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Recognition
EYJ board member honoured by Government of Alberta
Edmonton Youth Justice board member Parul Kanwar has received an Alberta Immigrant Impact Award in the Young Leader category, which honours individuals 18 to 30 years old who have made a difference.
Parul was recognized “as a dedicated advocate for social justice, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and diversity. Active with Edmonton Youth Justice Society and Pivot with QTHC, she amplifies BIPOC voices and supports marginalized communities through research, policy work, and volunteer efforts.”
PIVOT is a program of QTHC, the Queer and Trans Health Collective, that combines education on social justice, 2S/LGBTQIA+ health issues, and practical project management skills to design community health projects focusing on the needs of 2S/LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards recognizes the contributions of foreign-born Albertans. Nominees must have been born outside of Canada but are now Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and currently living in Alberta.
The awards honour youth, women, seniors, entrepreneurs, community builders and others, who have enriched the province through volunteer activities, leadership, innovation, business, or academic and professional achievements. https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-immigrant-impact-awards
Carolyn Cush-Nieminen honoured by Government of Alberta
Our south office coordinator, Carolyn Cush-Nieminen received an Alberta Community Justice Award in the Enhancing Justice category, which recognized community leaders for their innovative efforts to create a fair and accessible justice system. Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services presented the award.
Carolyn has been active in youth and community justice initiatives since 1998. In this role, she has impacted the lives of hundreds of youths and their families. Carolyn has established partnerships with community organizations for youth community service and drawn on the passions and strengths of the youth she works with to optimize positive outcomes. She works tirelessly to ensure the success of youth in extrajudicial sanctions by connecting them with additional services and supports.
Carolyn has work with Edmonton Youth Justice (EYJ) since 2012 and was key in the society’s transition from panels to restorative justice. The 33rd Alberta Community Justice Awards honoured ten community leaders for their exceptional contributions to crime prevention and community safety across cities, towns and neighborhoods throughout Alberta.
Mandy Halabi recognized for her restorative justice impact
At its recent conference, the Alberta Restorative Justice Association honoured Mandy Halabi with the George Brertton Award, which annually recognizes an Albertan who has made an impact in their community through restorative justice.
Mandy holds a Master’s degree in Peace and Development from the University of Limerick and specialized training in restorative justice, conflict resolution, and peacemaking circles. She has facilitated workshops and training sessions across Canada and New Zealand, focusing on restorative justice practices and peacemaking circles.
Edmonton Youth Justice nominated Mandy for the award because of her catalytic and instrumental role in our 2017 transition to restorative justice circles. She created the circle format, the circle script, and provided training to the board and volunteers. Since then, she has facilitated Introduction to Restorative Justice training sessions for our circle volunteers, which now occur four times a year.
As a guest lecturer at various universities and a workshop presenter at numerous conferences, Mandy has shared her knowledge and expertise with a wide audience. Her leadership roles, such as Chair of the Canadian Restorative Justice Consortium, demonstrate her dedication to advancing the field and helping others understand the importance of restoring relationships with family, community, and nature.
Currently, Mandy is a Child and Youth Care Instructor at Norquest College and the CEO of Transformative C.I.R.C.L.E. Practice Centre (TCPC). https://peacemakingcircle.com/
Former EYJ board member appointed to Edmonton Police Commission
City Council recently appointed four new members of the Edmonton Police Commission for a two-year term ending December 31, 2026. One of the appointees was Zahro Hassan, a former Edmonton Youth Justice board member.
Hassan holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Alberta, specializing in young adult refugees and higher education. Currently a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta, Zahro has previously worked with the City of Edmonton, the Government of Alberta and Boyle Street Community Services.
Since moving to Edmonton in 2014, she has served on several boards, including the Edmonton Social Planning Council and the Edmonton Youth Justice Committee Society. Zahro has contributed to key equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, including the Alberta Government’s first Anti-Racism Advisory Council, the University of Alberta’s EDI Committee, and the Edmonton Public School Board’s Equity Advisory Committee.
With more than 15 years of interdisciplinary experience across Alberta and Ontario, her work spans community development, mental health, homelessness, refugee integration, education access and trauma-informed care. The Police Commission includes two City Councillors, seven members appointed by City Council, and three members appointed by the Government of Alberta. https://edmontonpolicecommission.com/
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