Located in so-called Vancouver, the ancestral lands of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ilw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

My name is Mélanie Sue Caron, daughter of Michael Caron and Suzanne Guitard, and granddaughter of Eva Lejeune, Cléophas Guitard, Georgina Harris and Omer Caron. My ancestors are Acadian, French, Scottish, Métis and Mi’Kmaq (Miːɡmaɣ). I grew up on the lands of my Miːɡmaɣ (Mi’Kmaq) ancestors in KSbamkeak', currently referred to as Bathurst, New Brunswick. However, I am currently grateful to work, study, live, play, and especially love on the lands the Xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ilw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil- Waututh) peoples, named K’emk’emeláy̓ but currently referred to as Vancouver, British Columbia.

I am a Licensed Masters’ level Social Worker, a flight attendant, and an advocate for all my relations, which includes all living beings, such as fauna, flora, fungi, and our precious Mother Earth. I am an herbalist/forager, a wilderness enthusiast, a vocalist/songwriter, an Indigenous drummer, and a student of academia and life. Finally, I am a wild woman, with an insatiable curiosity and an adventurous soul who is living and loving passionately, fiercely, and mindfully.

As a youth, I encountered the child welfare and the criminal justice system. This led me to pursue my studies in criminal justice and onto working alongside marginalized youth and families in a variety of settings for over two decades. I have always been passionate about restorative justice and thus was excited to join the Vancouver Association of Restorative Justice to participate in the growth of restorative justice practices in Vancouver and beyond.