Justice In Our Times

Justice information, news and resources for British Columbians.

Featured Lecture Video

  • Central American Crime: Justice In Our Times
    Central American Crime: Justice In Our Times

    On January 27, the Society gathered a panel of speakers with differing perspectives of the international impact of Central American crime.

    Topics included the evolution of gangs in El Salvador, the legal and social impact of Central American crime in BC, and the Society's work to strengthen the region's justice systems.

    presentation videos

  • Gang Wars: Justice In Our Times
    Gang Wars: Justice In Our Times

    Gang Wars: Justice in Our Times featured four panelists discussing how our justice system and communities can better respond to BC's gang problem.

    Watch the event, which covered numerous topics including legislation changes, witness protection, publication bans and early intervention.


    presentation videos

  • Aboriginal Justice In Our Times
    Aboriginal Justice In Our Times

    On March 3rd, a panel of notable speakers presented thought-provoking ideas and opinions on legal issues facing the Aboriginal community.


    presentation videos

  • Pioneering in the Fight against Human Trafficking
    Video Example

    In November 2008, Patsy Sorensen, founder and director of the Belgian non-governmental organization Payoke, delivered a presentation titled "Pioneering in the Fight Against Human Trafficking" to a crowded room at SFU Harbour Centre.

    presentation videos

May 2011 Newsletter

New Resources

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.