Dispute Resolution
Arbitration & Mediation
World-Class Training
Our Mission to Increase Diversity in ADR
DDRIOC is a grassroots non-profit organization, founded by Allan Pootoolal. Centered on breaking the confines of justice by expanding access to alternative dispute resolution, DDRIOC strives to open the door of opportunity for practitioners and service users.
One of DDRIOC’s missions is to increase diversity in the ADR profession, through education, training and experience. Canada houses almost 30% of visible ethnic minorities. The ADR profession does not reflect the same demographic. This means that many of the communities in Canada are underrepresented.
DDRIOC offers a diverse and dynamic roster of experienced mediators and arbitrators, which allows the public to access practitioners who can fully represent their culture and community needs during the resolution process.
DDRIOC believes in offering opportunities to all Canadian communities who wish to pursue a career in dispute resolution. It offers a mediation course that is recognized on international platforms such as the Singapore International Mediation Institute. For more details on the course and how you can register, please click here.
DDRIOC also provides training to cross-sector professionals to grow awareness of cultural issues that may affect their work and business. The Intercultural Communications and Diversity for Professionals course is the first in a series of courses that provides helpful tools and information. Participants of the course receive the ‘Accredited Diversity Facilitator’ designation.
To continue the growth of a diverse ADR community, DDRIOC will be offering an internship and has a Student Advisory that can help women, racialized and marginalized groups or anyone who is looking to build a career in ADR.
Our vision is to create a fair, affordable and inclusive structure in dispute resolution.
Allan Pootoolal
Founder, Chairman & C.E.O
Allan Pootoolal is the founder of DDRIOC. He is a highly skilled and dynamic Mediator and Arbitrator with fourteen years of experience in the field. He is a member of ADRIC, ADRIO, FIDRIO, and Ontario Association for Family Mediators. He is also the Canadian Representative for ADR ODR International. Allan also has a private practice Family Child Resources helping couples and individuals with family dispute issues across Canada.
Allan completed his education in Business Administration, studied law and culinary arts.
Allan’s grandparents are from India and he was born on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad. He moved to Canada at the age of 5 and grew up in Guelph, Ontario. He saw firsthand the need for access to justice by marginalized persons and communities. His robust drive and personality gives him the desire to implement help for the diverse communities across North America. He believes the only way to move forward is to "be the change you wish to see”. Allan created DDRIOC to provide a platform for communities of all cultures and races to access dispute resolution with diverse practitioners who are representative of their communities. He wishes to lead the way for equal opportunity, education, and training in ADR for everyone, no matter what their cultural background is.
“We need to understand our diverse landscape and how we can live a better life harmoniously without constant court action in an unbiased forum”.
