Since 1982, the OAFM has offered Ontario’s families a better way.
We accredit and support mediators in Ontario to promote family mediation as the first choice for families in conflict.
Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) enforces the Standards and Code of Ethics for Accredited Family, Child Protection and Intergenerational Mediators. OAFM maintains a roster of accredited members and ensures that through the use of an Accredited Mediator, the public can confidently rely on the mediation services they receive.
OAFM creates standards for and approves all training and supervised practical experience that provides a pathway to accreditation. Associate and Accredited Family Mediators are supported in their ongoing education and professional development during their careers. Trainers are supported in the sharing of best practices to ensure that all education maintains a high standard.
By promoting family mediation and public awareness, OAFM prepares families to understand the impact of conflict and complex relationships and how to effectively select and utilize constructive dispute resolution options. In doing so, more families will have access to mediation as an efficient way to resolve their differences, minimizing the financial and emotional costs that are caused by escalating conflict. By leaving personal decision making in the capable hands of each individual, adherence to solutions is increased and families are empowered to continue to support each other, even during challenging times.
Family Mediation has been demonstrated by research to be effective for families experiencing conflict. It is affordable and timely, and preserves relationships where possible. Our members come from diverse backgrounds and disciplines but share a common goal of putting families first.
We promote and govern the professionalism within the family mediation community by granting accreditation to family mediators who have completed a rigorous program of education, training and internship. Our AccFM (OAFM) designation is sanctioned by the Ontario provincial government.
We are the premiere organization that has led the way in defining and upholding the core principles of Family Mediation.
Unlike other forms of mediation, Family Mediation requires a nuanced understanding of conflict resolution theory and practice, psychology, interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, family law, child welfare and protection. Accredited Family, Elder and Child Protection Mediators have the expertise to approach emotionally charged situations, screen for safety, objectively assess points of conflict, and facilitate balanced settlements for the participants. We strive to provide the best education, training and support to practitioners while serving as a resource and directory for the families of Ontario.
History of the Ottawa Chapter
The Ottawa Chapter holds a special place in the story of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM). In 2025, the OAFM Board of Directors voted to discontinue the chapter structure across the organization, while also committing to preserve the history of the Ottawa Chapter. This chapter was integral to the founding and early growth of OAFM, serving as a cornerstone of our community and a source of leadership and innovation in family mediation.
Please read below to learn more about the history of the Ottawa Chapter and its lasting contributions to OAFM.
Ottawa Chapter History – A Timeline
1982
Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) is established with John Goodwin as President of the provincial organization.
Justice George Walsh, then head of the Family Law Division of the Supreme Court of Ontario, addresses the first annual meeting of the OAFM. His enthusiastic support of family mediation helps boost support through the legal community in Ontario. In 2013, Canada’s first family law moot competition would be named the Walsh Family Law Moot to recognize the outstanding contribution made by Justice Walsh to the development of family law in Ontario.
1983
Informal discussions regarding establishment of the Ottawa Regional Committee of the OAFM. Family Service Centre Family Mediation Workshop offered by Cathy Aitken and Robert McWhinney.
1984
Ottawa Regional Committee of the OAFM is established with Cathy Aitken as President.
1986
Ottawa Regional Committee of the OAFM becomes the Ottawa Chapter of the OAFM.
OAFM establishes Code of Professional Conduct for family mediators.
Course on Family Mediation is offered at Carleton University with instructors Cecil Fennell, Connie Renshaw, Valerie Whitlam and Wilma Stollman.
1987
Law Society of Upper Canada Continuing Education Program on Family Mediation.
Chapter members Cathy Aitken and Cecil Fennell are joint instructors of a new Carleton University course on Family Mediation Offered by the Department of Law and Legal Studies.
1988
Connie Renshaw, Valerie Whitlam, and John Goodwin take over as instructors of Carleton University course on family mediation. This course has continued in various forms until the present day. At different times, instructors have included chapter members Peggy Malpass, Shelagh Macdonald, and Kent Swinburne among others.
1990
John Goodwin initiates Ottawa Peer Luncheon, which becomes a monthly feature of the Ottawa Chapter for the next thirty years, organized and facilitated by John.
1993
Ottawa Chapter OAFM provides response to federal Department of Justice “Custody and Access: Public Discussion Paper”. This policy discussion would later help form the foundation of amendments to the Divorce Act of Canada which came into force in 2021.
1994
10th anniversary, Ottawa Chapter
1996
OAFM Annual General Meeting and Family Mediation Conference takes place in Ottawa, organized by Hania Grawbowski, Jane Pederson and Connie Renshaw.
1998
Hania Grabowski, Jackie Huston, Lena Jones and others had lobbied the Government of Ontario and local judges to implement a Unified Family Court. They hoped to have family mediation included as an integral part of the new system. In 1999, while not entirely integrated, the Ottawa courthouse would feature court-based family mediation for the first time.
AccFM (OAFM) designation is adopted.
1999
Court-based family mediation is established in the Ottawa courthouse. A holistic vision of the founding members from the early 1980s begins to take shape, with (i) the streamlining/unification of the family court system and (ii) the provision of mediation within the court system itself.
Mayor Jacquelin Holzman declares April 29-May 5 “Family Mediation Week”.
2000
OAFM Ottawa Chapter partners with Family Mediation Canada (FMC) to sponsor a national conference in Gatineau, Quebec.
2004
20th anniversary, Ottawa Chapter
2006
Barbara Cohen, Chapter President, organizes a monthly radio broadcast featuring an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) segment hosted by Ottawa Chapter member Ernie Tannis.
2010
Kenneth Cloke is featured at two-day workshop offered jointly by OAFM Ottawa Chapter and FMC.
2012
Gala dinner and awards reception with Bernie Mayer, in honour of founding members.
2013
The Walsh Family Law Moot was held in Toronto in honour of Justice George Walsh, the judge who had addressed the first annual meeting of the OAFM in 1982 when John Goodwin was the OAFM’s first president. Justice Walsh was at the forefront of the work to simplify, expedite, and humanize family court. Ottawa Chapter members contribute to this annual event by preparing law students for the negotiation competition and by volunteering as judges.
2014
30th anniversary, Ottawa Chapter
2015
The Honourable Justice Jennifer MacKinnon is the keynote speaker of the Chapter’s Annual General Meeting. She speaks on the role of mediation in access to justice.
2017
Barb Cohen – together with Jane Murray and Marc MacAuley (sponsored by OAFM Ottawa, Family Services Ottawa and Collaborative Divorce Ottawa) – create the brochure titled, a user-friendly, bilingual infographic to help consumers understand the variety of dispute resolution options and their related costs for separation.
2018
The Chapter collaborates with the President of the provincial OAFM to ensure timely written submissions to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
These are captured in the Report of the Committee to the Senate for Third Reading.
2019
In May, the annual Family Peacemakers Conference – a joint undertaking of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation and the Ontario Association for Collaborative Professionals — is held in Ottawa at the Brookstreet Hotel. President Christopher Deeble invites The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, to deliver a keynote speech at the Peacemakers Conference. The subject is the new Divorce Act amendment legislating a new priority being given to out-of-court dispute resolution, mediation being specifically legislated for the first time since the OAFM was founded.
In June, the federal Minister of Justice, David Lametti, addresses the Senate Committee, hailing the benefits of family mediation:
“We are trying to balance a number of different things. Frankly, I think we have the balance right. There are provisions where we are trying to encourage people to use reconciliation and mediation before going to court so that perhaps we can solve these issues beforehand. Then there are presumptive burdens when there is litigation, which actually also help mediation. If you know which way the court will frame its analysis, it helps push the mediation process before it ever gets to court, and hopefully it won’t get to court.”
Senate submissions summarize decades of provincial- and federal-level policy research.
2020
President Valerie Morinville starts the work of organizational redevelopment by tasking committees with the following deliverables: Terms of Reference document to explain the raison d’etre of the Ottawa Chapter; a new website; a set of Bylaws; and a new Membership Policy.
2021
The Divorce Act of Canada and the Children’s Law Reform Act of Ontario come into force, amendments are re-written to recognize the importance of attempting to resolve disputes through mediation, negotiation, or collaborative law, to reduce the harm to children.