SportNB | Facilitated Resolution Program

Facilitated Resolution Program: Repairing relationships, Resolving Conflicts

Through Sport New Brunswick’s ongoing commitment to promote and help create safe and inclusive sport and recreation environments for all New Brunswickers, recognized Provincial Sport Organizations as well as their member organizations can now access Sport NB’s Facilitated Resolution Program (FRP) – a confidential, supportive, and non-adversarial approach to resolving sport-related conflict and repairing relationships when formal complaints are not appropriate or necessary.

Scope of the Program

Sport NB’s FRP is designed to support sport participants in resolving interpersonal conflicts in a safe, respectful, and constructive manner.

The FRP is intended for conflicts that:

Do not meet the threshold for a formal complaint but still impact the participant’s sport experience or occur following a formal complaint process where additional support is required.

Are not submitted to a formal complaint process based on the choice and preference of the person(s) impacted.

Involve miscommunication, disagreements, or interpersonal challenges that can be resolved through facilitated discussions.

Involve resolution or reconciliation following a complaint proceeding.

Can be addressed through mediation, education, or conflict resolution strategies rather than disciplinary measures.

Resolution Options for Eligible Cases

For each eligible case, organizations may access an intake and review process, including a neutral assessment of the situation and background, along with eligibility screening aligned with Sport NB’s FRP criteria. If the case meets eligibility requirements, the parties involved will be offered a choice of facilitated mediation or restorative:

Mediation

Up to 3 hours of mediation
Structured session to resolve conflict
Facilitated by a neutral professional
Pre-mediation prep and follow-up support

Restorative Support

Up to 5 hours of facilitated support
One-on-one or group facilitation
Focus on relationship repair and long-term resolution

Eligibility Criteria

Have no active case with ITP or PSO	Prefer dialogue over process
Seek good-faith resolution	Seek clarity or healing
Belong to a Sport NB-recognized PSO with access to the NBSSCM

Why It Works

The FRP is designed to focus on repair, rather than discipline, in dealing with issues that arise in the sport community. This supportive conflict resolution alternative:

Is timely and more supportive than formal discipline and complaint processes
Preserves relationships in the sport community
Builds awareness and understanding to reduce future issues
Encourages good-faith resolution
Is built on the concept of fostering empathy and closure
Is designed with the intent of preserving relationships and trust

How to Access the Program

To access the FRP, individuals must submit an intake assessment to confirm their eligibility with their Sport NB-recognized PSO. The PSO may then initiate the program eligibility review by ITP if they determine the situation is appropriate.

To access the intake assessment, please contact your PSO as appropriate.

Note: Only PSOs who have access to the NB Safe Sport Complaint Mechanism (NBSSCM) may access the FRP at this time. The eligibility criteria for the NBSSCM may be found here.

Additional Support

If you are facing a challenging situation or need support in addressing an issue, SafeZone may be an additional resource to consider. SafeZone is a confidential and non-judgmental space to share concerns and ask questions. This service offers to provide guidance on available options and support in understanding possible next steps.

To learn more about this service, please reach out to ITP Sport at info@itpsport.ca.

Facilitated Resolution Program