Restorative Approach

Read Shila's thoughts today, on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. We at Restorative Approach mark this day of remembrance and contemplate our responsibility as settlers in restorative work. We hope you find a way to learn and listen today too.

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National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in 2026 — RESTORATIVE APPROACH Allison, myself, and Billy on photoshoot day. It was always such a good laugh with him, the ultimate trickster!

“Today, as we do each year, we pause to honour the lives, voices, and histories of Indigenous Peoples across Mi’kma’ki and throughout Turtle Island. When I see orange shirts out and about today, I see more than fabric and colour — I see the children who never came home, the children who didn't experience love, the children who lost their culture, and the survivors who carry those memories. Each shirt feels like a symbol, a reminder of one life taken or forever changed by residential schools. It is a call to honour them not just in memory, but in how we choose to live in right relation.

Truth and Reconciliation Day is a time to acknowledge the enduring harms of colonialism and residential schools, and to recommit ourselves to the work of justice, healing, and relationship.”

-Shila Leblanc, Founder, Restorative Approach

Image source: Government of Canada

We often turn to the wisdom of thinker/creator/writer adrienne maree brown as we continue to polish our own facilitation processes. She reminds us that the core of meaningful facilitation is grounded in having the conversations that we *need* to have, rather than the ones we think we *should* be having.

“AGS:
You write that there’s a conversation in every room that only the people present can have and it’s our responsibility to find that conversation. Tell us more about this idea. What tips do you have for finding those conversations?

AMB:
I love that this is true, and as a facilitator, it’s really a Golden Rule. When people are super frustrated and feel like nothing is going anywhere, it’s probably because you’re missing the conversation that you need to be having. As far as finding it, that really depends on the size of the group.”

-excerpt from interview with Alice Grandoit Šutka for Deem Journal

We provide a wide range of conflict and education services to our clients. All types of businesses and organizations can benefit from our specialized workshops in restorative approaches. And for organizations experiencing conflict, we offer assessment and facilitation services to find positive ways forward. We can also lead a formalized investigation process if the situation calls for it.

We’ve worked with all types of organizations including non-profits, private businesses, trade unions, and government and educational institutions. Everyone benefits when the focus is on finding resolution and working together in good ways.

Get in touch with us for a free 30-minute consultation so we can learn more about your situation and how we can help.

At Restorative Approach, we think it’s kinda chic to support organizations and individuals in learning to embody a restorative approach in work and life.

Sometimes conflict does require legal or bureaucratic intervention (for example, arbitration in relation to labour disputes), but Restorative Approach is here for anything related to interpersonal or group conflict. So many situations escalate unnecessarily when an honest conversation was all that was needed.

ID: A white background with a dark blue box in the center; light blue text says “What kind of conflict is right for a restorative process?”. Above the blue box is a picture of Restorative Approach’s founder, Shila. Below the box is the Restorative Approach logo.

The most critical skill in an AI world? Knowing how to talk to each other.

AI can draft an email, analyze complex datasets, and automate workflows, but it can’t make eye contact, read a room, or sense the subtle shift in someone’s tone. Face-to-face conversation requires active listening, vulnerability, and real-time empathy—the exact human elements that technology cannot replicate.

When digital interactions and AI tools handle the friction-free, transactional parts of our lives, our in-person conversations are where trust is established and genuine relationships are formed.
Mastering the algorithm is useful, but mastering face-to-face communication is what keeps us human.

At Restorative Approach, Shila and some of our other facilitators have had the privilege of studying the principles of Parker J. Palmer via the Center for Courage & Renewal. This quote, included below in full, echoes the values that we hold dear when doing restorative work. Facilitating requires deep listening and asking questions with curiosity in an attempt to understand more fully. While we may not be able to always guarantee a “safe” safe; as facilitators, we do our best to create “safer” spaces that can act as containers for difficult, but meaningful, conversations.

“So, I think first of all, safe space needs a facilitator. I don’t think it happens automatically. And I think the role of the facilitator is to keep the space safe, even when someone tries to break the safety. I think there are some simple rules, there are some not so simple rules, but one of the simplest is no fixing, no saving, no advising, and no correcting each other. Well, what we’re going to do in the absence of those behaviors, is we’re going to learn to listen deeply to each other, and we’re going to learn to ask honest, open questions to hear each other into speech. Which I think is another of the most critical tasks of our time. So many people unseen, unheard — they need to be heard into speech. So there are things we can do, but it’s a discipline.” - Parker J. Palmer, for The On Being Project podcast

Unlike traditional responses to conflict, our mission is to support people in having courageous conversations to address things openly and honestly so agreements can be reached about how to move forward. There is emphasis on responsibility and accountability with focus on finding resolutions that work for everyone involved. Our goal is to break the typical cycle of disconnection and escalation when conflict naturally emerges between people. Each situation is unique so we tailor our responses accordingly.

ID: A white background with a light blue box in the center; dark blue text says “What makes this different?”. Above the blue box is a picture of Restorative Approach’s founder, Shila. Below the box is the Restorative Approach logo.

We’re living in an era where AI handles the heavy lifting for content, data, and strategy. But when communication breaks down between two people? No tool is going to step in and say, "Hey, let's talk about what's really going on here."

Focusing on person-to-person conflict mediation isn't just a "nice-to-have" anymore—it's essential:

✨ Emotion > Logic: Disagreements are rarely just about the facts; they're about feeling heard.
✨ Nuance > Data: A screen can’t read body language or hear what isn't being said.
✨ Relationships > Disconnection: Courageous conversations build trust that lasts.

The more automated our world becomes, the more valuable our human skills get. Learn to listen, de-escalate, and mediate—your relationships (and career) will thank you. 💬❤️