To mark its 25th anniversary, the CSJR has refreshed its image and is now Passerelles de justice réparatrice!

Pour ses 25 ans, le CSJR fait peau neuve et devient Passerelles de justice réparatrice !

Nouveau nom, nouvelle image – Pour ses 25 ans, le CSJR fait peau neuve et devient Passerelles de justice réparatrice !

New look, new name: To mark its 25th anniversary, the CSJR has refreshed its image and is now Passerelles de justice réparatrice!

Logo – Passerelles de justice réparatrice
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Transformative Justice Encounters

Spaces for dialogue to understand, repair, and prevent collective trauma and future violence

Transformative justice seeks to support affected individuals, encourage accountability for those who have caused harm, and mobilize communities so they can actively participate in preventing future violence.

Des personnes se rencontrent lors d'une rencontre de justice transformatrice

Who are the encounters for?

These encounters are open to any individual, group, or community, as well as loved ones concerned by a collective issue, whether they have been victims, have caused harm, are engaged citizens, or are institutional representatives.

What types of encounters are offered?

Our transformative justice practice is still in its early stages. We have launched several pilot projects: a collective initiative on the issue of sexual assault brought forward by the #metoo movement in 2022, transformative justice experiences between Indigenous and non Indigenous people following the Joyce Echaquan case addressing systemic racism and the impacts of colonization (Seeds of Justice retreat in May 2022, Talking Circle on the disappearance of Indigenous children in institutions in September 2022), and transformative justice encounters on sexual violence and silence within the Catholic Church in 2025–2026.

Des personnes lors d'une rencontre de justice transformatrice
Deux personnes marchent ensemble lors l'une rencontre de justice transformatrice

Why participate?

These encounters provide an opportunity to engage with others on a collective issue, share what this brings up for us, and reflect together on ways to repair the violence that occurred, while working to prevent new violence. It is a way to raise awareness among decision makers and commit to fostering more restorative justice in our society.

How to participate?

We are currently exploring transformative justice projects and following up on the restorative and transformative justice initiative addressing abuse and silence within the Church.

If you have transformative justice needs, please feel free to contact us.

Initiatives and Experiences in Transformative Justice

Talking Circle on the Disappearance of Indigenous Children

Talking Circle on the Disappearance of Indigenous Children

In 2025 and 2026, the CSJR organized a restorative and transformative justice process on abuse and silence within the Catholic Church.

In total, eight people participated in this process: three people who were victims of abuse within the Catholic Church, one person who committed abuse in the course of their duties within the Catholic Church, two representatives of the institution: a priest and a bishop, and two community members. The process was facilitated by two experienced facilitators: Chantal Lachance and Raoul Lincourt.

Seeds of Restorative Justice Encounter Between Indigenous and Non Indigenous People

Seeds of Restorative Justice Encounter Between Indigenous and Non Indigenous People

From May 27 to 29, 2022, 23 people from the Atikamekw community and 23 non Indigenous people gathered in Trois Rivières for the Seeds of Restorative Justice encounter.

This weekend in the spirit of restorative justice was designed and organized by the CSJR and the Atikamekw community, with financial support from Health Canada FNIHB.

Talking Circle on the Disappearance of Indigenous Children

Talking Circle on the Disappearance of Indigenous Children

For the second year of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Centre de services de justice réparatrice (CSJR) organized, in collaboration with members of the Atikamekw community of Manawan, a talking circle on the reality of the disappearances of Indigenous children in institutions.

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Testimonies

An Exceptional Human Experience

“This process allowed me to grow, accept, and partially heal. The program offered me an exceptional human experience that would have been impossible to undergo any other way. The facilitators, who were experienced and generous, provided all the necessary support and guidance. I will be eternally grateful to them for the gift they have given me.”

— Julie (fictitious name)
Participated as a victim in a group restorative justice process

I Realized I Should Never Have Thought They Should Have Taken My Life

“The process started to open me up. There were things I wanted to say to someone who could actually receive them, which no psychologist or therapist can replace. People can tell you all they want that it’s going to be okay or that it isn’t your fault, but it will never have as much power as hearing it from that person.

I used to wonder why they left me alive. They took everything from me except my heart, which kept on beating. (…) Facing this man during the encounter, I realized that I should never have thought they should have taken my life, because there are so many beautiful things I am experiencing thanks to this journey.”

— Isabelle
Assaulted and kidnapped in her youth. She participated as a victim in a restorative justice process, and later took part in the podcast La 3e personne.

Unexpected Empathy at the End of the Process

“The will power to go all the way allows one to witness something extraordinary: an unsuspected openness, an empathy for human suffering even if it is felt by an aggressor. From then on, the aggressor is no longer a beast, a monster, a demon, he becomes human.”

— J.
Victim of incest

Breaking Down Barriers to Reclaim One’s Humanity

“I was particularly touched by the testimonies I had the privilege of hearing. What I heard was marked by sincerity and a willingness to help others. The participants revealed themselves, trusted each other and walked together without confusion. But beyond the very touching life stories and the emotions it stirred, what really impressed me was to see barriers fall. In these encounters, stereotypes breakdown. There is no longer the victim on one side and the offender on the other; there are just two human beings embarking on the journey of restoration. They are willing to communicate with one another, willing to diverge from the path drawn by the rest of society. That is, a divisive path using and abusing stigmatizations making it difficult to return to life. To come back to their life.”

— Caroline Apotheloz
Community member during a restorative justice encounter

Reconnecting with the Beauty of the Human Being at the Heart of the Process

“As an indirect victim, you feel like you aren't the one touched by the crime, so you aren't entitled to services, or you don't deserve support services. I think we have just as much right to them as direct victims, we can suffer just as much, and we deserve healing too.”

“Going through this process brought me a lot of relief. It opened a Pandora's box inside me, representing the event and its consequences. In my life I have seen human mediocrity, but I was also able to see human greatness with this process. (...) It helped me reconnect with the beauty of the human being.”

— Kim
Participant in a restorative justice process

Unexpected Empathy at the End of the Process

“The will power to go all the way allows one to witness something extraordinary: an unsuspected openness, an empathy for human suffering even if it is felt by an aggressor. From then on, the aggressor is no longer a beast, a monster, a demon, he becomes human.”

— J.
Victim of incest

Regaining One’s Place in Society and Transforming How One Sees Oneself

“In my view, the thing that changed the most is the way I perceive myself. It gave me back a place in society that I no longer thought I had.”

— Fred
Offender who participated in a restorative justice encounter

Understanding Another’s Suffering to Finally Express One’s Own

“Having trusted me with your feelings, you all gave me the chance to better understand all the pain and suffering that you have carried in yourselves for so many years. Your trust in me has transformed into a self-trust so that I was able to express honestly what I had done to my victims and see the painful consequences on my family.”

— Paul
Offender who participated in a restorative justice encounter

Opening Up New Perspectives Through the Listening of a Third Party

“The community member who was there throughout my journey is here today. He played a major role in my process. I truly want to thank him. His outside view of the situation, his questions—they were all so relevant. He wasn't a victim, he wasn't an offender, but he was there, and he was listening. His perspective took us somewhere else, into other discussions. Truly, I thank him from the bottom of my heart.”

— Marco
Victim who participated in a restorative justice encounter

Discovering the Other Half of the Story and Finding Peace

“Restorative justice allows people to realize that they were missing a large part of the story. I once heard a victim say that no matter how hard you try to bring your emotions to the surface, they never come out as spontaneously as when you are face-to-face with an offender. For the vast majority, it does a great deal of good; it creates a kind of relief.”

— Claire
Restorative Justice Encounter Facilitator

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Are you facing a collective or systemic issue?

Transformative justice is co-created according to the specific needs of each environment. Whether you are an institution, a community organization, or a group of citizens, we can support you in creating a space for dialogue, reparation, and reflection.

Contact us to discuss your needs