Community Mediation

FAQs

• What is mediation?

  Mediation is a different way to resolve conflict. Mediators help people talk about the dispute without any judgement and help people determine a mutually-beneficial solution for everyone.

• How does mediation help?

  Mediation helps by:

  • Decreasing stress

  • Reducing conflicts

  • Increasing safety

  • Enhancing relationships

  • Improving communication skills

  • Promoting collaborative problem solving

• Why should I use mediation from The Neighbourhood Group? 

  • It's free, voluntary and confidential.

  • We have proven success – mediation helps people come to agreements over 80% of the time!

  • You will learn how to resolve future conflicts.

  • Our highly trained volunteer mediators have lived experiences and come from your communities.

  • Traditional ways of resolving conflict, such as calling the police or going to court, are long, expensive, and often unsatisfying.

  • We are a founding member of the Ontario Community Mediation Coalition, which sets high standards of mediation. 

• What types of conflict can be resolved with mediation? 

  • Neighbour conflicts like noise issues, property line disputes, fence disputes, shared driveways and use of common areas

  • Landlord and tenant Issues like rent and maintenance issues

  • Relationship problems between colleagues, family, friends and roommates

  • By-Law issues

  • Minor commercial conflicts

  • Minor criminal matters

• How does mediation work?

  There are four steps:

  • Intake: We talk to you about your situation, then contact the other people in the dispute to see if they are willing to participate. 

  • Case Development: Mediators meet separately with all people involved in the conflict to understand everyone’s concerns and needs.

  • Mediation: Everyone meets together with the mediators online or in person. The mediators ensure that everyone is heard and is respectful. They also guide everyone to come up with a solution that works for everyone. 

  • Follow-up: Mediators will contact you at an agreed upon time after the mediation to check in and suggest next steps, if needed.

• What is restorative justice?

  If you are in court, the Crown Attorney might suggest you use Restorative Justice mediation for minor criminal matters. In these cases, the people who experienced harm and the people who caused it share the reasons, circumstances and impact of the crime. The goal is to help victims cope, return offenders to law-abiding lives, and to repair relationships between victims, offenders, and the community. Restorative justice is also used to help people who are victims of sexual misconduct.

• Who are the mediators? 

  Currently, we work with more than 55 volunteer mediators with extensive professional training. Our mediators volunteer to ensure that we can continue providing this free service to you. Some have been with us for more than 10 years.

  We select mediators with a wide range of professions, skills, experience, cultures and language skills to ensure that you have someone who best understands your situation and can help you resolve it.

• How do I volunteer to be a mediator?

  The first step is to fill out our Volunteer Mediator Application form. When we have an opening, we will review all the applications and interview the most appropriate candidates. If you are selected, you will be required to complete 21 hours of Ontario Community Mediation Coalition approved mediation training.

• Do you offer mediation internships?

  Yes. We offer internships and practicums for students from a variety of educational institutions that have internship or co-op placement as part of their requirements. 

• Do you offer professional training or workplace mediation?
  No. As of July 28, 2024, we stopped offering our Workplace Services, Custom Training or Professional Training. As our Community Mediation service expanded across Toronto, the need to resolve conflict was never more evident. Today, we are recognized by the City of Toronto as the go-to service for community mediation. Combining this with the realities of non-profit funding in the 21st century, we have decided to focus our efforts solely on our Community Mediation service.
  
  Some of our mediators, trainers and partner organizations are happy to help you – please see their contact information below.
  
  Claudia Aronowitz, MSc, PCC, CPCC
  claudia@aronowitz.ca 
  www.claudiaaro.com  
  
  Kaydeen Bankasingh
  kdeen.banks@gmail.com 
  647.987.3011
  
  Marcia Berkeley
  info@thebiginc.ca 
  647.889.7175
  
  Community Justice Alternatives of Durham Region
  aisenor@cjadurham.org
  905.683.8615
  https://cjadurham.ca/ 
  
  Community Justice Initiatives of Waterloo Region
  julief@cjiwr.com 
  
  Shawn Conway
  shawn.conway2@gmail.com
  416.668.9191
  
  Rekha Lakra
  info@ADRcenterpoint.com
  416.524.1495
  
  Peter Mersereau
  mersereau.crt@gmail.com
  
  Rola Mustafa
  rola@amanmediation.ca
  416.677.9727
  www.amanmediation.ca
  
  Suzanne Sherkin, B.A, Q.Med
  suz@highborncommunications.com 
  416.414.6552
  www.HighbornCommunications.com   
  
  Sonia Thomas
  sonia@mindfulmediations.services
  905.999.5476
  https://www.mindfulmediations.services/