Courtworker program
2024 was another year of change at One of more the significant changes is that bail hearings for Indigenous accused persons were moved from the TRBC, located in northwest Toronto, to the Gladue Courts at the NTC – Courtrooms 907 and 908.
As a result of this change Courtroom 907 now operates five days a week and Courtroom 908 three days a week (with the possibility of holding sentencing circles and other special sentencings on the other two days). This is a big step up from the three day a weeks that Courtroom 907 was open when the NTC began operations.
Our Indigenous Courtworkers are a vital resource at the courts. In addition to serving clients in the two Gladue Courts (and Indigenous people who are still at the TRBC), we have a youth Courtworker who works with Indigenous young people and attends the Indigenous Youth Court when it sits. In addition to all of the activity at the NTC and TRBC, child protection matters still continue to be dealt with at 311 Jarvis. The Indigenous Child Protection Court located there is now back to full operation.
In the first six months of this fiscal year, our Courtworkers worked with over 400 clients. Courtworkers remain the entryway for clients into the Community Council and many of our other programs.