, their age-specific needs as well as how to communicate with and support them. If you are a facilitator and would like to lead the program’s sessions, contact Margarita Virata Santos (604.660.5123) for more information. Parents who would like to register for the pilot sessions can contact 604.660.9870.

Teachers’ Law Institute
On November 17 the Society’s Lower Mainland West office hosted a Teachers’ Law Institute. Sixteen teachers learned about a variety of law-related topics, including drug treatment and the Downtown Community Court. The participants also went courtwatching and had much meaningful dialogue between the panels of provincial court judges, Crown and Defense Counsel and other justice system personnel.

Supreme Court BC
The Society has started work on a project to provide public legal education regarding the upcoming rule changes at the Supreme Court of BC. In May, the Society will publish a series of Self-Help Guidebooks that will describe the new process for civil matters at the Supreme Court, which will be introduced in June. In addition, a website and instructional videos will be launched at SupremeCourtBC.ca.

Downtown Community Court
The Society has almost finished producing three informative videos on Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court. Celebrating its first year in operation, the court takes a problem-solving approach to dealing with offenders who have issues with health, homelessness, and drug addition. The videos will be published at the end of January at www.CommunityCourt.bc.ca

Immigrant PLEI Consortium
The Immigrant Public Legal Education & Information (PLEI) Consortium has held five Cross-Sectoral Workshops throughout the Lower Mainland. These workshops focused on bringing together representatives from PLEI agencies, legal service providers, settlement agencies, government services, and community organizations to identify service gaps and opportunities as well as strategies and activities that would improve PLEI delivery in the areas of employment law and residential tenancy law.

The PLEI Consortium is a two-year pilot project that will design a model for more effective delivery of PLEI for immigrants in Metro Vancouver so that they can better address their legal needs and have a better awareness of core Canadian legal values. The project is a collaborative partnership between 12 organizations with Justice Education Society as the lead agency. For more information contact the project manager, Sandra Wilking (778.968.3732).

Training of Trainers on Crime Scene Investigation in Guatemala
After the successful implementation of Phases One and Two of the Building Effective Justice Systems Project in Guatemala, October 5-17 marked the project’s beginning in El Salvador and Honduras. A Phase One - Crime Scene Investigation course on evidence collection and participation in real crime scenes was held for 18 professional prosecutors, police and investigators. This “Training of Trainers” begins a replication process whereby these 18 participants will now return to their countries and train their colleagues in these learned skills.

Strengthening the Judicial Sector in Vietnam
The Society’s international department is working as a contractor on a Judicial Development and Grassroots Engagement Project in Vietnam. The project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, implemented by Agriteam Canada, and is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Supreme People’s Court in Vietnam. The project’s main goal is to strengthen Vietnam’s judicial sector capacity in support of more transparent and accountable governance.

It’s Time Screenings
In November, 216 people attended two screenings of JES International’s stunning documentary It’s Time: African Women Join Hands Against Violence at the Diverse Voices Conference in Edmonton. The Diverse Voices Conference is one of the largest of its kind in Western Canada for those who provide services to people experiencing family violence and the It’s Time documentary was referenced by the key note speaker in her address. It’s Time tells how the unique partnership between the Society and two African organizations is working to combat an epidemic of domestic violence in Ethiopia and South Africa.

Staff News

Jerusha Renteria, the Spanish Court Worker for the Court Information Program for Immigrants (CIPI), has left the Society. We will miss her sense of humour, enthusiasm and dedication to helping make BC’s court accessible for immigrants.

The Society welcomes Miriam Morgan as the CIPI program’s new Spanish Court Worker. She will be based at the Vancouver Provincial Court (222 Main Street, Vancouver).

Anna Wiebe, the Society’s Receptionist/Administrative Assistant, has also left. Anna’s teamwork, professionalism and organization skills will be missed.

The Society also welcomes Kathryn Rose as our new Receptionist/Administrative Assistant. Kathryn’s positive attitude and experience working in the non-profit sector will no doubt ensure a smooth transition for her.

The Honourable Donald Brenner, Q.C. – Tribute Dinner
A tribute dinner for The Honourable Donald Brenner, Q.C., is being held on January 21, 2010. The event is also a fundraiser; a portion of each ticket sold will be donated to the Justice Education Society and Pro Bono Law of BC/Western Canada Society to Access Justice.

The night is hosted by The Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch, The Law Society of BC, UBC Law Alumni Association, and the Vancouver Bar Association. For more information, please contact Meghan Kavelman (604.646.7855).

KidsBC.ca
KidsBC.ca has launched! The site provides kids experiencing a parental divorce or separation with an online resource to help them deal with a family break up. The site has been receiving positive feedback. For example: “Thanks so much for this great resource - I am a child therapist and will use this as a tool with kids going through this difficult time in their life.”

Legal Independence: It’s Your Right
Legal Independence: It’s Your Right is a new, 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. Order this publication.

Being an Active Citizen – Law, Government & Community Engagement in BC
Being an Active Citizen is a set of resources that enhances the current Social Studies curriculum for grades 7-11. The activities will build students’ knowledge in the topics of law and citizenship so they are:

• Better informed citizens who understand the structure and operation of Canada’s political and justice systems
• Engaged citizens that actively participate in their communities

The project will begin piloting all five grade levels in November. We would like as much feedback as possible so that the resources succeed at equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to be active citizens. If you would like to pilot the resources with your class contact Kevin Smith (604.660.0588). In addition to Social Studies grades 7-11, the material is applicable to the Social Studies 12, Law 12, Social Justice 12 and Civics 11 curriculums. For more information, visit the new website www.BCCitizenship.ca.

Immigrant PLEI Consortium
The Immigrant Public Legal Education & Information (PLEI) Consortium is a pilot project that will design a model for more effective delivery of PLEI for immigrants in Metro Vancouver so that they can better able to address their legal needs and have a better awareness of core Canadian legal values. The project is a partnership between 12 organizations and is led by the Justice Education Society.

The project is currently focusing on the areas of employment law and residential tenancy law. Cross-sectoral workshops will be held throughout the Lower Mainland in November and December. Representatives from PLEI agencies, legal service providers, settlement agencies, government services and community organizations will identify service gaps and opportunities as well as strategies and activities that would improve PLEI delivery. To find out the time and date of the workshop in your community, or if your organization would like to send a representative to the meeting, contact Sandra Wilking (778.968.3732).

YCJA.ca
Content for Explore the YCJA was just updated and launched as a distinct website. YCJA.ca provides training on the Youth Criminal Justice Act for teachers and students. Teachers can go through the lessons and receive professional development credit upon passing the final exam. In addition, teachers have access to a range of YCJA online resources, quizzes for each section and recommended student assignments.

New Publications
The Justice Education Society’s Program & Resources 2010 Catalogue has been printed and is being distributed. This FREE Catalogue is our primary tool for promoting the Society’s broad range of programs and resources.

In addition, the Society has produced new brochures for the Justice System Education Program, Court Information Program for Immigrants and Finances After Separation. Contact Kevin Smith (604.660.0588) to order any of the new publications.

Project News

LawConnection.ca
LawConnection.ca provides information on current legal issues for teachers and students. Each issue includes background information and teaching resources. The site is a partnership between the Justice Education Society, SFU’s Centre for Education, Law and Society and Law Clerks at the BC Courts.

AdminLawBC.ca
AdminLawBC.ca now includes text translation to Chinese, Punjabi and Spanish. Four new videos on How to Prepare for Tribunal Hearings: First Steps, Written Submissions, In-Person Hearings and Telephone Hearings have also been added.

Children & Parents After Separation
Children & Parents After Separation, which will be offered as a whole-family alternative to our Parenting After Separation program, has entered its second phase. A curriculum writer is building the course materials. Once they are completed, the program’s evaluation model and materials will be developed. The first of 16 pilot programs will begin in January 2010 and piloting will finish by January 2011. If you are a facilitator and would like to lead the program’s sessions, contact Kevin Smith (604.660.0588) for more information.

Finances After Separation
A new video resource was created for the Finances After Separation program’s curriculum, which helps separating parents manage the financial aspects of their family break up. For more information, or to register, contact 604.775.0856 .

Though the Heavens Fall
A DVD and Teacher’s Guide have been produced to mark the 100th Anniversary of the BC Court of Appeal. Though the Heavens Fall will be broadcast in January on CBC, with additional air dates on the Knowledge Network. The teacher’s guide will be distributed to Law 12 teachers in January.

What Every Renter Needs to Know
What Every Renter Needs to Know is a series of videos that teach renters about their rights and responsibilities. Topics include Beginning of the Tenancy, Security and Pet Damage Deposits and Ending the Tenancy. View the videos.

Justice Education Society’s International Website
The International Programs section of the Justice Education Society’s website has a new look, with detailed information about the Society’s international projects and upcoming events. Subscribe to their new quarterly email newsletter.