Got problem neighbours? Community mediators may be your last line of defence

Children'stelevision host MisterRogersfamously asked viewers to be his neighbour, butif those neighbours startedacting in a less than neighbourly fashion, Rogers could have reached out to theCommunity Mediation Calgary Society.

From early morning lawn mowers torowdy backyard gatherings and neighbours not cleaning up after pets,co-founderStuart Simpsonsays the group is ready to help neighbours come together and find common ground.

For 25 years, thenot-for-profit group has offered its services free of chargetohelpCalgarians solve theirdifferences by starting a dialogue instead of getting hot under the collara process Simpson said is noeasy task.

"This is really different from the common way people face a problem, where they debate that their answer is the best answer and they support their answer and they never listen to the other person," Simpson told the Calgary Eyeopener.

"In mediation, we focus on listening and understanding and appreciating that there's many sides to one particular topic."

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Simpsonsaid the group doesn't directly solve problems, but gives neighbours the tools to help deal with over 50 sticky situations.

"We shift the conversation to solutions, and what might be a common interest (neighbours) might have what might be something that you can both work together on as a solution."

No need for a law book

Simpson said most people with complaintsgo through the usual channels, first byreaching out to 311, the Calgary Police Serviceor Community Standards.

But when the usual methods don't or can't solve the problem, Simpson said those organizations oftencall forCMCSto get involved.

"Many of those (organizations) know about us so they phone us when there is a situation theycan't solve themselves."

Simpson said disputes can get tricky when people focus on what they have the right to do, as opposed to what they should do to solve the problem.

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"I would say it hardly ever turns out black and white. We always try to move away from rights rights are this adversarialadvocacy process that just isn't working in politics, it's not working for our neighbours," Simpson said.

"People need to find ways to work together, find solutions that will work for both of them and they can create the solutions.They don't need to go to a law book for that."

The CMCS offers a number of services including mediation, conflict assistance meetingsand community engagement workshops.

Calgarians with community issues can enlist the services of a community mediator by contacting info@communitymediation.ca or visiting communitymediation.ca.

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• With files from the Calgary Eyeopener