Ontario ADR Organizations & Service Providers
Here for your benefit are links to the preeminent ADR organizations, agencies and companies involved in mediation/arbitration within the Province of Ontario. The Academy has worked cooperatively with various bodies to ensure that only the most experienced professionals are included in our member roster, all of whom are accredited by the appropriate Bar organizations.
Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program
Established in 1999, the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program (OMMP) is a court program designed to help parties involved in civil litigation and estates matters attempt to settle their cases before they get to trial. Under the OMMP, cases are referred to a mediation session early in the litigation process to give parties an opportunity to discuss the issues in dispute. With the assistance of a mediator on the program's mediator roster, the parties explore settlement options and may be able to avoid the pretrial and trial process. Generally, most cases through the OMMP are "low-dollar" disputes - no CADN members are named to this roster.
Under Rule 24.1, civil actions that are subject to case management are referred to mandatory mediation. Case management is a system in which the court supervises cases and imposes strict timelines on their movement through the pretrial and trial process. Certain civil actions, such as family law cases, are excluded from mandatory mediation. Under Rule 75.1, contested estates, trusts and substitute decision matters are referred to mandatory mediation.
ADR Institute of Ontario
The Ontario Chapter of the ADR Institute of Canada, ADRIO is the province's largest and longest established non-profit association for mediators and arbitrators. Its function is to provide the public with the means to resolve disputes of all kinds through mediation, arbitration and other voluntary methods, and to act as a national centre of information, education and research on dispute resolution.
ADRIO seeks to assist the public in finding ADR professionals, providing an online directory of mediators and arbitrators with various levels of experience and qualifications - most neutrals listed are non-lawyers. ADRIO has certification procedures, C.Med and C.Arb, which ensures competency levels for accredited members. The Institute also provides a regulatory infrastructure that includes a Code of Ethics and a Code of Conduct for Mediators that set high standards of practice, as well as providing a complaint and discipline process for any dissatisfied user of ADR services.
Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society (TCAS)
Formed in 2010, TCAS is a not-for-profit association with the aims of furthering the use of arbitration as a means of resolving commercial disputes and to promote excellence in the field. TCAS also has developed a common set of rules and standards for the practice of commercial arbitration, encouraging its 130+ members to seek continuing education and providing a forum for the exchange of ideas on all aspects of international and domestic arbitration. Its primary mission is to promote Toronto as a world centre for arbitration excellence to resolve international and domestic disputes.
ADR Chambers LLC
Ontario's largest and most respected ADR panel firm, ADR Chambers has provided conflict resolution services across Canada and internationally since 1999. ADR Chambers’ neutrals are experienced dispute resolution professionals and include many of Canada’s top mediators, arbitrators, retired judges, and experienced lawyers. They are dedicated to helping the legal and business communities resolve disputes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Visit ADR Chambers at www.ADRChambers..com.
Arbitration Place
One of Canada's foremost panels of commercial arbitrators, Arbitration Place has spacious offices in both Toronto and Ottawa, housing the ADR practices of well over a dozen respected neutrals, including several former judges. Visit Arbitration Place online at www.ArbitrationPlace.com.
Canada's Top-Rated Civil Mediators & Arbitrators
Need a mediator or arbitrator from outside of Ontario? CADN is pleased to recognize the most experienced civil/commercial neutrals around Canada, as rated by local litigators. Please feel free to visit our National Directory at www.Mediators.ca.