Who am I?

My name is Taylor Wilson and I offer mediation and family dispute resolution services in Abbotsford, BC and the surrounding Fraser Valley. Presently I am in training to join the BC Mediate roster so any mediation is co-facilitated with a certified mediator.

I graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley with a degree in political philosophy and an extended minor in philosophy. Since I graduated I have studied Peace and Conflict Studies at the M.A. level through St. Stephen’s University. In addition to these studies, I have completed a certificate in Dispute Resolution through Smartsettle, and a certificate through Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association in Victim Offender Conferencing Training. I volunteer frequently with ARJAA as a co-facilitator in victim offender conferences.

Philosophy

The “polis” from where we derive the word “politic” is the imperfect world of community and relationship where differing visions of our shared social reality come together. Inevitably, there are conflicts that emerge in such a social reality. When conflicts do occur. whether in business, between landlord and tenant, in the confines of the family, or the broader community, there is little recourse beyond the law and litigation. Mediation is an alternate form of dispute resolution that is more collaborative than traditional models of dispute resolution that tend to be more adversarial (and expensive).

But what does a mediator do?

A mediator does not impose a ruling in the way that a judge does, nor does a mediator represent the interest of any particular party the way a lawyer does. Rather, it is the role of the mediator to support everyone, to facilitate dialogue between all parties, and to bring the different viewpoints and needs into the light so they can be understood and acted upon. A good mediator is meant to help guide those who are participating in the mediation process to a fair resolution that is in the best interest of everyone involved. In certain situations this means utilizing the Smartsettle software that helps optimize the outcome for everyone.

What should I expect in the mediation process?