Got problem neighbours? Community mediators may be your last line of defence
CBC News | Posted: July 4, 2017 10:27 PM | Last Updated: July 5, 2017
Members of the Community Mediation Calgary Society help neighbours help themselves when tempers flair
Children's television host Mister Rogers famously asked viewers to be his neighbour, but if those neighbours started acting in a less than neighbourly fashion, Rogers could have reached out to the Community Mediation Calgary Society.
From early morning lawn mowers to rowdy backyard gatherings and neighbours not cleaning up after pets, co-founder Stuart Simpson says the group is ready to help neighbours come together and find common ground.
For 25 years, the not-for-profit group has offered its services free of charge to help Calgarians solve their differences by starting a dialogue instead of getting hot under the collar — a process Simpson said is no easy task.
"This is really different from the common way people face a problem, where they debate that their answer is the best answer and they support their answer and they never listen to the other person," Simpson told the Calgary Eyeopener.
"In mediation, we focus on listening and understanding and appreciating that there's many sides to one particular topic."
Simpson said the group doesn't directly solve problems, but gives neighbours the tools to help deal with over 50 sticky situations.
"We shift the conversation to solutions, and what might be a common interest (neighbours) might have — what might be something that you can both work together on as a solution."
No need for a law book
Simpson said most people with complaints go through the usual channels, first by reaching out to 311, the Calgary Police Service or Community Standards.
But when the usual methods don't or can't solve the problem, Simpson said those organizations often call for CMCS to get involved.
"Many of those (organizations) know about us … so they phone us when there is a situation they can't solve themselves."
Simpson said disputes can get tricky when people focus on what they have the right to do, as opposed to what they should do to solve the problem.
"I would say it hardly ever turns out black and white. We always try to move away from rights — rights are this adversarial advocacy process that just isn't working in politics, it's not working for our neighbours," Simpson said.
"People need to find ways to work together, find solutions that will work for both of them and they can create the solutions. They don't need to go to a law book for that."
The CMCS offers a number of services including mediation, conflict assistance meetings and community engagement workshops.
Calgarians with community issues can enlist the services of a community mediator by contacting info@communitymediation.ca or visiting communitymediation.ca.
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- With files from the Calgary Eyeopener