the JIBC to offer conflict resolution courses in their communities, a course
of action that Burdine quickly initiated.

To gain academic as well as public support and credibility for this
program, the Institute developed precise descriptions of the conflict resolu-
tion courses and sent them to a variety of organizations to establish recog-
nition and certification from other training programs, institutions and
professional associations. Almost immediately, the B.C. Psychological
Association approved the program for continuing education credit, and
the JIBC’s Police Academy endorsed it. The first graduates received their
certificates in January 1987.

Word about the program spread rapidly to other provinces and, in
its second year, students from the prairie provinces attended. The JIBC
also started to offer conflict resolution classes outside Greater Vancouver
in Powell River, Nanaimo, Victoria and Whitehorse. By 1988, 150 students
were enrolled in the program and hundreds more were taking individual
courses, the variety of which also grew with demand for more special-
ized options. By that year too, there were twenty faculty, although five
senior instructors were teaching most of the classes. The reputation of, and
demand for, the JIBC’s conflict resolution courses extended across Canada.
Students came from across the country and the JIBC reached out—in 1988

the Centre for Conflict Resolution Training presented classes in Winnipeg, On Mery sluecnerdi,
Saskatoon, Sault St. Marie, Fredericton and Quebec City. Various organiza- Diracior of ivicmoriai
tions (such as the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Family Mediation Canada, University’s Scaool of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the B.C. Interna- Rumen Kinadies qe
tional Commercial Arbitration Centre) contracted with the JIBC to provide Reersation, tole her
training to their members. icilows JBC conflic’-

Student numbers and course offerings have continued to grow each raschurion: areas ine
year. Conflict resolution is now taught at all JIBC campuses as well as the convoc.stion saacci.:
main campus. And the Institute works with colleges and universities to “Remember who you
provide classes in eighteen other communities throughout B.C., Alberta fave wai, remember
and the Yukon. Four courses are available online, attracting students from wagt you have aariad,
across Canada, and more are planned. romain curious, eriitruce

As a student from Newfoundland, Dr. Mary Bluechardt, Director Wiat story...;he sustica
of Memorial University’s School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, said institute hus nresaree
in her Convocation speech in 2008 on behalf of the graduates from the you vail for irat
Centre for Conflict Resolution: “I have travelled quite a distance to be here, challenge!”

but wouldn't have missed it for the world! I began the program in conflict
resolution way back, 1997 to be truthful. I can hear you, what took her so
long?”

That’s a feeling that resonates with both students and teachers of
conflict resolution. “The core strength of our conflict resolution program
has always been that it is taught by practitioners, people working in the field
that they teach,” says Pat Ross, Vice-president of Education and Student