Family Mediation Services
In British Columbia, mediation has been an alternative to the traditional court process of dispute resolution for family disputes, for over 20 years. Mediation can be used for many kinds of family disputes but is most often used when couples separate or divorce.
Mediators on the Society's Family Roster mediate a variety of family-related matters, which include reorganization of the family after separation or divorce, parenting, financial support and property matters connected to separation or divorce, family business, family property or finances, family inheritance and estates, responsibility for care of elderly parents, adoption, pre-nuptial issues, and intra-family conflicts.
You can find detailed information about individual mediators on the Family Roster in our searchable Directory of Family Mediators. The requirements for being admitted to the Family Roster and the application process are described in Family Roster Admission.
The Re-Design Process
Since 2004, the Family Mediation Practicum Program has assisted many families in resolving a wide variety of family disputes without the need to go to court. Mediate BC is currently developing a new family mediation program called the Regional Mentoring Program to replace the Family Mediation Practicum Program. One of the objectives of the new program is to provide better access to mediation services for families and training opportunities for mediators around the province.
Other key objectives of the re-design are:
Integration - with Family Mediation Services and other Mediate BC family initiatives, other Mediate BC staff, and other family justice professionals.
Geographic flexibility- to enhance access to training for mediators and mediation services for families in more remote and underserved regions in BC.
Financial viability - to achieve more cost-effectiveness,
efficiency, and sustainability
The Regional Mentoring Program will provide families with access to affordable mediation services for a wide variety of family disputes including parenting responsibilities and property and asset division.
Mediate BC will be commencing a pilot of the Regional Mentoring Program on April 1, 2012 and will be launching the new program later in the year.
How to Obtain Further Information
If you are interested in resolving a family dispute through mediation or would like to receive further information about the Regional Mentoring Program, please contact the Family Mediation Services Team at (604) 684-1300 ext. 23 or fms@mediatebc.com.
Please note that our office is moving to the following address effective March 12, 2012:
Suite 177 - 800 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5
Toll Free: 1-877-656-1300 ext. 23
Local: (604) 684-1300 ext. 23
Distance Family Mediation Project
Distance mediation services are being offered through the “Distance Mediation Family Project”, beginning May 1, 2011. The goal of this special time-limited project is to find out how technology can best be used to provide high quality family mediation services. For more information about our Distance Mediation service, click here.
By using our distance mediation service, you will be helping family mediators gain new knowledge about how different technologies can be used to help separating and divorcing British Columbians. The project is an initiative of Mediate BC Society.
Please note that our distance mediation service – as we are currently offering it under the Distance Family Mediation Project – will be coming to an end in June 2012. We will be able to accept new clients only until May 15, 2012.
Distance Family Mediation Services will give you details on obtaining these services.
Reports for the previous phases of the Distance Mediation Project are available for downloading:
General inquiries about the Distance Mediation Family Project may be directed to Susanna Jani, Project Coordinator: distanceproject@shaw.ca.
The Distance Family Mediation Project is generously funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia.