From March 20 to 30, 2024, we will host the official visit of Michael Lapsley, anti-apartheid activist, peacemaker and founder of the Institute for the Healing of Memories in South Africa.
The Center for Restorative Justice Services has been a partner of the Healing Memories Institute in South Africa, founded by Michael Lapsley since 2016. As part of this partnership, the Memory Healing Institute has certified 5 facilitators in Quebec. The CSJR has organized 12 Memory Healing workshops in partnership with the IHOM and has already had the privilege of hosting Michael Lapsley on 5 occasions, in Montreal.
Originally from New Zealand, he moved to South Africa as a young Anglican priest at the age of 24. There he discovered the dark reality of apartheid. Horrified by the injustice of this regime, Michael Lapsley became actively involved in the fight against racial segregation. He received death threats, being considered an enemy of the apartheid regime. In exile in Lesotho, he became chaplain to the African National Congress, the political party for the defense of black rights led by Nelson Mandela.
Michael Lapsley’s activism from abroad did not go unnoticed. In 1990, in Zimbabwe, he received a letter bomb that cost him an eye and both hands. Despite this profound handicap, Michael Lapsley proved resilient and emerged from the attack more determined than ever to act for justice and peace. He returned to South Africa to testify at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-1996). From then on, he will help people affected by apartheid to overcome their traumas by talking and sharing.
This work led him, in 1998, to found the Institute for the Healing of Memories. The workshops developed by Michael Lapsley have enabled thousands of people to move forward on the path to peace and healing. They are now offered in many countries around the world. Find out more about the Memory Healing workshops here.
This year, the CSJR is organizing the visit of Michael Lapsley in order to offer for the first time in Quebec the workshop Healing Memories Phase II – What to do with your anger? How to overcome hatred? How to approach forgiveness? – available to participants of the last 12 Phase I workshops. Its aim is to continue the personal journey begun during the Phase I workshop.
This second workshop, already fully booked, will take place on March 23 in Trois-Rivières and will welcome 35 participants. During this visit, our 5 facilitators will also be trained by Michael Lapsley to deliver Phase II of this workshop in Quebec. He will then continue his North American tour by visiting Nunavik, the United States and Hawaii. His visit to Nunavik is scheduled for March 30 to April 5, 2024, to lead a Healing Memories workshop and several exchanges in Kuujjuaq and Salluit, in collaboration with Esuma, Inuit Values and Inuit Heath.
During his visit to Quebec, public and private events will be organized with CSJR partners. We will be announcing the program for his visit shortly. Stay tuned to attend one of our events and meet this inspiring figure, Michael Lapsley.
This project is made possible thanks to the support of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada, to whom we extend our warmest thanks. Michael Lapsley will also be meeting members of First Nations and Inuit communities during this visit.