Justice Education Society’s Victoria Office Reopened

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2010
Contact: Rick Craig       
604.660.3191; Rick.Craig(at)JusticeEducation.ca 

Justice Education Society’s Victoria Office Reopened

Vancouver, BC – The Justice Education Society has reopened its Victoria office and is now offering services on a limited basis. The office had been closed since August due to funding cuts by the provincial government.

Effective immediately, the office will provide services to schools and community groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. These services are part of the Society’s Justice System Education Program, which includes courtwatching, court orientations, mock trials, judge/lawyer sessions as well as career and personal planning.

The reopening is made possible by funding provided by the Victoria Bar Association and by the Notary Foundation of BC. In January, the Victoria Bar Association urged its members to donate to the Society and agreed to match the donations on a dollar-for dollar-basis.

“Our goal is to raise enough funds so that we can open each of our closed offices for at least one day a week,” said Rick Craig, the Society’s executive director. “Thanks to the generosity of the lawyers in Victoria, over the next 10 months we will introduce almost 1,000 students, 20 youth-at-risk and 100 kids in Aboriginal school programs to BC’s court system.”

The Society’s offices in Prince George, Kamloops and New Westminster remain closed, with Prince George scheduled to reopen on a limited basis in the fall, thanks to additional Notary Foundation of BC funding. In addition, the Society’s offices in Kelowna, Surrey and Vancouver are still operating on reduced hours. These closures were needed after the Society’s core funding was reduced by over 60% in August by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Attorney General.

Court visits and Justice System Education Program activities can be booked by phoning 250-387-3303 or emailing Victoria@JusticeEducation.ca.

About the Justice Education Society
Established in 1989 as the Law Courts Education Society, the Justice Education Society is dedicated to improving access to the justice system through hands-on, targeted, two-way education between the public and those working in the system.

The Justice Education Society has created over 100 programs and resources and introduced over one million British Columbians to the province’s justice system.

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For more information please contact Rick Craig at 604.660.3191 or Rick.Craig(at)JusticeEducation.ca.