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Conflict Mediation Restores Broken Relationships

Peacebuilding Alternatives to Conflict
Schoolyard friction erupts when a knife is displayed. A family business faces bankruptcy and strained relationships after a son embezzles funds. Workplace tension simmers beneath the surface. When conflicts arise, Conflict Mediation Services of Downsview (CMS-D) helps potential combatants find positive and peacebuilding alternatives.

Located in Toronto, Ontario, CMS-D began in 1986 as a partner of MCC. The organization has grown beyond its original MCC staff person and now sustains eight staff members and many more volunteers without financial aid from MCC. Services have also expanded to include community mediation, restorative justice, training and consulting for organizations and businesses, and school and youth programs.

Empowering Community Members
The goal of CMS-D is to empower community members to deal positively with conflicts on their own. An 85 per cent increase in the number of mediations over the past two years suggests that people are choosing peacemaking alternatives. Workers are delighted by an 88 per cent success rate last year in the restorative justice initiative. The recent addition of a youth advisory board demonstrates CMS-D's commitment to young people and their ideas towards building peace.

Commitment to Celebrating Diversity
CMS-D also prides itself on its commitment to celebrating diversity. Over 100 languages are spoken in a nearby four block radius. When cultural differences and miscommunication threaten community relations, CMS-D helps to break down barriers. Mediation services are offered in 21 different languages and the staff and volunteers come from diverse cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds.

For more information on CMS-D, see their website at http://www.cmsd.org