The funds will finance new research chairs and a Centre for Transformation
The Alberta Law Foundation has gifted the University of Calgary $26.8 million to fund an initiative that focuses on long-term well-being, trauma reduction for children, and family support.
The gift is set to fund two new research chairs and a Centre for Transformation at the university. The chairs and the centre will collaborate with the Re-imagining the Family Justice System (RFJS) initiative.
“Supporting initiatives of this magnitude is unprecedented for us, but incredibly exciting. The Foundation understands the value in this multifaceted approach and the need for generational transformation in the family justice system. We are grateful for the opportunity and ability to partner with the University of Calgary and the RFJS and are excited for the positive impact it will have on families and, in particular, children in Alberta,” Alberta Law Foundation executive director Byron Chan said in a statement.
According to the University of Calgary, family law cases make up 35 percent of all civil cases in the country. By concentrating on less adversarial measures, the new initiative aims to reduce trauma in such cases.
Moreover, the initiative caters to Indigenous peoples by working with these communities to integrate culturally informed practices. The Centre for Transformation will also address the needs of equity-deserving families, such as those with disabilities, those struggling economically, or those for whom English is a second language.
“The new Centre for Transformation will serve as a vital bridge between research and community impact. By combining the expertise of Canada’s largest school of social work with the innovative spirit of our Faculty of Law, the University of Calgary is uniquely positioned to lead systemic change in conflict resolution and family resilience,” University of Calgary President Dr. Ed McCauley said in a statement.
The RFJS initiative, which was implemented in Grande Prairie, sought to keep family law cases from reaching the dispute stage involving lawyers; instead, it urged families to examine the root causes of such disputes.
