About Gola

*Please note that due to current contractual obligations, Gola is not currently offering her training and consultant services to clients within the Province of Nova Scotia. Clients outside of Nova Scotia are welcome to connect.

Shruti, or Gola as she is more commonly known, is a thoughtful and playful facilitator who is able to translate deep theory into simple practices for daily life. For over 20 years, Gola has been a highly sought after and trusted restorative facilitator, guiding hundreds of individuals and parties through culturally responsive and trauma informed restorative processes as a way to resolve interpersonal harm and conflict. Gola’s work as a facilitator is shaped by her personal commitment to human rights and equity, reflective practice, learning, growth, compassionate listening, self-discovery and the practices of yoga and qigong. She offers her clients a high degree of discretion and confidentiality and centres their needs and wishes in every process. In 2022, Gola joined the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission as the Manager of Dispute Resolution where she oversees staff and processes related to early resolution, settlement negotiations, and the formal investigation of Human Rights complaints.

Gola has worked for the entirety of her professional career to seed and cultivate restorative practices in diverse contexts: criminal justice, community services and child welfare settings, schools, university and health sectors, and workplace settings. Gola led the development of the Best Practice Standard for the Restorative Justice Program of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice. She has participated in a number of innovative initiatives such as the development of a restorative approach at the Nova Scotia Youth Facility at Waterville, the HRM mental health court; restorative options for youth in group home settings, neighbourhood circle projects, and community conversation processes related to renewable energy initiatives.

Gola has served as a trainer and consultant for the Office of Public Safety for the Halifax Regional Municipality and its work to build safer communities for those affected by violence. Gola has also served as Respectful Communities Consultant and Lead of Sexual Violence Prevention and Response for the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Criminology from the University of Ottawa and an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Saint Mary’s University. Gola is also a licensed Master Trainer of the International Institute of Restorative Practices. In 2012, Gola was recognized as a distinguished nominee for the National Ron Wiebe Award in Restorative Justice. In 2015, Gola was awarded a formal Yoga Teacher Certification from the Sivananda Ashram at Val Morin. In 2016, Gola became a Certified Coach Practitioner with the Certified Coaching Federation, Canada.

Gola’s training and practice areas include: Restorative Justice; Restorative Practices; Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive, Human-Centred & Trauma Informed Restorative Approaches; High Conflict, High Need, High Loss Formal Conferencing, Culturally Competence and Responsiveness, & Conflict Coaching.

To learn more about Gola’s current work or to connect, please visit Gola on LinkedIn.

Feedback

I will use the elements presented today in both my personal and professional interactions. A great day!! – K.

Gola, you always help me feel re-energized. I think much of this has to do with your positivity and confidence. Thank you! – L.D.

Great facilitator, warm, welcoming, created a very comfortable environment. No pressure to participate. Acceptance – Anonymous

Gola, you were excellent! I have a lot to think about and work on in applying restorative practices to both my personal and professional world! Thank you! – A.C.

This is the best workshop I have ever attended! An opportunity to self-reflect; non-judgmental environment set from the beginning; very knowledgeable facilitator; a connection between the information and our current program/work – C.C.

This was fantastic, learning at its best, not being talked “at” but feeling very much a part of the whole – S.N.

Gola is a masterful facilitator – wonderful, empowering, open and caring which transfers perfectly/harmoniously to the process itself – T.S.

 A really safe and supportive learning environment was created in quite a large group… restorative practice in action! Everyone had a voice and the possibility to speak up…space was created for everyone’s voice to be heard. – I.L.

Very relaxed, created a safe space for all our voices. – J.M.

I liked the take away materials and extra readings…the fact that some of the questions did not have an exact answer but a collaborative answer seeking process. – M.C.

It was a very controlled but confortable environment…Training should be offered to other organizations. It’s something that everyone can benefit from. Absolutely amazing and inspiring! – L.R.

…well planned, filled with interesting and useful information, geared to several learning styles, enhanced positive energy in the room…These workshops really enhanced my other work and made me much more effective in handling conflict resolution – M.M.

It was so nice to have you here, please come back! – N.P.