We may not have won an Oscar, but the BC Provincial Court has produced three new short videos you’ll want to watch. 

In 2019, we produced a six-minute video describing the Court’s efforts to provide an accessible, fair, efficient and innovative system of justice during its first 50 years. The new videos provide a three-part sequel highlighting some of the ways the Court has improved access to justice in the five years since 2019. 

“Improving access to justice is a continuous, cyclical process of collaboration, communication, experimentation, analysis, and implementing the lessons learned. Over the last five years the BC Provincial Court has used that approach in many areas of its work, including family court procedure, developing new Indigenous courts, and expanding our use of technology. These three new short videos highlight the progress we’ve made in those areas.”

                                                                                                Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie

BC’s Early Resolution approach to family court cases 

In this video judges explain how the “Early Resolution” approach connects separating parents with assessment and resources for both legal and non-legal needs before they file a court application. They share results of evaluations of the approach and the benefits it’s yielding. 

BC’s Early Resolution approach to family court cases video (2 1/2 minutes)

Using technology to increase access to justice 

Virtual conferences, virtual bail hearings, digitized court files and more! Judges discuss how the Court has used technology to reduce barriers to access to justice since Covid quickened plans to move in this direction. 

Using technology to increase access to justice video (9 minutes)

Reconciliation in Action: BC’s Indigenous Courts 

With three new Indigenous and First Nations courts opening since 2019, the Court now operates nine Indigenous sentencing courts dealing with criminal offences and one Aboriginal family case conference court. Judges describe how BC’s Indigenous sentencing courts work. They also discuss what we learned from a report on the impact of an Indigenous court. 

Reconciliation in Action: BC’s Indigenous Courts video (3 1/2 minutes)

Reconciliation in Action, Provincial Court Report 

Vimeo channel

You’ll find these new videos on the pages of our website related to their topics and on the Court’s Vimeo channel. 

Our Vimeo channel also offers the “A judge explains …” series of videos where judges explain what to expect in different types of BC Provincial Court conferences and hearings, and how to prepare for them. Or you can watch “The Provincial Court of BC - 50 years” to learn about the Court’s leadership in judicial education, ethics, transparency and more in its first 50 years. 

BC Provincial Court Vimeo channel