THE MEDIATION CENTRE OF SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO (MCSO) 

SMALL CLAIMS COURT MEDIATION SERVICE 

Director  Stéphanie Goffin-Boyd

Professional Profile

Mediation is an alternative form of dispute resolution available to Small Claims litigants to help resolve their cases. Under this Service, we help individuals with many different types of disputes including contracts, commercial, consumer/vendor, employment and landlord/tenant.

Our Mediation Service provides persons with an opportunity to discuss their issues in a collaborative way with the help of an impartial third party. During a Mediation session, a Mediator meets with both plaintiffs and defendants and helps them gain a deeper understanding of their conflict so they can create their own solutions to the dispute.

Why Use Mediation?

Even if you have tried to resolve your case, Mediation may still be helpful. Mediators are specially trained to help persons with disputes find constructive ways to resolve them.

When you go to court before a judicial officer, there is a risk that neither party will get the outcome that they want. When you mediate a dispute, you still have control over what happens to the case.

Benefits of Mediation

• Helps parties end problems, not relationships
• Prevents the parties from the necessity of going to court, often with long waiting times and at times that may be costly or inconvenient for them
• The parties control the case
• Allows the participants to choose the solutions that work best for them
• Issues discussed by the parties remain confidential
• Persons who create their own agreements are more likely to follow through with their promises

Where and When Does the Mediation Take Place?

Mediations are held, variously, at the Frontenac County Court House, Public Libraries, and the Queen’s University Donald Gordon Conference Centre. They are held at times agreed upon with the parties, including evenings.

What happens if the other party does not want to mediate?

At a Mediation, both or all parties are expected to participate. Because Mediation is a voluntary process, all parties must agree to mediate. We do not put pressure on either party to mediate, but we do provide information about the mediation service to both parties. Lawyers can be in attendance.

Who are the Mediators?

Mediations are conducted by by Members of the MCSO Team (see below), assisted by MCSO Trainees and Mediation Associates.

What do the Mediators do?

• Lead the meeting, and help create a safe and neutral place to talk
• Help parties listen to each other
• Help build a clearer understanding of the issues in the dispute
• Help people come together to work on mutually beneficial agreements
• Help parties clarify how they feel and what they want to say
• Make sure that parties feel safe and have equal opportunity to speak

What does the Mediator not do?

• Give legal advice, take sides, or decide who is right or wrong
• Solve the problem for the parties

How much does it cost?        

If a Mediation is scheduled, there is a $ 50.00 Fee, typically shared by parties, for administrative expenses and the cost of renting facilities for the Mediation.

The Service operates on a combined ‘pro bono’/Fee for Service basis. In other words, for cases in the lower monetary range, or where the circumstances indicate the need, Mediation Services will be provided with no additional cost other than the initial $50.00 Fee.

Where the amounts at issue and/or the circumstances warrant, a fee will be charged. Fees will not exceed the amounts stipulated by Regulation under the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program. Those rates are listed under “Schedule of Fees” set out elsewhere on this web site.

How Do I Seek More Information or Arrange for a Mediation?

The procedure is to contact the Mediation Centre, either by leaving a message:- on the MCSO Voice Mail at (613) 546-6334; by email at info@mediatecentre.com; or by writing to the Centre at P. O. Box 29023, Portsmouth P. O.,  Kingston ON K7M 8W6.

All communications will be treated as STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. 

ABOUT THE MEDIATION CENTRE OF SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO (MCSO)

The Mediation Centre of Southeastern Ontario (MCSO) is in its ninth year of operation. There are thirteen Members of the MCSO team that provide Mediation, Arbitration and other Conflict Resolution services. The MCSO web site, including its Professional Services cover page, provides Professional Profiles of our Members. The MCSO web site also sets out information that may be useful to you on the Mediation process, Family Mediation, Facilitation and other forms of Third Party Neutral services in Organizational, Workplace and other settings, as well as on Conflict Coaching and our Small Claims Court Mediation Service – all of which constitute significant parts of the work of MCSO and its Members.   

MCSO presents as well:- twice per year, its 40-hour Certificate Training Program on Alternative Dispute and Conflict Resolution comprising two 20-hour Courses on Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills and Mediation Skills; a Graduate Course at Queen’s University; and other customized training on contract. 

MCSO also accepts into its Program promising Students as Mediation Associates, and where practicable, provides additional Training opportunities for persons completing its 40-hour Certificate Program. 

For a full listing of the MCSO team, click on “Our Mediators, Arbitrators and Conflict Resolution Practitioners”.