The 2022 awards celebrated Albertans who found ways to prevent crime and promote restorative justice in their neighbourhoods, towns and cities.
“Whether they’re helping Albertans fight racism and inequality, doing street-level work to deter crime or helping individuals navigate the legal system, the recipients of this year’s Alberta Community Justice Awards have all helped make this province a safer, more community-minded place.”
This year’s award ceremony took place on June 17 at Lacombe Memorial Centre in Lacombe. The event was co-hosted by the Alberta government, the Lacombe Police Service, and Lacombe and District Family and Community Support Services.
Recipients received awards in five categories: leadership, innovation, community mobilization, partnerships and collaboration, and service enhancement.
2022 Alberta Community Justice Award recipients
Community mobilization
African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (Edmonton)
A grassroots organization with a mission to lead positive, transformational change for Canadian youths of African descent.
Innovation
Edmonton Police Service – Human-Centred Engagement & Liaison Partnership
A collaboration between constables and civilian “navigators” that directs community members to service providers and helps them avoid further entrenchment in the criminal justice system.
Edmonton SHIFT Lab
A Canadian leader in developing social innovation techniques for tackling racism and building safer community spaces.
Islamic Family and Social Services Association (Edmonton)
A support service for Islamic families and youth facing financial hardship, gender-based violence and issues related to refugee resettlement.
Sarah Doolittle and Fletcher, Zebra Child Protection Centre (Edmonton)
Zebra Centre’s “Very Important Paws” coordinator and her canine partner, who provide emotional support to children and their families preparing to provide traumatic courtroom testimony.
Leadership
Jessica Buffalo, Legal Aid Alberta (Calgary)
A legal aid duty counsel lawyer whose work on behalf of the Indigenous community includes setting up the Edmonton Indigenous Court, ensuring access to justice for self-represented individuals and conducting workshops on completing Gladue reports.
Debbie Leitch, Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice (Blackfalds)
A retired nurse who developed, recruited facilitators and took on a significant caseload for what would become the Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice program.
Partnerships and collaboration
China Sieger, Peace Regional Restorative Justice (Fairview/Peace River)
A longtime leader in the promotion of restorative justice practices in Fairview and Peace River, and the program coordinator for Peace Regional Restorative Justice.
East Calgary Ambassador Program
A partnership of community associations, businesses, the City of Calgary and community stakeholders that conducts street-level, day-to-day engagement with visitors and vulnerable populations to improve the safety and vibrancy of east Calgary.
Edson Citizens on Patrol
A non-profit organization whose volunteers patrol the streets of Edson and Yellowhead County, assisting the RCMP in identifying illegal and suspicious activity.
Kathleen Quinn, Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (Edmonton)
The founding executive director of the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation, the chair of the Edmonton Sexual Exploitation Working Group and a noted advocate for raising awareness about the complex issues related to sexual exploitation in all its forms, including sex trafficking.
The Watch Project (Lethbridge)
A volunteer-based initiative of the Lethbridge Police Service that uses social outreach and intervention to ensure community safety in downtown Lethbridge.
Service enhancement
Alberta Specialized Police and Court Support Network
A provincewide community of service agencies that meets regularly to share best practices and discuss program development related to survivors of sexual assault.
Emergency Protection Order Program, Legal Aid Alberta (Edmonton/Calgary)
A no-cost service that helps victims of family violence protect themselves against their abusers and provides guidance and assistance during the legal process.