The Alberta Law Foundation has made a $26.8 million donation to the University of Calgary (U of C) to help foster a stronger focus on Family Justice.
According to U of C, the “historic” $26.8-million philanthropic gift from the Alberta Law Foundation will fund two new research chairs and a Centre for Transformation at the University of Calgary, focused on improving outcomes for families involved in the family justice system. “The initiative will prioritize long-term well-being, reduce trauma for children and youth and provide crucial support for families navigating the family justice system,” a media release stated.
“The new Centre for Transformation will serve as a vital bridge between research and community impact,” added U of C president Ed McCauley. “By combining the expertise of Canada’s largest school of social work with the innovative spirit of our Faculty of Law, the University of Calgary is uniquely positioned to lead systemic change in conflict resolution and family resilience.”
Family law cases, explains the U of C release, account for 35 per cent of all civil cases in Canada, with “significant time and resources dedicated to parenting time and child support disputes.” This initiative is intended to help reduce trauma by focusing on “less adversarial approaches.”
Childhood trauma, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, have been shown to strongly correlate with long-term mental and physical health challenges.
The new research chairs and the Centre for Transformation will work closely with the community based Re-imagining the Family Justice System (RFJS) initiative, whose Grande Prairie efforts have already demonstrated that new approaches to family justice can achieve promising outcomes.
“Supporting initiatives of this magnitude is unprecedented for us, but incredibly exciting,” said Bryon Chan, executive director of the Alberta Law Foundation. “The Foundation understands the value in this multifaceted approach and the need for generational transformation in the family justice system. We are grateful for the opportunity and ability to partner with the University of Calgary and the RFJS and are excited for the positive impact it will have on families and, in particular, children in Alberta.”
“The transformative initiative also aims to address the unique needs of Indigenous peoples,” the U of C press release added. “By collaborating with Indigenous communities and incorporating culturally informed practices, the project seeks to build trust and deliver meaningful support to those who are often disproportionately impacted by current systems.
The Centre is also intended to improve outcomes for equity-deserving families, including those with disabilities, facing economic hardship, or for whom English is a second language.
