1. Provide a national voice for affiliated CoSA sites
In 2015, CoSA Canada was incorporated as the national office for CoSA sites across the country. Under a five-year Public Safety Canada-funded project that launched in 2017 and concluded in 2022, CoSA Canada has provided assistance to CoSA sites in 15 locations to reduce recidivism and assist people who have committed sexual offences to reintegrate into their communities.
Since 2017, CoSA Canada has also contributed to research through academic partnerships and participated in federal and non-profit learning initiatives. It has raised public awareness of CoSA programming and engaged in a multi-year process to identify and articulate good practices and relevant materials for CoSA staff and volunteer training, including outlining a national operational framework.
Cliff Yumansky has held the position of Executive Director of CoSA Canada since 2021 and comes to this role with a strong leadership background in corrections and criminal justice policy.
From 2007 to 2014 Cliff was Director of Corrections Programs and Community Development for the Department of Public Safety Canada and worked as a senior advisor in corrections policy for the unit since the mid-nineties focusing on high-risk/sex offenders, the national sex offender registry, national flagging system, national office for victims (NVO) and the NVO sustaining grant program.
Prior to working in the federal government, Cliff was Director of Community Programs (serving troubled/at risk youth) for the Youth Services Bureau (YSB) in Ottawa for nearly 10 years. Cliff also worked as a Probation Officer (Adult) for three years for Quebec Ministry of Justice in Gatineau/Hull.
Cliff is based in Port Perry, Ontario, and has spent his retirement working on casual contracts within Public Safety Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, the RCMP. Cliff served as the VP of the CoSA Ottawa Board of Directors from 2016 to 2020 and acting President of the CoSA Ottawa Board before completing his term with the Board.
CoSA Canada invites associates—companions—to support our work including criminal justice and reintegration professionals, researchers, and others. CoSA Canada welcomes contact from those interested in contributing skills and abilities to reach out. For more information, please contact info@cosacanada.com.
CoSA Canada's Award of Distinction celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to CoSA in Canada.
2022 - Dr. Robert (Bob) Cormier, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Bob Cormier is a forensic psychologist who enjoyed a 35-year career in the federal public service. After seven years working as a psychologist in the Kingston area, he moved to Ottawa, initially as a senior research officer. He subsequently held numerous positions in the Department of the Solicitor General, and later Public Safety, including Senior Director, Corrections Research and Community Development, and Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Centre. Dr. Cormier received the Public Service Award of Excellence for Outstanding Career in2010.
Following his retirement from the public service in 2010, he continued to pursue his interests in corrections, restorative justice, respectful workplace, crime prevention, and mental disorder and the law. He is a member (part-time) of the Ontario Review Board, a tribunal that makes dispositions in cases of accused who are found by the Courts to be unfit to stand trial or not criminally responsible for criminal offence son account of a mental disorder.
He has been a long-time supporter of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA).He is a former member of the Board of Directors of CoSA Ottawa and currently serves on their Advisory Committee.
Among his achievements, Bob Cormier co-led with David Daubney, Canada’s initiative on restorative justice at the U.N. Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. This initiative culminated in an Economic and Social Council resolution, passed in July 2002, establishing the U.N. Basic Principles on the Use of Restorative Justice Programs in Criminal Matters.
2021 - Dan Haley has been involved with CoSA for over 30 years. With support from Harry Nigh and Hugh Kirkegaard, Dan along with others established the second circle in the city of Toronto. Hired by MCC Ontario, Dan met with men returning to the community and linked them to the growing work of CoSA in the Toronto/Hamilton/Kitchener area as well as building the work of CoSA in his home community of Peterborough.
2020 - Patricia Love was honoured by the CoSA community in December 2020. As the founder of CoSA Ottawa, Patricia Love played an invaluable role in creating the national office together with her daughter and now longtime CoSA program director, Susan Love. Her dedication and advocacy enabled CoSA to develop a strong reputation, locally and internationally.
2019 - Harry Nigh (center), with then Chair Hugh Kirkegaard and Executive Director, Kathryn Bliss at the CoSA gathering in Canmore, AB. Harry was instrumental in initiating the very first circle of volunteers in Hamilton, Ontario. Through great passion and commitment, his extensive contributions helped CoSA take root in Canada and evolve over the years.
