Lanark County Community Justice (LCCJ) is a volunteer-driven organization, based in Perth but working throughout Lanark County to achieve more resilient communities that build relationships and respond to conflict, harm and wrongdoing with restorative practice and restorative justices.

For the past 24 years, the primary focus for LCCJ has been to provide court diversion services for youth and adults by means of Restorative Community Justice Forums. Individuals (or groups) accused of a crime, are recommended to the program by the court system.

A forum is a voluntary, confidential process that brings together victim(s), the accused, their respective support people, and community members, to have a structured conversation about what happened, who was affected, determine the crime’s impact on the community, and how to make things right. Trained volunteers facilitate the forums.

Restorative Justice has multiple positive impacts.

• It saves the community thousands of dollars in policing, legal and social services costs. (A recent research paper calculated that for every $1 spent on the program, $2.53 of community benefit were generated.)
• It helps the perpetrator take true accountability for the crime they have committed and allows them a to make restitution while staying out of the criminal justice system, reducing the likelihood of repeat offences, and building relationships
• It enables victims to have their voices heard and allows them to tell the perpetrator the true impact of the crime and to receive reparations such as: an apology, financial compensation, return/repair of what was taken/damaged.

With Community Grants, PDCF has provided ongoing support to LCCJ and particularly for the Restorative Families Programming and the Triple P Parenting of Teens Group Sessions. These sessions, offered both in-person and online, have been one of LCCJ’s most successful programs.

Many parents and caregivers struggle to navigate relationships with their teenage family members. In Triple P Parenting of Teens, participants learn new skills, tips and tricks on how to use restorative practice and communicate effectively with the teenagers in their lives:

• Build stronger relationships
• Negotiate boundaries and expectations
• Deal calmly with conflict
• Survive emotional rollercoasters
• Prepare for risky situations
• Equip teens to handle life’s problems

In addition to PDCF Community Grants, in 2023, LCCJ received funding from the Community Services Recovery Fund which was distributed by PDCF. With this grant LCCJ developed a 5-Year Strategic Plan and a 5-Year Business Plan. LCCJ reviewed all of their policies and procedures through the lenses of equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as mental health and safety. Now established, these plans and policies will guide LCCJ in meeting their mission.

For up-to-date information on LCCJ’s programming please visit their website at www.commjustice.org/programs

In 2022, PDCF provided funding that allowed the purchase of folding tables and stacking chairs, craft supplies and games. Seniors have gathered around the tables and played cards, strengthened bonds, laughed and even cried together. Children have piqued their curiosity and learned coding and battled robotics at these tables. Dozens of art forms, hobbies and crafts have been explored by all ages and abilities all around these tables. The tables are high quality, sturdy, comfortable and have allowed the library to more fully become an important community hub proactively encouraging literacy, communication, connectivity and creativity.

This year, PDCF provided a grant for expansion of the Library of Things and Experience collections. The focus of this grant is to acquire a collection of active lifestyle, crafting and educational items that community members may a) need only occasionally, b) need only for a short period of time or c) wish to determine whether the item meets their needs before making a purchase.

In addition to benefiting individual members of the community by saving on costs associated with purchasing and storing rarely used items, it also benefits the local environment. This project fosters the circular economy, moving away from mass consumption and accumulation of objects and towards sharing of resources and preventing waste. By offering this collection for FREE, people who may not have the means to purchase or space to store these items are provided the opportunity to be proactive in their active living, creative and educational journeys.

The library’s base has grown due to our ability to be more relevant to a greater number of people. This growth has allowed the library to realize their vision of being a welcoming, inclusive and creative space where people come to connect, discover and grow. The Lanark Highlands Public Library team of dedicated staff and volunteers are committed to enriching the community and above all else, valuing good stewardship, innovation, excellence and engagement.

While its roots are connected to Lanark Highlands Plan B and ConnectWell Community Health, the  South Lanark Community Garden (SLCG) was established in September of 2021 as its own non-profit. SLCG focuses on growing and supplying fresh produce to members who participate in the success of the garden. The garden is not divided into individual plots but rather is one big garden of about 3 acres. Plan B Lanark and The Table Community Food Centre distribute produce from the garden to the broader community. When it is available, produce is also given to Lanark Highlands Food Pantry and The Hunger Stop in Carleton Place.

This spring, with a Community Grant of $8,959.77 from PDCF, the South Lanark Community Garden will purchase a new BCS 739 walk-behind rototiller. This tiller will replace the old method of using a tractor with an attached rototiller to prepare the growing beds. The new method will better maintain the soil’s health and be easier on the environment and, combined with using fungal dominant compost, will reduce the need for other soil amendments. Volunteers will be able to use the tiller themselves and this will increase their connection and personal investment in the garden and develop their skill sets too.

The SLCG is about growing food, but it is also about growing community. Working together, SLCG volunteers have many opportunities to meet new people, create new friends, and to get things done. Volunteers of various ages work side-by-side and learn from each other.

Growing local food and local community at the same time makes for a scrumptious recipe of connection and sustainability! PDCF is delighted to be part of that creation.