The Dr. John Haynes Memorial Award

Dr. John Haynes was a pioneer of family mediation in the US and was the Founding President of the Academy of Family Mediators there. He came up to Canada in the 80's to do some training of some pioneers, in the their own right, here, including Larry Fong, Deborah Prowse, Kent Taylor, Nancy Flatters, Mike Porter and Joanne Goss, to name a few. He came back periodically to give training sessions and/or attend conferences.

John used to say that mediation is good work and is therefore only one letter away from "God's work". Also, that a mediator must love his/her clients: "There is good in everybody and if you want mediation to work, you must find the good in people".

When John died prematurely in 1999, Judge Michael Porter, Ret'd, wrote to John's wife, Gretchen, to ask if the Alberta Family Mediation Society could establish an award in his name to be presented annually to one or more persons who have contributed significantly to the field of Family Mediation in the Province of Alberta.

Past winners:

• 2000: Dr. Larry S. Fong


• 2001: Louis Faber, B.A., LL.B., RFM


• 2002: The Honourable Judge Nancy A. Flatters


• 2003: The Honourable Madam Justice M.J. Trussler


• 2004: Dr. Kent Taylor


• 2005: Ms. Diane Shearer


• 2006: Ms. Patricia Blocksom, QC and Ms. Mary Jane Klein


• 2007: Alberta Justice


• 2008: Ms. Janis Pritchard


• 2009: Judge Michael Porter, Ret’d


• 2010: Ms. Lorri Yasenik, MSW, RSW, CPT-P, RFM, RPCA and
  Dispute Resolution Officer Project (The Honourable Madam Justice Colleen Kenny, The Honourable Judge Victor Tousignant, Lonny Balbi, QC, Douglas Moe, QC and Blair Laven)


• 2011: no recipient


• 2012: Ms. Geeta Bharadia, QC