• Family and Civil Mediation Testimonials from Clients
• Mediation Testimonials from Lawyers
• Basic Family Mediation and Negotiation Course
• Advanced Family Mediation and Negotiation Course
• 30 Hour Family Law Course for Educators and Mental Health Professionals
• Law Student Testimonials
• Screening for Power Imbalances

Mediation Testimonials

Family and Civil Mediation Testimonials from Clients

• Hilary and Kim: Thanks again for helping us with our separation — we couldn’t have done it without you.
• Thank-you once again for your work and for making calmer heads prevail.
• I don’t know if I’ll be able to settle matters with B, but this is the closest we’ve ever been and we got here ONLY with your help. For some reason, these expensive lawyers can’t make it work but somehow you do???!!! I hope everything works out. But regardless, I just wanted to let you know I think very highly of you and all your work does not go unnoticed!
• Thank you for your time today and for your kind and tactful demeanour with both of us. Rats, where were you six years ago?
• Thank you for meeting with us today and for your patience. It has been difficult to discuss these topics with P. and you made a big difference for me in rationally discussing the topic with him.
• I wanted to let you know that J. and I have finalized our separation. I have learnt much from this experience — the most valuable lesson is get to know who is the true person you are negotiating with, and then determine the negotiating strategy. Your advice was right on — figure out what is it that I need. Thanks again for your help and all the best to you. I will definitely call on you should we need to go through dispute resolution again.
• I really appreciated what you have crafted and the clarity and detail of the draft agreement is reassuring and comforting to me. Thank you.
• Thank you for all your help during this most unhappy time. I appreciated your letter last week and take seriously your note regarding protecting the children from the conflict.
• The attainment of a divorce, and some closure, is a massive accomplishment. I can’t thank you enough for that. There are lots of other good aspects of the agreement too which will become apparent as the years go on. Thank you again, you have done my kids and I a great service.
• Thank you for your continued guidance and support. Mediation has I believe been the best way for J. and I to work through what is best for our kids and fair to both of us.
• I thank you again for your fairness and compassion in dealing with us.
• You should know that today you engineered the most civil conversation my ex and I have had in several years.
• Thank you for all your hard work during our mediation. We really appreciate all your sincere efforts to make the mediation fruitful.
• Hilary for all your work. (My lawyer) and I had a chat yesterday and both felt you did a great job. Without you, we wouldn’t have an agreement now.
• Hilary, many thanks for your very professional help in our very difficult matter. It looks like we are going toward an agreement and could put an end to the destruction of our families. Thanks again, again and again.
• …thank you for the follow up. Something I rarely see these days professionally. Yes, everything is settled and you can close the file. We are both moving forward and our daughter continues to be the focus of our new “partnership”. Thank you for your help.

Mediation Testimonials from Lawyers

• A brief note of thanks for your work on this case. They have been fighting for almost two years, and you finished it off Monday. I really appreciate your efforts, as does my client. (family lawyer)
• I have known Hilary for many years: as a lawyer in our community; as a partner in our law firm; and as a very respected mediator. Hilary is a highly-regarded mediator with a sense of commitment and a clarity that is much appreciated by clients. She has the ability to… diffuse and reduce the conflict and to help instill focus and rationality at a difficult time…. I believe that Hilary is providing an excellent family mediation service and I have no hesitation in highly recommending her to both clients and counsel.
  — Sheila Holmes, Barrister and Solicitor
• Your experience with pensions and your background research was invaluable in bringing these parties closer together. Your mediation skills are excellent, we came a long way with your help.
  — M. Michael Title, Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation
• As a family law lawyer I find it very helpful to work with Hilary as a mediator…. I can say that I trust Hilary’s good judgment in working with both men and women to solve the problems arising out of their marriage breakdown. She is even-handed and fair minded,  and as such is a great assistance to me in knowing how to proceed when the going gets rough. Hilary and I both believe in lawyers and mediators working together, collaboratively, to help people reach a good settlement. We both believe in win-win situations, and are distrustful of any unbalanced settlement.
  — Sandra Demson, Barrister and Solicitor (retired)
• I have known Ms. Linton since her days as a practicing lawyer and I have worked with Ms. Linton since 2001 on many mediated settlements in the family law area. Ms. Linton works with families in crisis in a fair, equitable and balanced manner. I would highly recommend her as an excellent mediator for family law clients.
  — Mary Reilly, Barrister and Solicitor
• I am a huge proponent of alternative dispute resolution including mediation or mediation/arbitration. I have in the past used Riverdale Mediation’s services with much success…… they are direct, reasonable and efficient.
  — Gary A. Stern, Barrister & Solicitor

Teaching / Training Testimonials

Basic Family Mediation and Negotiation Course

• This course was excellent, a great emphasis on skills and background materials for lawyers and non-lawyers alike. Very enjoyable and good value.
  — Coreen Waters
• Overall, an excellent course. I have already recommended it to colleagues.
  — Aaron Franks
• This course had the right amount of theory/research. The coaching was supportive but also instructive. Although I find role plays excruciating, they are perhaps the most useful aspect of this kind of training. Great course!
  - Lene Madsen
• The course was extremely informative, presented well by various professionals who were able to provide different perspectives. Very comprehensive, a terrific learning experience.
• Outstanding expertise. Thanks to the three of you for advancing my practice skills.
  — Mary Kay Arundel
• If all mediators are as sincere as you guys then my faith in mediation is restored!
• You were all great and work very nicely together. Congratulations!
• The provided material is a most valuable resource for my library. Thank you!
• The feedback during and after the role-plays was the most valuable way for me to integrate and apply the theory and practice skills.
• The three presenters provided a good mix of styles, backgrounds and unique cases for discussion. They were organized and also flexible. The course was well-organized and presented, using a good blend of techniques. I look forward to the advanced course!
  — Dr. Dan Ashbourne
• There was lots of new content, and content that I knew already was reviewed in a refreshing way.
• Great materials!

Advanced Family Mediation and Negotiation Course

• The varied very competent slate of presenters/coaches provided us, the learner, with a wealth of experiences and information. The fact that no-one pretended to know all made this course very attractive, natural and high quality.
• Really broadened my perspective on how mediation can be used. I am really glad I took this course so soon after the introduction course. It met and exceeded my expectations. All the instructors were great, the students were a nice addition and it was a wonderful, diverse group.
  — Carol-Jane Parker
• Great course Hilary. I really enjoyed it. Both Heather Swartz and Barbara Benoliel’s contributions were great (Barbara Fidler too – her insight is always interesting). Thanks.
• I thoroughly appreciated the actors. Their skill levels allowed us to experience more fully the mediation. The role plays were very powerful in showing us the shift from a mediation to restorative justice healing circle. The course content was just about right in that the information was in great depth on some things, having the role plays and working then was invaluable.
• Role plays with the actors made it easier to believe roles and positions… much more effective.
• Your mix of actors and students added great value to this course. Excellent cases were chosen. Bringing in different presenters each day helped to keep up everyone’s energy and focus. Good examples came from having different people talk about their learning by doing examples and scenarios. Your group are very good presenters and clearly promote the field of mediation.
  — Dr. Dan Ashbourne

30 Hour Family Law Course for Educators and Mental Health Professionals

• This was an excellent exploration and discussion of family law and arbitration and will be invaluable to my work.
• Great group. Covered a lot of material. Written resources very helpful.
• Excellent. Thank you. Very thorough. Great examples.
• Very knowledgeable and I learned a lot from Hilary. I liked her teaching style as she spoke about relevant topics and made the learning very practical.
• This was a great course, and very well planned. The discussions, summaries, and lectures were very easy to understand and really showed me how much I enjoy family law.
• Hilary really helped me understand family law as a beginner who has done no training.
• Very intense, interesting, excellent text and readings, excellent instructors.

Law Student Testimonials

• Great professor—she worked really hard!! Course was really valuable.
• Great January term course, breaks the usual law school mode…. Most involved, interactive class I’ve ever taken here.
• Amazing course!
• Excellent!
• “Loved Hilary as a prof. It’s very enriching to have a practitioner teach the course.
• Learned a lot and obviously very knowledgeable in this area. I feel that I’ve learned many practical skills.
• Thanks Hilary: I really liked the course. (I am now MUCH more interested in this area after taking this course.)
• Overall VERY effective teacher, very approachable and knowledgeable and created a great class environment.
• I’ve never had a practitioner who has so much knowledge to share AND is able to effectively communicate the knowledge AND genuinely take the time to teach. THANK YOU!!!
• I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was valuable and applicable to more than just family law. A great benefit to future practitioners. Learned real world skills. Great job! Thanks!!
• Provision of real-life professional examples was very helpful. Ms. Linton’s own experience enriched the course.

Screening for Power Imbalances, including Domestic Violence and Abuse, in Family Mediation and Arbitration

• Interactive, informative, proactive and compelling.
• The presenters were very experienced, empathic and provided the essentials in assessing for DV. I found the discussions particularly enjoyable and thought provoking.
• The course was designed and expertly presented in a manner that encouraged important and provocative discussion. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks.
• I found it to be very comprehensive. It was useful to have the various DV screening tools, all the suggestions on what to say when terminating a mediation. Enjoyed all the insightful anecdotes from Hilary and Claudette and discussions about effectiveness of med-arb.
•  It was a great two days. Thanks very much. I learned and enjoyed. The discussions were provocative and stimulating, and as we said raise many questions….all of which is good.
• Just terrific!
• I am sure I speak on behalf of all attendees when extending our gratitude for an expertly presented seminar. It was a terrific forum for important and candid discussion. Our family law bar and its related professionals face some fascinating challenges that go to the core of the manner in which we resolve family law disputes. It was a privilege to participate in these discussions with all of you and it made me proud to be associated with such a committed and caring group of professionals. Thank you.
• Excellent discussion of issues which need attention and development of go forward plan.
• Thank you for an entertaining and interesting two days. There is much to consider, and over the next several weeks I will be thinking about the Correct Approach.
• This was 14 hours in May well-spent.
• Great insight into the process; experience as mediators came through….. good cross-section of attendees led to great discussions.
• Thorough and comprehensive review of domestic violence indicators and interview protocol. Reading material extremely useful and generous. Interactive style of the course was great!
• Materials very good; well-organized; provides for re-visiting and referencing. Your experience and insight provided a basis for meaningful answers and insights over a broad range of mediation issues.
• The depth of subject of subject matter was really appreciated.
• Presenters were very knowledgeable and provoked much discussion in group. Material helpful and awareness-raising.
• Group size generated many interesting discussions.
• I liked the role plays and interactive exercises. I enjoyed many of the discussions. Precedents and research materials were excellent.
• Informative and relevant.
• Lively but thoughtful discussion on procedure and process.
• You did an excellent job of delivering the training and I genuinely appreciate your dedication to the job at hand. You added a lot of value to the process. Thanks.