Be Part of The Change
About Peacebuilders
Peacebuilders vision is a future where youth facing barriers can access justice, reach their full potential and contribute to safer, healthier communities.
By strengthening schools, justice systems, and community networks, our programs create environments that foster accountability, healing, and long-term success for youth. Prevention and restorative approaches ensures young people have the tools, relationships, and opportunities to thrive before challenges escalate.
Our Impact: Real Stories of Change
“Whenever me and my friends had a problem I would go to Peacebuilders and tell them and we would work through the problem through a circle. If I had a problem at home I would go and talk to Peacebuilders about it and they would help me by working with me to create solutions to solve it and look at other supports.”
-Student, Grade 10, Central Technical School
Impact on Youth
- 85% of youth demonstrate improved leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
- 80% report better conflict management and the use of restorative approaches.
Impact on Schools
- Schools that integrate restorative approaches see a 30% decrease in suspensions and a 20% improvement in student engagement.
- More than 70% of students in the Restorative Schools Program remain engaged in school and show improved academic and behavioral outcomes.
Impact on the Community
- Over 80% of youth feel a stronger sense of belonging in their schools and communities.
- The Youth Justice Transformation Lab contributes to at least two major policy recommendations influencing justice reform.
Our Approach: Restorative Justice in Action
We deliver impact through three interconnected pillars:
Supporting youth before challenges escalate, through proactive engagement and skill-building.
- Leaders of Tomorrow Peer-led circles that build leadership, empathy and conflict resolution skills.
- Sister to Sister A mentorship program empowering female-identified youth to build confidence, resilience and peer support.
- Summer Programs Safe, community-based programs that promote employment, belonging and positive engagement during out-of-school months.
- Classroom Circles Restorative circles integrated into classrooms to strengthen relationships, build social-emotional skills and foster inclusive school environments.
Offering restorative alternatives to punitive systems in schools and the justice system.
- Restorative Youth Circles (Diversion Program) An alternative to criminal sentencing that focuses on accountability, healing and reintegration.
- Restorative Schools Program Supports students facing suspension or expulsion with conflict resolution and reintegration plans.
- Record Suspension Support Program (RSSP) One-on-one guidance for individuals navigating the pardon process to remove barriers to employment, housing and education.
Training youth-serving professionals and systems to shift from punitive to restorative models.
- Restorative Practices Training Workshops for educators, legal professionals and community leaders to embed trauma-informed, restorative approaches.
- Youth Justice Transformation Lab A collaborative initiative focused on policy innovation, community-led solutions and system change.
- Articling Student Program Preparing future legal professionals to advocate for youth through a restorative justice lens.
- Public Legal Education (PLE) Accessible resources and workshops for youth, families and schools to understand their rights and navigate systems.
- Alumni & Youth Employment Programs Ongoing leadership, mentorship and employment pathways for former participants to continue growing and giving back.
Reduction of dropout rates through early interventions in leadership and mentorship programs.
Reduction in school suspensions through the implementation of restorative practices.
Land Acknowledgement
Peacebuilders Canada acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and it is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. This territory is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
Providing a land acknowledgment demonstrates recognition of Indigenous lands, treaties and peoples. It involves thinking about what happened in the past and considering what changes we can make going forward to further the reconciliation process. It is an important step in our strategic plan to acknowledge the enduring presence and resilience of Indigenous peoples while fostering stronger relationships built on mutual respect. The Seven Generations Principle teaches that the decisions we make today should result in positive and sustainable outcomes for the next seven generations. We recognize our responsibility to support and empower youth, ensuring that the work we do today has a lasting impact on communities well into the future.
