The following list represents some of the key conflict resolution organizations serving mediators and other members of the dispute resolution community in British Columbia. There are many other national and international conflict resolution organizations which play an important role in the province. A list of these organizations is available on our Helpful Links page.

1. British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute (BCAMI)
2. British Columbia Mediator Roster Society
3. D.R. Innovation Society
4. Family Mediation Canada

British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute (BCAMI)

500 - 1311 Howe Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2P3
Phone: 604-736-6614
Toll free in B.C.: 1-877-332-2264
Fax: 604-736-9233
E-mail: info@bcami.com
Web site: www.bcami.com
Contact: Rosemary Mohr, Administrator

The British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute (BCAMI) offers arbitration courses throughout the year; mediation courses to be announced; training; accreditation; skills assessment for members seeking the ADRI national designations; and referrals and appointments of BCAMI's qualified dispute resolution practitioners knowledgeable in all fields of dispute resolution.

Membership is voluntary. BCAMI members - mediators, arbitrators, facilitators - are accountants, architects, engineers, developers, forestry consultants, insurance executives, lawyers, realtors, appraisers, social workers, business people and other professionals. Many hold the C. Med. (Chartered Mediator) and/or C. Arb. (Chartered Arbitrator) status granted by the ADR Institute of Canada, Inc. (ADRI).

In October 2007, BCAMI initiated a program for resolving strata corporation disputes, the "Strata Mediation Pilot Program". The Program consists of a roster of mediators with knowledge of strata corporation disputes. Details regarding the program can be found on BCAMI's website at: http://bcami.ca/public_news.php.

BCAMI also provides a Speakers Bureau, public seminars, commercial mediation and arbitration handbooks; helps lower administration charges and helps establish a dispute resolution strategy for contracts or projects. For the Institute's Rules, course calendar, advice on the mediation or arbitration process, phone, fax, write, e-mail or visit BCAMI's website.

British Columbia Mediator Roster Society

311 - 895 Fort Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 1H7
Phone (Victoria): 250-381-9006
Toll free in B.C.: 1-888-713-0433
Fax: 250-381-9022
E-mail: mediators@mediator-roster.bc.ca
Web site: www.mediator-roster.bc.ca

The British Columbia Mediator Roster Society administers a central and accessible list of civil and family mediators who have met, at a minimum, a basic level of training and experience criteria, and who have subscribed to defined standards of conduct. The list consists of the "Civil Roster" and the "Family Roster". In 2004 the Society became affiliated with British Columbia's Child Protection Mediation Program Roster, and in this capacity manages information about the child protection mediators on this Roster. Detailed information about the mediators on all three Rosters is available on request from the Society office or by visiting the Society website's searchable Directory of Mediators.

The Society has been designated by the province's Attorney General as a "roster organization" under all of the Notice to Mediate regulations. The regulations provide that where parties are unable to agree upon the selection of a mediator, any party may apply to a "roster organization" for the appointment of a mediator. Similarly, when parties are unable to agree upon the selection of a mediator under Small Claims Rule 7.3 - Mediation for Claims Between $10 000 and $25 000, any party may apply to the Society for the appointment of a mediator. For further information on the Notice to Mediate regulations and Small Claims Rule 7.3 and the appointment process used by the Society in its role as a "roster organization", click here.

The Society also promotes the use of mediation in British Columbia, and provides a variety of information services to its Civil and Family Roster mediators and members of the public. The Society's semi-annual newsletter, The Roster Report, describes the Society's various activities.

D.R. Innovation Society

Suite 177 - 800 Hornby Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2C5
Phone: 1-877-656-1300 or 604-684-1300
Fax: 604-684-1306

Who We Are:
The D.R. Innovation Society (DRI) is a not-for-profit society formed in 1998 to provide dispute resolution (DR) services in B.C. The former name of this organization was the “British Columbia Dispute Resolution Practicum Society,” or “DRPS.” The name changed to DRI in March, 2009.

DRI is an innovator in the dispute resolution field in British Columbia, providing leadership in building capacity in collaborative dispute resolution services by:

• Providing training for dispute resolution professionals; and,
• Creating and providing affordable dispute resolution services.

DRI’s mandate is to enable innovative dispute resolution processes to produce consistently positive outcomes.

What We Do:
DRI operates a combination of dispute resolution programs and tailored dispute resolution services. DRI’s programs include:

1. The Court Mediation Program (“CMP”):
   The CMP provides a practicum for individuals equipped with formal training in mediation but who have little or no mediation experience. Practicum participants mediate actual cases from designated Provincial Court Small Claims Registries. In addition to its practicum services, the CMP provides mediation services to resolve claims filed in the designated registries which refer cases to the CMP to be mediated, free-of-charge.
2. The Family Mediation Practicum Program (“FMPP”):
   The FMPP is celebrating its fifth (5th) year of providing family mediation practicum opportunities for mediators. New mediators gain experience working with families undergoing transition such as separation and divorce. The practicum participants assist clients who are experiencing conflict and/or restructuring family life and who are seeking mediation to develop strategies that promote family harmony. The new Comprehensive Practicum offers experience in mediating the financial separation by assisting clients with the process of property division. The FMPP also offers child inclusive mediation.
3. The Child Protection Mediation Program (“CPP”):
   The CPP offers a mediation practicum that provides opportunities for individuals to develop their Child Protection mediation shills in a hands-on environment. The CPP program is open to Aboriginal applicants and applicants residing in under-served communities in the province of B.C.

How to Contact:

D.R. Innovation Society (“DRI”)
Kari D. Boyle
Executive Director
Phone: 604.838-2149
Email: kari.boyle@shaw.ca

Court Mediation Practicum Program (“CMP”)
Angela Mallard
Program Manager
Phone: 604.684-1300 loc. 22
Email: amallard@courtmediation.com

Family Mediation Practicum Program (“FMPP”)
Linda Bonnell
Program Manager
2nd Floor – 519 Seventh Street
New Westminster, BC V3M 6A7
Phone: 604.516-0788
Fax: 604.516-0708
Email: fmpp@drpracticum.com

Child Protection Practicum Program (“CPP”)
Kyra Hudson
Program Manager
Phone: 604.516-0788
Email: Kyra@kyrahudson.com

Family Mediation Canada

55 Northfield Dr. E, Suite 180
Waterloo, Ontario N2K 3T6
Phone: (519) 585-3118
Fax: (416) 849-0643
E-mail: fmc@fmc.ca
Web site: www.fmc.ca
Contact: Carrie Cekeravac, Operations Manager

Family Mediation Canada (FMC) is an interdisciplinary association of mediators, lawyers, social workers, human services and health care professionals, working together, creating a better way to provide for co-operative conflict resolution relating to separation and divorce, elder issues, adoption, child welfare, wills and estates, parent/teen counselling, etc. FMC was established in 1985 as a charitable, not-for-profit association under the Canada Corporations Act.

FMC's objectives include: providing a Canadian forum for the exchange of ideas, experiences, research, and opportunities relating to all aspects of family mediation through newsletters, conferences and seminars; promoting and monitoring a code of ethics and standards of practice; developing and encouraging training and continuing education programs; encouraging and conducting research into all areas of family dispute resolution; providing consultation to Provincial/Territorial mediation associations and other interested organizers, sponsors, groups and individuals; and informing the Canadian public about the advantages of mediation.

FMC provides a membership and a voluntary certification process for members. Certification is provided in two specific areas of practice: Certified Family Relations Mediator or Comprehensive Family Mediator. FMC also maintains a list of members and certified family mediator practitioners in all the provinces and territories in Canada.

For more information visit FMC's website.