Community Mediation Windsor-Essex (CMWE) is a FREE SERVICE that helps individuals and families to resolve conflicts or disagreements, such as:
- Disagreements between neighbours, roommates, colleagues, service providers, or contractors
- Issues between property owners and tenants
- Conflicts at school, at volunteer activities, or in the workplace
- Disputes between family members
Community mediation can be an effective alternative to resolving conflict/disagreements without going through the formal court/legal system. Community mediation is not a legal process and we do not provide legal advice. However, we support parties engaged in a variety of disputes to reach a mutually agreed upon solution without the time and expense of going through the legal system. CMWE does not handle family issues such as divorce, separation, custody or estates. CMWE also does not handle commercial disputes if significant sums of money are involved.
What is Community Mediation?
Community Mediation is a collaborative process where volunteer Community Mediators help people with a conflict/disagreement to resolve the situation themselves through the use of safe, voluntary and mutually agreeable decision making.
While community mediation helps people reach agreements, it also helps with the rebuilding of relationships, empowering parties to resolve future conflicts and transforming the way they think about conflict and each other.
How does it work?
Our process is simple and quick. If you or someone you know is experiencing a conflict, please call or e-mail us so we can determine if community mediation is appropriate for your type of conflict. If it is, you will go through a short intake process, then your case will be assigned a team of two community mediators. The team of mediators will connect with all parties to set up a mediation meeting date, time and location that works for everyone involved. At the meeting, the co-mediators will work with everyone involved through shared, open dialogues that respect all parties involved. Our trained, impartial mediators do not take sides, but rather support the parties in finding a mutually acceptable resolution and/or action plan to address the issues between them.
Who are the Community Mediators?
Our Community Mediators are trained volunteers from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures and professions, including but not limited to social workers, counsellors, paralegals, lawyers, and members of the business community. This broad group of volunteers allow us to provide the community with mediators who understand the diversity of people’s lives and problems. Our mediation process is ground in diversity, equity and inclusion. Everyone is welcome.
Our mediators coordinate a safe and effective process to resolve the issues, without making judgments or offering opinions about the conflict. It is the job of the mediators to play a neutral role throughout every step of the process, supporting everyone involved to come to their own solutions. The process is not a legal process meaning we do not provide legal advice.
How do I contact CMWE?
- Please call us at 519-966-5010 or e-mail us at [email protected] to learn more about CMWE or request a mediation.
- CMWE’s office administration is open from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Mediations may occur outside of these hours (eg evenings and weekends) as they are based on the availability of the mediators and those involved in the dispute.
Resources for you
Download our CMWE flyer, our Conflict Resolution flyer, our Conflict Resolution Presentation, and Frequently Asked Questions.
Community mediation only takes a few hours and it is free, confidential and voluntary.
Mediation is available in French and English. Interpreter services are available upon request.
Eligibility Criteria
Community mediation is open and accessible to all adults 18 years and older. Signed consent form by parent or guardian is required for those under 18 years old.
Referrals
Referrals are not required, but are welcomed from family, friends, advocates and agencies.
Voluntary
This is a voluntary program. Participants can withdraw from the program at any time.
Community Mediation Windsor-Essex (CMWE) is a collaboration between the
Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic, St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology, and Family Services Windsor-Essex.
