#122 | Restorative Justice in Practice: Lessons from the Okanagan

Can a community-led program change the course of a young person's life — before the justice system ever has to?
In this episode, Host Laken Tucker (CIAJ's 2026 Summer Law Student Intern) speaks with Christina Harper (Program Coordinator, Restorative Justice Program, BGC Okanagan) about how the program supports youth ages 12 to 24 through a collaborative model involving the RCMP, local schools, community business partners, and victims. Christina shares how the program came to be, how it's grown, and the outcomes it's producing on the ground — from volunteer training to participant feedback and reoffending trends.
This conversation offers a grounded look at how restorative justice functions in practice — and a hopeful case study for communities of any size looking to build something similar.
Guest
• Christina Harper, Program Coordinator, Restorative Justice Program, BGC Okanagan
Host
• Laken Tucker, CIAJ 2026 Summer Law Intern; JD Candidate, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University