Peace Hub
Principal Investigator: Kent Highnam
Research Team: Amy Severson, Jennifer Jasper
Project Dates: March 13, 2024 to March 13, 2025
Project Funding: $7,000
Project Summary:
The Peace Hub initiative, launched through a workshop on October 4, 2024, was aimed at exploring the feasibility of establishing a Peace Hub in Western Canada. The goal was to gather post-secondary institutions and community organizations to discuss peaceful engagement, restorative justice, and conflict resolution, especially in response to increasing regional and global tensions. The event, held at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) in New Westminster, provided a platform for collaboration, research exploration, and planning for the Peace Hub’s future. Key objectives included assessing the regional demand for such a hub, identifying opportunities and challenges, and setting a framework for ongoing development.
The Peace Hub started, as all social movements and innovative initiatives do, with a powerful question: what if our respective institutions, community groups, policy makers and organizations decided to work together?
Partners:
Individuals from the following organizations participated in one or more of the Peace Hub meetings:
- Peace and Conflict Studies Program – Langara College
- Peace and Conflict Studies – University of the Fraser Valley
- Mediate BC
- BC Non-Profit Housing Association
- Abbotsford Restorative Justice
- Out on Screen
Outcomes and Benefits:
The Peace Hub Feasibility Workshop will lay the groundwork for a regional network dedicated to promoting peace and conflict resolution through education, research, and community engagement. Key outcomes will include the identification of regional challenges and opportunities, development of a strategic vision and framework for the Peace Hub, and establishment of potential partnerships across sectors.
The initiative will contribute to the broader field of peace and conflict studies by offering a regionally relevant, interdisciplinary model that integrates academic scholarship with community practice. Findings and insights from the workshop will directly inform the design of peace education programs and conflict resolution initiatives, supporting their practical implementation across Western Canada.
Ultimately, the Peace Hub will serve as a catalyst for collaborative projects, collective knowledge-building, and real-world impact, fostering stronger, more resilient communities equipped to address conflict and unrest through peaceful, inclusive strategies. By prioritizing collaboration among diverse stakeholders, the Peace Hub will ensure that peace and conflict resolution education is dynamic, applied, and accessible beyond traditional academic settings.
Funding and Support:
The Peace Hub is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Project Status: Completed
Deliverables:
The Peace Hub members met a further three times following the initial October 4 meeting, and created a statement of purpose and a near-term activity plan to continue solidifying and expanding the Hub’s purpose and membership. The Hub’s work will focus on three pillars: training, community, and resources. The next meeting of the Hub is planned for June 20, 2025.
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