Our CJHS Board

It is a rewarding experience to serve on the Board of Calgary John Howard Society, and 2022 was no exception.

An experience that stands out is sharing the findings of our board Crime Survey, the third conducted after prior versions in 1985 & 2009. Our goal is to ensure the agency remains accountable to its community, by understanding how Calgarians attitudes towards crime have evolved over time. It was encouraging to learn not only that the agency’s mission and vision continue to resonate, but also that community interest in restorative justice and alternatives to punitive justice has grown.

Risk was top of mind for the board this year, as services returned to predominantly in-person delivery in a world reshaped by the pandemic. Discussions at our board retreat focused on risk management, and risk reduction strategies to mitigate opportunities for harm. Our thanks go to the management team and staff, for expertly navigating how to best meet the needs of clients in challenging circumstances.

In 2022, we bid farewell to two long-serving board members, Dr. Harpreet Aulakh and Stella Penner. For Harpreet, this marked the culmination of a nine-year term. For Stella, this was the end of a second term of involvement. Each has left a lasting imprint on the agency, and on us as fellow board members. We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Monetta Bailey, whose perspective and linkage to community is informed by her academic research on the intersection of race, ethnicity, immigration, and the justice system.

As a board, we are grateful for the ingenuity and resilience demonstrated by the team at Calgary John Howard Society. All Calgarians are rewarded by your efforts, in being able to enjoy a safer, more just, more inclusive community.

-Alex Laidlaw, Chair