Youth Probation/City of Calgary Calgary Board of Education Mennonite Central Committee John Howard Society Calgary Family Services Calgary Police Service

* Values reflect the number of young people referred from September 2002 to May 15, 2003.

Dear...
This letter is written as my sincere apology for my involvement in the events that took place on May 30, 2001 and the impact my actions had on your entire family. What I did that night was something I never would have imagined myself ever doing and I will regret it always. It still eats away at me every single day. I still cannot believe I did something so horrible to another person. Thank you for choosing to participate in the Community Conferencing Program. If you did not I would have never really known how this changed your life. You gave me the opportunity to see and hear how my actions affected both you and your family. It was difficult and painful for me to hear but I could see that was incredibly more difficult and painful for you to say. I am thankful for being given the chance to apologize in person.	I only wish your husband were able to attend the Community Conference. I was hoping to give my sincere apology to him in person as well. Unfortunately he did not. To him I want to say how sorry I am for what I put him and his family through. Knowing that someone came into your wife's place of work, robbed her, and left her feeling terrified and violated must have left you furious. If I were in your situation I would have wanted to hunt me down! I am sure you were nervous and reluctant to let her or any other member of your family be by themselves. I am truly sorry for this and wish I could have heard what you had to say. To your children I would like to say a few things. First I would like to say that what I did was something that has affected so many people. I was fortunate because I was able to meet with your mother and hear how I changed her life.	Please take a look at your friends, they are very influential to the kind of person you are. Another thing that affects your personality and decisions are drugs and alcohol. They change you and make you do things you would never otherwise do. You may be a very strong person, who doesn't let other's tell you what to do, but under the influence you can be persuaded to do things or have your views of what is right and wrong altered. This combined with the "wrong crowd" can be a very dangerous mix. I hope that you will think about my words and steer clear of things that can put you in a situation such as the one I experienced. There is only so much that words can do to help with what this has done to you all. I can never make up for the hurt, pain, and everything else I caused. Hopefully this letter is a start. Sincerely, John

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