The University of Calgary is taking a bold step toward transforming the family law system, with a focus on reducing the trauma often inflicted on children involved in legal disputes. This week, the university announced it has secured nearly $27 million in funding from the Alberta Law Foundation to support the creation of two research chairs and the establishment of a Centre for Transformation.
Led by Ellen Perrault, Dean of the Faculty of Social Work, the initiative aims to address long-standing concerns about the harm that family court proceedings can cause, particularly for children who are caught in the crossfire. Drawing on over a decade of experience as a child welfare worker, Perrault is committed to finding better solutions for children already facing challenges at home.
“As a society, we can do better,” Perrault said in an interview. “Kids are traumatized not just by the family breakdown but by the conflict itself—by witnessing violence or dealing with parents who cannot negotiate or are struggling with mental health issues. These experiences have long-lasting effects on children.”
According to a 2018 report by Justice Canada, family law cases account for 35% of all civil cases in the country, with custody and child support disputes consuming significant time and resources. Despite this, the traditional family law process, which often involves high-conflict litigation, can exacerbate stress for families rather than offer constructive solutions.
The goal of this new initiative is to shift toward a more collaborative approach that better supports families before they reach the courtroom. “Why should a judge be making decisions about parenting arrangements when families could work together, with the proper skills and guidance, to come to an agreement?” Perrault explained. “Our vision is to create positive change by building families’ resilience and skills earlier in the process, reducing the need for judicial intervention.”
Byron Chan, Executive Director of the Alberta Law Foundation, emphasized that the goal is not just to reform the legal process but to mitigate the trauma that family separation and divorce can cause, particularly for children. “Divorce and family separation are among the top ten adverse childhood experiences,” Chan noted. “Legal proceedings often place children in the middle of high-conflict cases without fully understanding their emotional impact.”
This research initiative will work in partnership with the Re-Imagining the Family Justice System project in Grande Prairie, Alberta, which seeks to address the root causes of family disputes rather than merely resolving conflicts at the “dispute stage” through adversarial legal representation. The new chairs and Centre for Transformation will play a key role in shifting the focus toward preventative strategies that help families address issues before they escalate into court cases.
The new research chairs will be in place by July 1, and their work will be integral to rethinking how the family justice system can better serve families, particularly children, in ways that reduce trauma and foster healing. “This isn’t just about small changes to the justice system—it’s about reimagining how we approach family law entirely,” Perrault concluded.
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