AFCC - Calgary

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALBERTA AFCC FROM INCEPTION IN 2012 TO COMING OF AGE IN 2019

The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts is an interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict. AFCC members share a strong commitment to education, innovation and collaboration in order to benefit communities, empower families and promote a healthy future of children.  Attending AFCC trainings and conferences, generally located in various cities in the USA, contributed to a significant base of professionals in Alberta, believing that membership in AFCC was helpful to the point of being a requisite to working with families in transition and especially those who were in conflict.

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At an AFCC Annual Conference in Vancouver B.C., in 2011, several Albertans were invited to the dinner celebration, for the Ontario Chapter of AFCC coming into being. Their excitement as the first Canadian AFCC Chapter, was contagious. After a terrifying but exhilarating taxi ride back to the conference hotel, several Alberta delegates agreed that as we had survived the “kamikaze” taxi driver, we could take on the Chapter building task. We decided that if Ontario could form a Chapter, then Alberta could absolutely do so…and the rest is history.

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The parent organization and the Ontario Chapter were incredibly generous with their assistance as we progressed from concept to fruition. We applied for our Provisional Chapter Status on August 15 of 2012. We worked through the parent organization’s “Chapter Tool Kit” step by step and we succeeded on gaining the initial requirement of 75 members in our province and progressed to become a Chapter. We had industrious people on the Coordinating Committee, who guided us through the process with their dedication and wisdom.

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The Honourable Judge Lynn Cook-Stanhope, the Honourable Madam Justice Andrea Moen, The Honourable Mr. Justice Bryan Mahoney, Jane Hoffman (lawyer), Patricia Hebert (lawyer), Dr. Bonnie Haave (psychologist), Dr. Stephen Carter (psychologist) and Eileen Ailon (psychologist), formed the Coordinating Committee. The process of setting up the Chapter involved a good deal of time and the completion of many tasks. The committee worked to build the membership base, prepare  the Chapter by-laws, designate a Chapter liaison with the parent organization, develop a web site, develop a financial plan and budget, develop a treasurer’s report and submit financial statements to the Coordinating Committee, gain incorporation under the Societies Act of the Government of Alberta, apply to register as a charity under the Income Tax Act, set up the key committees of the Board of Directors, set up Board Liability Insurance, set up Chapter bank account, design a Chapter logo, and plan for trainings and conferences relevant to Alberta members. It took over 2 years to work through the process to become a Chartered Chapter.

On March 14, 2014, Alberta AFCC held its Inaugural Board of Director’s Meeting at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law. Dr. Stephen Carter, psychologist, was elected our first President. The members of the first board included: Judge Nancy Flatters, Krista Frohlich (lawyer), Bonnie Have (psychologist), Elise Lavigne, (lawyer), Greg Pickering (psychologist), Nicole Sheldon (psychologist), Barbara Sheptycki (psychologist), Lorri Yasenik (social worker), Jane Hoffman (lawyer) and Eileen Ailon (psychologist). The membership of the board reflected the interdisciplinary, professional backgrounds of members as well as the geographical make up of our province. We alternated Presidents as coming from either Edmonton or Calgary and alternated the location of our annual conferences between these two major centers in Alberta. (Read More)