The Community Council, the first urban Indigenous alternative justice program in Canada, began diverting cases from the criminal courts in 1992 and its work continued this year. Earlier this year we held our annual Honouring Ceremony, an event that was on hold during the pandemic. The Ceremony honours clients who have completed their diversion agreements over the year and also those working in the system who have been supported the clients and the program.
The Council also ramped up the number of group programs including those focusing on healthy feelings, grief and bereavement, and addictions. These programs are available not only to those going through the program but also those who completed their diversions but wish continued support and those who are at risk on involvement with the criminal legal system. The Council’s cultural programming is also very much in demand. All of the programs are open to youth and adults.