March 2026: A key Milestone for the Restorative Engagement Program on Sexual Misconduct

March 30, 2026 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time - 1:50

Since its launch in 2021, the Restorative Engagement (RE) program on sexual misconduct has connected with thousands of class members and hundreds of Defence representatives. Their voices, experiences and insights have helped the Defence team to learn, apply restorative approaches and facilitate culture change.

March 2026 marked an important milestone for the program: most class members' engagements have been concluded. A small number of sessions will continue into the summer to accommodate participants' availability and scheduling needs. Defence representative cohorts have also concluded. As the program comes to a close, it does not mean that the critical work of RE is over. The program is now moving into its final phase, focused on reflection, sharing what was learned, and using these lessons to guide future work.

The RE team is currently preparing the program's final report. This report will summarize and analyze what class members and cohorts shared throughout the program, to identify themes, lessons learned and ways forward for the CAF and DND. It will speak honestly about the challenges the program faced, as it was the first of its kind in the Government of Canada. It will also share context on how the program was developed and how it evolved over time. The final report is expected to be published before the end of 2026.

Voices of class members, Defence representatives, restorative practitioners, and program staff will also be shared through a storytelling webpage. This human-centered project will bring the story of RE to life by showing how the program was created, how it worked in practice, what changed over time, and what it meant for those involved. It will offer a deeper, more personal understanding of the program's impact.

The Sexual Misconduct Support and Resources Centre (SMSRC) continues to provide guidance, funding, support, and services to the Defence community and their family members aged 16 and older affected by sexual misconduct. Feedback, shared insights, or recommendations can be sent to the Centre through the feedback form, phone 1-844-750-1648, or email at [email protected].

Rebuilding trust and transforming culture takes time, and the end of the RE program is not the end of this work. It is one important step amongst many initiatives aimed at addressing sexual misconduct and supporting culture change within the Defence Team. The contributions of class members and Defence representatives will continue to inform and shape these efforts in the years ahead. What Defence representatives learned through the program will continue to influence their teams and create a ripple effect, started by class members, and spreading across the organization.