What was the initiative?

The initiative consisted of two key components: the launch of the Abundance Program and the establishment of the Truro Program Centre (TPC). The Abundance Program was designed to support formerly incarcerated women in Dartmouth by offering a comprehensive, peer-led reintegration program grounded in restorative justice principles. It included 14 modules focused on personal development, employment, and education readiness, along with an on-the-job placement. The program aimed to empower women with the tools and support needed for successful reintegration into society. The Truro Program Centre provided a service delivery hub to address the challenges faced by low-income, criminalized individuals in the region, particularly those affected by cycles of poverty, trauma, and addiction. The Centre was governed by a steering committee composed of representatives from various local organizations and provided a wide range of community programs.

What was the community connection?

Harry worked and volunteered in a variety of educational and advocacy capacities with incarcerated Nova Scotians for nearly five years, and had close friends who had directly been impacted by incarceration. He co-founded and directed the Burnside Prison Education Program, a registered not-for-profit adult educational initiative that offers courses taught by faculty from local universities, literacy tutoring, book clubs, art programs, and employment skills training at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility. He also worked closely with a number of other prisoner advocacy organizations in the Maritimes and across Canada, including the East Coast Prison Justice Society.

How was it innovative?

The initiative was innovative in its integration of restorative justice principles with peer-led leadership to address the complex challenges of reintegration, poverty, trauma, and addiction faced by criminalized individuals. The Abundance Program offered a comprehensive approach to employment and education readiness for formerly incarcerated women, combining education modules with on-the-job placements and ongoing case management. The TPC introduced a multi-agency collaboration to deliver diverse programs and supports in  a rural region underserved in criminal justice reform, creating a sustainable model for addressing systemic gaps. By fostering partnerships, securing substantial funding, and amplifying the voices of those with lived experience, the initiative pioneered a scalable, community-driven framework for reintegration and advocacy.

What is Harry doing now?

Harry recently completed his JD at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. He is currently the co-chair of East Coast Prison Justice with Professor Sheila Wildeman, an advocacy organization for criminalized Nova Scotians. He is also a board member for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia and the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners.