Susan Belford

Susan has been practicing as a mediator and facilitator since 2004: working with individuals, families and groups to strengthen dialogue in order to achieve durable agreements and foster healthy, future focused relationships.

Her work with groups includes First Nations, unions, non profits, resource industry groups and government, and has included ongoing facilitation, research, conflict resolution training, mediation, and strategic planning.

Susan's work with families includes the creation of co-parenting and separation agreements, communication training, parent-teen mediation as well as the creation of co-parenting agreements and Memoranda of Understandings that serve as the basis for legal separation agreements.

Susan is an active community member and serves on the board of BC Families in Transition, and on the United Way's Impact Council on Mental Health and Addiction.

Originally receiving her mediation training with the Institute of Conflict Analysis and Management, she is currently engaged in study for a Masters degree in Conflict Analysis and Engagement with Antioch University Yellow Springs. This degree emphasizes the transformative potential beyond the immediate settlement of issues that mediation offers; the development of deeper understanding of self and ability to communicate that increases the capacity of the individual to successfully negotiation life's challenges.

Susan is a member in good standing of Family Mediation Canada.

Pete Sperling 

Pete is a Mediator, Facilitator and Coach who is dedicated to helping people to deal with difficult situations effectively. Pete brings a passionate, youthful energy and a calm reflective approach to all of the work he does.  An avid traveller, Pete’s worldview has been shaped by a variety of global experiences.  He has been part of the Peacemakers team for several years, helped to pilot the Peacebuilders program in 2010 and joined the Mediation team in the fall in 2011.

Rob Thompson

Rob Thompson is an experienced trainer, facilitator, and human rights activist. He has completed the Small Claims Court Mediation practicum. With a Master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford (U.K.), Rob has over fifteen years’ experience working with NGOs. For 8 years, he worked with the international peacebuilding and human rights organisation, Peace Brigades International (PBI). In preparing volunteer field officers for intensive work in conflict zones and living together as a multicultural group, Rob led 11-day trainings, focussing on the themes of interpersonal conflict resolution and group dynamics. Teaching formal consensus decision-making, facilitation and networking/PR are Rob’s specialties, as PBI is the largest international organisation using consensus at all levels.

Jeannie Ward 

Erin Wilson

Ben Ziegler 

Ben is a freelance mediator and collaboration consultant.

He is a mediator and mentor in the BC Court Mediation Program, provides online dispute resolution services to the BC Government, maintains a private mediation practice, and is a member in good standing with Mediate BC.

He also helps people and organizations undertake collaborative initiatives; via project coordination, needs analysis, consensus building, virtual facilitation, and agreement writing services. 

He participates in various local community networks; including: elder-friendly, family caregiver, business, social planning, food security, and the arts.

Ben is an avid user of social media, and blogs regularly, at www.CollaborativeJourneys.com.