Contact Us

Restorative Justice Design Process

Overview of What’s Happening: 

Members of the University of Guelph (U of G) and a group of alumni athletes have been working with the aid of external facilitators as a Design Group to create a restorative process aimed at hearing from alumni athletes and associated Athletic staff who were connected to the cross-country and middle-distance programmes since the late 1990’s. Together, the Design Group has created a process that enables the University to further learn about the range of experiences that impacted the well-being and success of students and student-athletes. 

Intentions of the Restorative Process:

The purpose of a restorative process is not an investigation, but rather an opportunity to expand on the positive changes that have already occurred and consider further opportunities by learning from past experiences. The aim is to inform opportunities to continue to support the well-being and success of current and future athletes. The alumni athletes that are part of the Design Group have been very clear that their hope and intention in entering this collaboration with the University is to share their experience and knowledge to strengthen the athletics programme at the U of G and contribute to a safer and healthier sport culture. Participants are invited to contribute in the spirit of the process and its goals.

What is Restorative Justice?

A principled restorative process engages those involved and affected by an issue to foster understanding and glean insights from the past, with the aim of shaping a better future. Restorative justice convenes participants invested in a community and committed to ongoing improvement. It provides a platform for sharing experiences and perspectives to collectively identify actions for future enhancement. At the University of Guelph, this process has been actively underway for some time. The Design Team has worked restoratively to comprehend the needs to be addressed and has collaboratively crafted a thoughtful process to solicit contributions from participants across various roles and perspectives, including alumni, athletic staff, colleagues, and university leaders associated with the cross-country and middle-distance programmes since the late 1990s.

Who is Invited to Participate: 

Invitations have been extended to student-athletes and Athletic staff members who were directly involved with the middle-distance track team or in cross country at the University of Guelph between 1997-2020. Within that scope, the Design Group hopes to hear from participants from a diverse array of perspectives to develop a comprehensive understanding of the team culture, climate, and athlete experience (individual and team) during this period. The Design Group would like to hear from anyone who feels they have something to share, regardless of whether they feel their experience at Guelph was positive, negative, or mixed. 

Current Status of the Three Phased Process:

The Design Process consists of three interdependent phases that flow naturally from one to the next, evolving as needed. Please note that the information on this webpage may change, as the members of the Design Group are committed to maintaining flexibility in the process to allow for unforeseen circumstances. Specifically, this section will be updated as the process unfolds. Phase One included hosting Listening Sessions and was initiated in June 2024 and concluded on September 22, 2024. As part of the conclusion of Phase One, a summary of the key learnings emerging from the Listening Sessions will be prepared. This Summary of Learning is expected to be completed before the end of December 2024; this document will mark the completion of Phase One. We expect to initiate Phase Two early in the new year (Winter 2025). Phase Two will include reviewing and sharing the Summary of Learnings while also developing Phase Three. Phase Three is a commitment to further learning in a larger group setting. Phase Three will be planned in the new year (Winter 2025) and is likely to occur in Spring of 2025. 

About the Design Process and this Webpage

Overall, the restorative justice process has three phases: 

Phase One:

  • Is an opportunity for alumni athletes of our cross-country and middle-distance track programmes, and directly associated staff, to participate in group sessions.  During these sessions, participants can share insights from their experiences, discuss the challenges they faced and identify what was, or could have been, supportive towards their well-being and success.
  • Participants will be assigned to a group conversation based on their connection to the programmes. These sessions will be conducted virtually and facilitated by external facilitators trained in restorative work.
  • Participants will have options as to which type of group conversation they will be placed. 
  • Facilitators will be supportive of healthy dialogue and responsive to individual and group needs.  Sessions will be intentionally structured to allow for sharing and learning. 
  • Participants will remain anonymous. 
  • No person will be required to participate in the process. 
  • The external facilitators will create a report outlining the ideas, themes and insights that emerge from these sessions. 
  • The report will be forwarded to the Design Team and may inform the work of Phase Two. 

Phase Two:

  • Key members of the University community will come together to review and discuss the report from Phase One. 

Phase Three:

  • This phase will look at opportunities for the University to share key learnings from the process and to discuss core themes and ideas to support the University’s ongoing commitment to contributing to a safer and healthier sport culture on campus. 
  • This will be planned as the process progresses and could include a Day of Learning event, or series of events, on campus.

As an institution, U of G cares deeply about the experiences of the student-athletes, staff, and alumni community. The University acknowledges the wide range of experiences of athletes and staff associated with the cross-country and track programmes. As such, the University is reaching out because hearing directly from past student-athletes, staff, and alumni is critical for creating safe and supportive environments at U of G. The University is committed to learning how we can continue to strengthen broader institutional response mechanisms and support student success and well-being.

The U of G and the Design Group are aware that for some alumni this period was incredibly difficult. We are committed to creating an emotionally supportive environment that is thoughtful and responsive to participants and the restorative process.

The information on this page will be updated as needed, and as information arises throughout each of the three phases of the design process. If you have questions, or if you would like additional information, please contact the Design Group directly by emailing: designgroup@uoguelph.ca. Please be sure to visit the website frequently for the most updated information about the process.

Please be sure to visit the website frequently for the most updated information about process related dates and times. 

The restorative justice process is the result of a collaboration between a group of alumni, the University of Guelph, and facilitated by the Restorative Justice Lab at Dalhousie University. The following people were involved and known as the Design Group: 

Alumni Athlete Representatives:

  • Jenn Dowling-Medley
  • Robyn Mildren
  • Sophie Watts

Alumni Athlete Advisor Representatives:

  • Charlotte Ward
  • Kelsey Serviss
  • Rachel Cliff
  • Katrina Allison

 University of Guelph Representatives:

  • Melinda Scott, Vice-Provost, Student Affairs 
  • Irene Thompson, Interim Vice-Provost Student Affairs (now retired from U of G)
  • Harpreet Hansra, General Counsel
  • Mary Murphy, General Counsel (now retired from U of G)
  • Ann Pegoraro, Professor Lang School of Business, Co-director National Network for Research on Gender Equity in Canadian Sport
  • Jan Klotz, Associate Director of Student Wellness
  • Kristin Lennan, Associate Director of Residence Life
  • Shannon Thibodeau, Manager of Student Engagement and Leadership
  • Jessica Westlake, Executive Assistant to the Vice-Provost 

Restorative Lab Representatives

  • Jennifer Llewellyn, Professor Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Chair in Restorative Justice
  • Melissa MacKay, Associate, Restorative Lab, Dalhousie University

Just Outcomes (External Facilitators) Representatives:  

  • Catherine Bargen, Director and Lead Consultant
  • Michelle Jackett, Senior Consultant

In 2020, a small group of alumni athletes, in partnership with representatives from the Restorative Lab at Dalhousie University, extended an invitation to the University of Guelph to participate in creating a Restorative Design process. The University accepted this invitation and agreed to engage with this group of alumni to design a Restorative Process. A smaller subset of three representatives were identified by this group of alumni to serve as the primary contacts for the University. 

While the Design Group has established the framework for the process, external facilitators (Just Outcomes) will implement Phase One of the process and are responsible for working with participants in a manner that allows for a range of experiences and perspectives to be shared. The alumni representatives will not be involved with data collection or aggregation and will not be privy to information shared by individual participants in the sessions. Their role has been to provide insight on the overall restorative design process, not to determine its outcomes or findings.

Just Outcomes are the external facilitators hired by the University, in consultation with the Design Group, to help facilitate the process. Just Outcomes supports communities and organizations in reimagining just responses to harm and its causes. For more information about the firm and its members, please visit the Just Outcomes website.

In order to receive more information about the process, please complete an online form on the Just Outcomes website. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Bargen at Just Outcomes by emailing: catherine@justoutcomesconsulting.com and place the following in the subject line: “Guelph Restorative Process” [Or click here].

It is important to note that registration for Phase One is anticipated to conclude on August 16, 2024. If the August 16th deadline has passed and you or someone you know is still interested in participating, please contact Just Outcomes. While Phase One of the process is now complete, we anticipate further opportunities for engagement in Phase Three. To register to participate, please complete the online form on the Just Outcomes website. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Bargen at Just Outcomes by emailing: catherine@justoutcomesconsulting.com and place the following in the subject line: “Guelph Restorative Process” [Or click here].

To contact the Design Group directly with questions about process or scope, please email: designgroup@uoguelph.ca

This process is designed for listening and learning, but it is understandable that this invitation to participate may be difficult and triggering for some. Participating in a restorative justice process may be a personal and vulnerable experience. There is no obligation to participate, share or discuss anything unless you wish to do so. For anyone needing support prior to, during or after participation, we have the following supports available:

The following support services are available for all faculty, staff, and students:

  • Student Counselling Services, 519-824-4120 Ext. 53244
  • Crisis Text Line, text “UofG” to 686868
  • Here 24/7 (mental health resource): 1-844-437-3247
  • Employee assistance programme for faculty and staff, 1-800-265-8310

The following support service is available for alumni:

  • Here 24/7 (mental health resource): 1-844-437-3247

Pre-Phase One: Invitation and Information Sharing

Dear alumni, staff, and others directly connected to the University of Guelph’s cross-country and middle-distance track programmes since the late 1990’s,

Members of the University of Guelph and a group of alumni athletes have been working with the aid of external facilitators, as a Design Group, to create a restorative process aimed at hearing from alumni athletes and staff who were connected to the cross-country and middle-distance programmes between 1997-2020. Together, the Design Group has established a process to learn about the range of experiences that impacted the well-being and success of students and student-athletes.

The University of Guelph cares deeply about the experiences of our student-athletes, staff, and alumni community. The University acknowledges the wide range of experiences of athletes and staff associated with the cross-country and track programmes. As such, you are invited to participate in a process that will enable the University to further learn from the past experiences of athletes, staff, and others directly connected to these programmes. You are receiving this invitation because hearing directly from those involved is critical and part of the continued commitment to creating safer and supportive environments at the University of Guelph. Ultimately, the University is committed to learning how it can continue to strengthen broader institutional response mechanisms and support student success and well-being.

The alumni athletes that are part of the Design Group have been very clear that their intention in entering into this collaboration with the University is to share their experiences and knowledge to improve upon the athletics programme at the University of Guelph and to contribute to a safer and healthier sport culture. Participants are invited to contribute in the spirit of the process and its goals.

The Design Group is aware that for some alumni and staff members this period was incredibly difficult. We (the Design Group) are committed to creating an emotionally supportive environment that is thoughtful and responsive to participants and the restorative process. Our purpose for a restorative process is not an investigation, but rather an opportunity to learn from past experiences with the aim of informing changes that can support the well-being and success of current and future athletes and strengthen the programme.

Overall, the restorative justice process we have designed, has three phases:

Phase One:

  • Is an opportunity for alumni athletes of our cross-country and middle-distance track programmes, and directly associated staff, to participate in group sessions. During these sessions, participants can share insights from their experiences, discuss the challenges they faced and identify what was, or could have been, supportive towards their well-being and success.
  • Participants will be assigned to a group conversation based on their connection to the programmes. These sessions will be conducted virtually and facilitated by external facilitators (Just Outcomes) trained in restorative work.
  • Facilitators will be supportive of healthy dialogue and responsive to individual and group needs. Sessions will be intentionally structured to allow for sharing and learning.
  • Participants will remain anonymous.
  • No person will be required to participate in the process.
  • The external facilitators will create a report outlining the ideas, themes and insights that emerge from these sessions.
  • The report will be forwarded to the Design Team and may inform the work of Phase Two.

Phase Two:

  • Key members of the University community will come together to review and discuss the report from Phase One.

Phase Three:

  • This phase will look at opportunities for the University to share key learnings from the process and to discuss core themes and ideas to support the University’s ongoing commitment to contributing to a safer and healthier sport culture on campus.
  • This will be planned as the process progresses and could include a Day of Learning event or series of events on campus.

We (the Design Group) sincerely hope that you will consider this invitation to participate.

To learn additional information about the process, please visit the Restorative Design Process webpage. Please feel free to forward this invitation and the website to alumni teammates and related staff members of these programmes.

If you would like to learn more about the process, you are also invited to register for one of the Information Sessions being hosted by the Design Group. These sessions are intended to elaborate on what you might expect from the process and to address questions. The Information Sessions will be held virtually during the following date and times:

Monday, June 24th, 2024, from Noon – 1:15pm (ET)

  • This is an open session for those connected to the experience (including, but not limited to staff and alumni athletes).

Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 11:00am until 12:15pm (ET)

  • This session is for alumni athletes only.

Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 12:30pm until 1:45pm (ET)

  • This is an open session for those connected to the experience (including, but not limited to staff and alumni athletes).

Please be sure to visit the website for updated information about the process and to confirm the dates and times.

How to Register for an Information Session:

To register to attend an information session, please complete an online form on the Just Outcomes website. 

How to Register to Receive More Information about the Process in the Future or to Register to Participate: 

In order to receive more information about the process, or to register to participate, please complete an online form on the Just Outcomes website. 

If you have any questions about registering your information, please contact Catherine Bargen at Just Outcomes by emailing: catherine@justoutcomesconsulting.com and place the following in the subject line: “Guelph Restorative Process” [Or click here].

Thank you for your consideration and for helping us to create spaces where participants can thrive and achieve success.

The Design Group Team Members:

 Alumni Athlete Representatives:

  • Jenn Dowling-Medley
  • Robyn Mildren
  • Sophie Watts

Alumni Athlete Advisor Representatives:

  • Charlotte Ward
  • Kelsey Serviss
  • Rachel Cliff
  • Katrina Allison

University of Guelph Representatives:

  • Melinda Scott, Vice-Provost, Student Affairs
  • Irene Thompson, Interim Vice-Provost Student Affairs (now retired from U of G)
  • Harpreet Hansra, General Counsel
  • Mary Murphy, General Counsel (now retired from U of G)
  • Ann Pegoraro, Professor Lang School of Business, Co-director National Network for Research on Gender Equity in Canadian Sport
  • Jan Klotz, Associate Director of Student Wellness
  • Kristin Lennan, Associate Director of Residence Life
  • Shannon Thibodeau, Manager of Student Engagement and Leadership
  • Jessica Westlake, Executive Assistant to the Vice-Provost 

Restorative Lab Representatives:

  • Jennifer Llewellyn, Professor Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Chair in Restorative Justice
  • Melissa MacKay, Associate, Restorative Lab, Dalhousie University

Just Outcomes (External Facilitators) Representatives:

  • Catherine Bargen, Director and Lead Consultant
  • Michelle Jackett, Senior Consultant

Yes. While the Design Group made every effort to reach out to as many people connected to the scope of the process as possible, we recognize that updated contact information may not be available for all invitees. Therefore, recipients are invited to share this invitation and the website link with others who they believe may be connected to the scope of the Design Process. Your contribution and outreach are important to the inclusivity and success of this work. It is important to note that registration for Phase One is anticipated to conclude on August 16, 2024. If the August 16th deadline has passed and you or someone you know is still interested in participating, please contact Just Outcomes. While Phase One of the process is now complete, we anticipate further opportunities for engagement in Phase Three. To register to participate, please complete the online form on the Just Outcomes website. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Bargen at Just Outcomes by emailing: catherine@justoutcomesconsulting.com and place the following in the subject line: “Guelph Restorative Process” [Or click here].

Invitations were extended to student-athletes and Athletics staff members who were directly involved with the middle-distance track team or in cross country at the University of Guelph between 1997-2020.

  • Alumni Athletes: 

Within the scope of the Design Process, invitations were sent using the most up-to-date contact information that athletes had previously shared with the University. Recognizing that there may have been changes to alumni athletes’ contact information, the University provided an option for recipients to forward the invitation to others who they believe may fall within the scope of the Design Process. 

  • Current and Former Staff: 

Current and former staff members who were identified within the scope of the Design Process were directly invited. Recipients were also provided with the option to forward the invitation to others who they believe may fall within the scope of the Design Process.

  • University Administrators: 

Phase One of the Design Process does not include current or former members of the University administration. 

Yes. During the May 2024 Information Sessions, feedback was provided about the distribution and reach of the first round of invitations. Based on this feedback, the university explored additional avenues in an attempt to broaden the reach of the invitation to participate in the process. As a result, further invitations have been sent to additional alumni who were directly connected to the scope of this process, particularly to those from the generations/rosters connected to the earlier timeframe of the scope. The second round of invitation letters was distributed the week of June 3rd. An additional Information Session is scheduled for the end of June 2024. With this expanded outreach, and the continued support from alumni and staff in forwarding the invitation and website, the Design Group aims to extend an open opportunity to participate to all those associated with the cross-country and middle-distance programmes since the 1990’s, ensuring diverse representation.

Following the distribution of invitations to participate in the Design Process, the Design Group hosted three Information Sessions throughout May and June 2024. These sessions were designed to help interested individuals learn more about the Design Process. Each session covered the same content, bringing the topics on this webpage to life through live online presentations and Q&A sessions. The Information Sessions have since concluded, but if you require additional information about the Design Process, please register to receive more information, or contact the Design Group for more details by emailing: designgroup@uoguelph.ca.  

Shortly after the invitations to participate in the Design Process were distributed the Design Group hosted three Information Sessions throughout June and May 2024, to help those with interest in participating learn more about the Design Process. The Information Sessions have since concluded, but if you require additional information about the Design Process, please register to receive more information about the process or contact the Design Group by emailing: designgroup@uoguelph.ca.  

Phase One: Listening Sessions

Sessions will be in small groups. It is estimated that each group will be composed of 5-6 participants. However, the size of each group will be dependent on the number of people who register. This group session format will facilitate hearing from all individuals who would like to participate. Each of the groups will be selected by the Just Outcomes external facilitators with the objective of creating groups that foster a respectful environment for sharing and facilitating discussions among peers. Alumni athletes and staff will have options as to which type of group they will be placed, in alignment with their connection to the programme. If uncomfortable participating within a given group, there will be an alternative option for a limited number of participants to participate in a one-on-one session with a facilitator. Decisions about scheduling one-on-one sessions will be made at the discretion of the facilitator.  Those who choose to participate in one-on-one sessions will engage in the same session structure as those who participate in group sessions.

The facilitators will be employing a set of questions that are designed to foster discussion and explore the experiences of participants. The external consultants will review the results of each group session and organize the learnings into themes to be shared with the University.

All sessions will be conducted online.

Alumni athletes and staff who were directly involved in the cross-country and middle-distance programs at the University of Guelph between 1997 and 2020 are invited to participate in the restorative process. This initiative aims to gather insights from those with firsthand experience to understand how these programs impacted the well-being and success of students and student-athletes. Participation is crucial in helping the University learn and continue to improve. 

Who Can Participate:

  • Alumni Athletes: If you were part of [any] cross-country or middle-distance track team between 1997 and 2020, your experiences are valuable to the process.
  • Current and Former Staff: The process welcomes participation from staff who worked directly with the cross-country or middle-distance track team during the same period. This includes coaches, trainers, practitioners, support staff, staff in leadership positions within the Department of Athletics, and any other roles directly connected to these programs.
  • Others: If you believe you have relevant experiences but do not fit into the above categories, please do reach out by contacting Catherine Bargen at Just Outcomes by emailing: catherine@justoutcomesconsulting.com and place the following in the subject line: “Guelph Restorative Process” [Or click here].

Who Is Not Included in Phase One:

  • Senior Administrators: Current or former senior administrators from the University of Guelph are not included in this phase of the process.

Phase One was initiated in June 2024 and interested participants were asked to register with Just Outcomes to participate before August 16th, 2024. Those registered before August 16th participated in a Listening Session before September 22, 2024. To remain informed and engaged, you are welcome to register with Just Outcomes, as described in the ‘How to Register to Participate in the Process’ under the subheading ‘About the Design Process and this Webpage’ above.

While Phase One of the process is now complete, we anticipate further opportunities for engagement in Phase Three. To register to participate, please complete the online form on the Just Outcomes website. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Bargen at Just Outcomes by emailing: catherine@justoutcomesconsulting.com and place the following in the subject line: “Guelph Restorative Process” [Or click here].

While Phase One of the process is now complete, we anticipate further opportunities for engagement in Phase Three. To register to participate, please complete the online form on the Just Outcomes website. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Bargen at Just Outcomes by emailing: catherine@justoutcomesconsulting.com and place the following in the subject line: “Guelph Restorative Process” [Or click here].

Phase Two: Summary of Learning

All information provided to the University of Guelph will be anonymized and the external facilitators will use this information to extract and compile major themes (as opposed to individual names or stories). These major themes will be used to generate a report that will then be shared with the Design Group and the University to inform the next phase of this restorative justice process. 

Although the facilitators will highlight the importance of maintaining confidentiality to create a respectful, safe, and open space for dialogue, the Design Group cannot guarantee that fellow participants will not share what was said in sessions. No one will be obligated to share anything they do not wish to disclose.

In the spirit of Restorative Justice, Just Outcomes, the external facilitators, will prepare a document known as a Summary of Learning. This anonymized summary will focus on sharing the themes and knowledge that emerges from the Listening Sessions during Phase One, without providing analysis or recommendations. The Summary of Learning is intended to highlight key themes and to guide the next phases of the process. 

Phase Three: Commitment to Learning

This phase will look at opportunities to share key learnings from the process and to discuss core themes and ideas shared within the Summary of Learning to support the University’s ongoing commitment to contributing to a safer and healthier sport culture on campus. Phase Three is a commitment to further learning in a larger group setting. Phase Three will be planned in the new year (Winter 2025) and is likely to occur in Spring of 2025. 

As an institution, U of G cares deeply about the experiences of the student-athletes, staff, and alumni community. The University acknowledges the wide range of experiences of athletes and staff associated with the cross-country and track programmes. As such, the University is reaching out because hearing directly from past student-athletes, staff, and alumni is critical for creating safe and supportive environments at U of G. The University is committed to learning how we can continue to strengthen broader institutional response mechanisms and support student success and well-being.

The U of G and the Design Group are aware that for some alumni this period was incredibly difficult. We are committed to creating an emotionally supportive environment that is thoughtful and responsive to participants and the restorative process.