The Community Justice Centre has again been recognized for its work in restorative justice in the Comox Valley.
This time, Simon Fraser University has named CJC’s chief administrator, Bruce Curtis, as the recipient of the 2014 Hummingbird Award.
The announcement was made on Oct. 20 at the fourth annual Liz Elliot Memorial Lecture at Simon Fraser’s Harbour Centre campus.
The award recognizes an individual in Canada who models restorative justice principles in the service of justice and peace. It was established to commemorate the late Dr. Elizabeth Elliott – founder of the Centre for Restorative Justice at SFU – for her inspiration and commitment to the field of restorative justice.
“We are very proud of the work that has been accomplished by the centre under Bruce’s vision and leadership,” said CJC president Charles Allen.
“Over the past seven years, he has opened the centre to a substantially widened mandate and led us through some very challenging times.”
Earlier this year the Community Justice Centre was awarded the provincial government’s Nesika Award for Excellence in Diversity in recognition of extensive work in the areas of combatting racism, homophobia and hate crime.
The centre was also recognized by Volunteer Comox Valley for its commitments to excellent volunteer training and support.
The Community Justice Centre was inaugurated in 1998 and is funded through the Comox Valley Regional District’s three electoral areas and the municipalities of Cumberland, Courtenay, and Comox.
It handles about 125 files per year with an entirely volunteer workforce of 150.