August 8, 1952 – October 8, 2022
John Richardson was a dedicated circle volunteer with CoSA Ottawa for 10 years, sitting in two circles. He supported his most recent core member for six years, meeting him every Saturday for coffee which offered consistency and routine to the core member’s life, aiding considerably in his successful integration into society.
In the early 1970s, John studied philosophy at Carleton University. But he found his true vocation — helping people build their lives after incarceration — in graduate school at the University of Ottawa. After completing a master’s degree in applied criminology, he began his career at the John Howard Society of Ottawa. He went on to work as a parole officer and later project manager at Correctional Service Canada, where he was recognized as a national expert in his field and praised for his superior counselling skills. John believed passionately in restorative justice and rehabilitation. We are so grateful to John for his service not only to CoSA Ottawa, but to the community at large. He will be dearly missed.