Facilitators with the Restorative Action Program in Saskatoon’s high schools are seeing more students looking for help but are also seeing conflict resolution. In the 2022-23 school year, RAP was accessed by over 1,200 students and facilitated over 390 successful mediations.

In recognition of National Restorative Justice Week, the provincial government highlighted its previously announced investment of more than $770,000 to support Restorative Action Program. RAP Saskatoon’s President, Leane Durand, says facilitators can help with anything from someone who is feeling bullied or ostracized to violence in schools or a student with a weapon. She adds that there has been a sharp increase in students asking for help from facilitators, which she believes is partly because of the pandemic. Durant explains that the ones that are really affected by the pandemic are now in Grade 9. They were the ones that were really isolated in the middle of it all. Also, social media plays its part.
Ninety-five per cent of incidents facilitators are involved with have cyber bullying, social media or texting aspects.

RAP’s mandate is to empower youth to create safe, respectful and caring communities through prevention, intervention and re-connection. Facilitators are trained in mediation, conflict resolution and harm reduction.