Red Deer Restorative Justice introduces new school program

Jun 5, 2025 | 10:00 AM

Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice has launched a new program aimed at how schools respond to conflict, harm, and student disengagement.

The new initiative called the Restorative School Culture Program was created through funding from the Alberta Law Foundation.

Set to begin this fall, the program will be implemented throughout schools in rural central Alberta.

“This program is about shifting school culture from punishment to restoration,” said Jo Phillips, Executive Director of Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice in a media release. “We’re creating spaces where youth feel heard, relationships can be repaired, and accountability is meaningful.”

The program will provide ways to address conflict to not only teachers and administrative staff but students. Some of the tools they’ll provide will be through dialogue, relationship-building, and meaningful accountability as opposed to punitive discipline.

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Red Deer Restorative Justice says this approach will repair harm, rebuild trust, and restore a sense of belonging in school communities.

The program is also focused on serving students at risk of exclusion or justice system involvement.

Key features of the program includes the following:

On-site support and training for educators in restorative practices
Circle-based dialogue to address classroom and school-wide challenges
Restorative interventions for conflict and harm involving students, staff, and families
Mentorship and coaching for school teams to sustain the work long-term

by rdnewsNOW staff

Red Deer Restorative Justice introduces new school program

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