Kenora Justice Centre
Kenora (Ontario/CMEDIA: The Ontario government has collaborated with Indigenous leaders, and the Ontario Court of Justice and community partners, in launching today the opening of an Kenora Justice Centre, a news release has said.
This innovative Justice Centre has been designed with and for the Kenora community and will hold individuals accountable for their offences.
In addition the Centre will provide community-led supports through health care, education, housing and other social-service providers.
Specialized teams that include Indigenous-led organizations, and mental health and addictions counsellors would deliver to the Kenora community wrap-around programs and services with focus on addressing the root causes of crime, while supporting healing and growth for at-risk youth and young adults.
“In many Ontario communities, we see a revolving door of repeat offenders struggling with poverty, mental health issues, addictions, lack of secure housing and unemployment. The Kenora Justice Centre will offer comm unity supports to address these challenges, hold individuals accountable, reduce the likelihood of future contact with the justice system, and help victims and communities heal from the effects of crime,” said Attorney General Doug Downey in the news release.
The Centre will also work with local community partners and Elders to provide Indigenous-led support programs and services to help individuals heal from trauma.
“Our government is improving the way we administer justice…By shifting parts of our justice system into a community-based setting, we are confident that healing will be front and centre while ensuring that individuals are held accountable for their crimes,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and MPP for Kenora-Rainy River.
Located in a building owned by the Kenora Chiefs Advisory, the Justice Centre is working with community partners and the Ontario Court of Justice to include:
- A courtroom configured to support rehabilitation and encourage dialogue between individuals, judges, Elders, Crowns, duty/defence counsel, victims, police and members of the community
- An Elder/cultural liaison room for participants to work with on-site Elders and interpreters to create healing plans
- Access to on-site integrated social services to support individuals and families, such as housing, income supports, mental health, and employment
- A primary health-care room to support Indigenous-led health and treatment services
- A technology room to support participants who lack reliable access to internet services for court appearances, tribunal hearings or medical appointments
- Smudging is welcome in all Justice Centre spaces and a Community Room will prioritize opportunities for ceremony, workshops and training for all community partners
“The Ontario Court of Justice is pleased to recognize the opening of the Kenora Justice Centre. The Kenora Justice Centre seeks to deliver justice services in new and innovative ways, with a focus on Indigenous justice participants, and an approach based on both criminal and Indigenous restorative justice processes,” said The Honourable Lise Maisonneuve, Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice. “The Court looks forward to the opportunity to continue to work closely with community partners to provide meaningful access to justice services for the people of Kenora, and the people of Ontario.”
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