News & Blog

Court-connected family mediation in Ontario is, by definition, a voluntary process of self-determination. It is voluntary in that judges do not have the power to order parties into mediation unless they voluntarily agree to do so by jointly selecting a mediator (s. 3(2) of the Family Law Act). Judges hearing conferences may order parties to mediation intakes pursuant to R. …
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First of all, SCREEN! Then Screen some more. Screening mediation clients for power imbalances and intimate partner violence does not stop at the initial intake/screening meeting.  Screening is not just a one-off triage process to help a mediator determine whether mediation is appropriate and how the mediation should be structured. A decision that mediation is appropriate at the outset could …
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Screening is a crucial part of any mediation, arbitration or parenting coordination process. For clients embarking on any of these processes, it is important to be aware that screening is not only important for the facilitator but also for the clients, who may otherwise not have the opportunity to be heard regarding specific aspects of their relationship or current situation …
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Guest Blog post by current Mediation-In-Training (MIT) Program, Nicola Simpson, B.A. (honors), M.A., J.D., LL.M. “Family law professionals, including mediators, will increasingly be confronted with cases involving disputes over children’s gender identity and LGBTQ-related issues during separations and divorces. Mediators are tasked with helping parents navigate these complex matters while adhering to the fundamental principle of the best interests of …
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By Amelia Charles Riverdale’s Mediator-In Training (MIT) program offers hands-on learning, mentorship and supervised experience to students who have completed their family mediation training. Designed to qualify for the AccFM designation (OAFM), the program seeks to empower all trainees to become the best mediators they can be. The program is broken down into two phases: Through this experience, students learn …
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Say hello to Amelia Charles, a second-year university student who is working towards her undergraduate degree in psychology. Amelia is also our summer intern! We’ve invited Amelia to write this short piece on her work experiences with us (so far)… Hello, I am Amelia Charles, a university student working towards a psychology undergraduate degree. I have no history in law or …
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We invited Riverdale alumni, Nicola Simpson, B.A. (honors), M.A., J.D., LL.M, to share her experiences with our online family mediation training program. “Riverdale Mediation is more than an institution. My journey with this exceptional team of expert family law mediators has shaped me both personally and professionally, equipping me to bridge gaps and empower diverse communities. I encourage aspiring mediators …
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Our “case studies” introduce students who have successfully completed our online family mediation training. We hope you appreciate their insights on how our training helped them build skills, establish their practices, and make a positive impact on families. For today’s post, we interviewed mental health practitioner, Ali Liénaux (Toronto, ON) Riverdale’s 30-Hour Family Law course exceeded my expectations as compared to the previous experience I had with York U. …
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