Coast Capital Savings donated $15,000 to Community Justice Initiatives Association to help provide anti-bullying programs and Restorative Justice training to students in Langley schools.
Since 2000, Community Justice Initiatives Association has been working with students in the Langley School District to provide a program called “Educating for Peacebuilding”. Coast Capital Savings’ generous support has enabled this program to continue and help create safe schools.
Educating for Peacebuilding aims to promote a culture of peace in schools, addressing issues of bullying and violence by teaching youth valuable hands-on communication and conflict resolution skills, demonstrating alternative responses to conflict, and instilling values that focus on accountability for actions.
Dan Basham, School Program coordinator and trainer for Community Justice Initiatives Association said Coast Capital’s support will help make Langley schools safer and more productive.
“We thank Coast Capital Savings for their continued support of the Educating for Peacebuilding Program,” said Basham. “This is the fifth straight year Coast Capital Savings has supported Community Justice Initiatives and the Restorative Action program. We truly appreciate their contribution and the fact that they have contributed to this project for a number of years says a lot about their commitment to improving our schools and our communities.”
Restorative Action grew out of the need to create safe schools without relying on punishment and isolation to deal with discipline issues. Restorative Justice focuses on responses to harm and discipline issues that are needs-based and promote healing and accountability. This approach gives parents and educators additional strategies for effectively addressing misbehaviour, the underlying issues responsible for that behaviour, and the harm that occurs as a result.
Wendy Lachance, director of community leadership for Coast Capital Savings, said the credit union chose to support Community Justice Initiatives Association’s Restorative Action programs because it teaches youth about conflict resolution and respect.
“Coast Capital Savings is committed to building a richer future for youth in our communities,” said Lachance. “By investing in programs that help youth learn how to respect one another and understand accountability for their actions, we can help youth develop positive relationships with others and become healthy young adults.”
Educating for Peacebuilding works to address conflict situations by giving students the skills to communicate effectively, to avoid/resolve conflict among their peers, and to understand the impacts of harm on themselves, others and the community.
Coast Capital Savings Credit Union is Canada’s second largest credit union with total assets under administration of $13.5 billion, 475,000 members and 50 branches in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia. Product innovations include Canada’s first free chequing account from a full-service financial institution and the country’s most flexible mortgage product, the You’re the Boss™ Mortgage, which was named 2010 Mortgage of the Year by canadianmortgagetrends.com. Coast Capital offers one of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™. It is a member of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club and an Imagine Canada Caring Company. To learn more, visit www.coastcapitalsavings.com
For more information, please contact:
Dan Basham
Telephone: 604.534.5515
Email: danbasham@cjibc.org
www.cjibc.org
