Jennifer Suzor

Jennifer Suzor is an Accredited Family, Elder and Child Protection mediator who practiced family law for over 33 years. Recognizing the court system is adversarial and increases conflict and expense for families, she began her study of mediation at the Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute, then studied with leading Mediation practitioners, eventually training family mediators herself. She now trains and mediates exclusively and has now mediated close to a thousand cases. Former clients have commented on her intuitive ability to listen to them and understand what is important, guiding them to find the solutions that work for them in a timely and efficient manner. Counsel have appreciated her ability to help their clients focus on the issues at hand while also assisting the clients to process through the complex emotions and conflict arising from separation.

Jennifer has a simple philosophy about family breakdown. Separation is stressful and potentially damaging. Mediation is a planning exercise that conserves family resources for the benefit of the family. Families shouldn't experience more conflict and more stress as they move forward. They need guidance and information about the law and support in having their discussion and seeing the available options. Her favorite quote is "why cut what you can untie."

Jennifer was the recipient of the Association for Family Courts President's Award in 2016 for her work in trying to change the culture for separating families by increasing the use of mediation. She served as the President of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation from 2013 to 2018. As President she co-founded the successful Family Peacemakers annual conference for family mediators and collaborative professionals (www.familypeacemakers.ca)

Jennifer has worked to serve others in her community, serving as the President of the Autism Society (Windsor Chapter), continuing to sit as a founding Board Member of Windsor Life Centre, an addiction treatment centre for women, teaching and coaching at University of Windsor Law School and working with others to create the Walsh Family Law Negotiation Competition now run through AFCC Ontario Chapter.

When she is not mediating, Jennifer trains family mediators throughout Canada as one of the co-founders of Family Mediation Training Canada.

Simply put, her passion is helping families.