Kompass Blog

Family mediation in Ontario almost always ends with the same document: a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU. It’s the bridge between what was agreed to in the room and the legally binding separation agreement that comes later.

Getting the MOU right is one of a mediator’s most important responsibilities. If you’re just starting out, it’s good to be aware of helpful tips and potential pitfalls.

Read on to learn more about what belongs in a family MOU, how the open vs. closed distinction shapes what you write, and where new mediators tend to run into trouble.

There are no rules in Canada about who can call themselves a mediator. Literally anyone can claim to have the expertise to guide people through conflict.

That means it can be tough to stand out as a credentialed, responsible professional. So if you’re looking to start a mediation practice, your marketing job is really about building trust, not just visibility.

The good news is there’s a clear playbook. Whether you’re planning to work in family disputes, workplace conflicts, or community settings, the steps are largely the same.

Here’s how to get started.

If you work with older adults in any capacity—as a support worker, healthcare provider, or informal family caregiver—chances are you will encounter someone affected by dementia. Over 650,000 Canadians live with the condition, and that number is expected to grow to one million by 2030.

To provide effective care, you need to understand what dementia looks like in daily life and how to respond with compassion and confidence.

In this post, we walk through what dementia actually is, how it affects the adults you support, and what skilled care actually looks like in practice.

For many people entering the field of alternative dispute resolution, it can be tough to know where to start. How do you build credibility in a profession that isn’t formally regulated?

That’s where the ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) can help. As the province’s leading association for mediators and arbitrators, ADRIA provides professional training, standards of practice, widely recognized designations, and a supportive network that helps practitioners grow their careers.

To better understand how ADRIA supports aspiring ADR professionals, we spoke with Deputy Director Arifa Virani.

Jessie Mason was drawn to family mediation from a deeply personal experience. After working with a mediator during her own separation, she saw firsthand how the right guidance can keep communication respectful and help families move forward with confidence.

Since then, Jessie has built a thriving career as a certified family mediator, supporting couples through separation, divorce, and the complex decisions that follow. And now she’s helping Kompass students develop the skills to navigate family conflicts fairly and effectively.

We spoke with Jessie about what drew her to this field, what makes family mediation distinct, and what future practitioners should be aware of.

Shelley Chrest has both Chartered Mediator and Qualified Arbitrator designations along with a JD, an LLM, and extensive training from the Justice Institute of BC. She has spent years helping people navigate contentious disputes.

Her career spans mediation, arbitration, and policy development across various sectors, including workers’ compensation, local government, and social assistance. She’s driven by the core belief that every person deserves a fair process and the chance for their experience and evidence to be heard and thoroughly considered in a fair and balanced manner.

We sat down with Shelley to learn how she got into ADR, how she sees the role of mediators and arbitrators, and what she feels new practitioners need to know.

Laraine Ashpole started her career in government almost 30 years ago and quickly became the go-to person for the toughest disputes. That led her to seek formal training in negotiation and mediation.

She went on to become a Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada and a Registered Roster Member with Mediate BC. She currently works as a Conflict Management Consultant with the BC Public Service and operates a private practice focused on workplace dispute resolution.

That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Laraine as an instructor in Kompass’s mediation program! Keep reading to learn more about her unique perspective and what she brings to the classroom.

In family mediation, individuals are asked to revisit past hurts and openly discuss fears about parenting, finances, and more. These are sensitive issues that are often tied to a person’s deepest emotional experiences. For mediation to work, participants must believe that the space is safe, that the mediator is fair, and that speaking honestly won’t backfire.

Family mediators must build rapport, demonstrate neutrality, establish structure, and create conditions where people can hear one another with less defensiveness. None of this can be achieved without one essential ingredient: trust.

In this post, we explore why trust is fundamental in family mediation, how mediators foster it, and how formal training can equip you with the skills to build trust effectively.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a popular choice among career changers seeking meaningful and rewarding work. If you’re one of those thinking about making the leap, you owe it to yourself to scope out the landscape first.

So what can ADR professionals expect in the coming months? What trends and opportunities will define the year ahead?

To find out, we spoke to Pramila Javaheri, the executive director of the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO). Keep reading to get expert insight on what’s shaping the field today and what’s on the horizon.

When different generations live, work, and make decisions together, tensions are almost inevitable. Older adults and their families don’t always see eye to eye on issues like inheritance, caregiving, or cultural traditions, and these conflicts can quickly become overwhelming.

That’s where intergenerational mediators come in. Rather than declaring a “winner” and a “loser”, mediators help families talk openly, understand each other’s perspectives, and find solutions that work for everyone.

In this post, we’ll explore the most common issues behind intergenerational disputes, how mediation can help preserve harmony at home, and how you can get the training you need to launch a rewarding career in this field.