Interview with Bruce Kirk, Executive Director of BC Borstal Association
Bruce Kirk, the dedicated Executive Director of the BC Borstal Association, brings a wealth of experience and passion to his work in rehabilitating young offenders and supporting individuals impacted by trauma. With a background that spans over two decades in various roles with the Salvation Army, including senior pastor and chaplain at a federal penitentiary, Bruce has devoted his life to helping those on the margins of society. His personal journey through the correctional system as a youth has given him a unique perspective on restorative justice, and his leadership at BC Borstal reflects his deep commitment to providing compassionate care and guidance to individuals transitioning back into society. Under his direction, the BC Borstal Association has evolved from a halfway house model to a leading organization in trauma-informed care, now reaching a global audience through digital service delivery.
Al Leong: Bruce, you’ve had an extensive background in community work, particularly with the Salvation Army, where you served in various capacities, including as a senior pastor and chaplain in the federal penitentiary system. What led you from that experience to working with the BC Borstal Association?
Bruce Kirk: Thanks for asking, Al. My journey into this line of work wasn’t planned. In fact, I was initially pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Winnipeg with the intent to teach music. I was teaching high school music when I met someone at church who was opening a halfway house. That sparked something in me, especially since I had my own experience with the correctional system as a misguided youth. Through the Young Offenders Act, I had firsthand experience navigating the system, which later influenced my passion for restorative justice and rehabilitation, especially with youth.
Al Leong: That’s incredible, Bruce. Your past experiences really fueled your desire to make an impact. Could you share a bit more about how your journey through the correctional system shaped your understanding of restorative justice?
Bruce Kirk: Of course. I got into serious trouble with drugs and the police when I was about 16 or 17 in Manitoba. My time in the system exposed me to what we now call restorative justice. One of the key aspects of my experience was the stability it provided — having a place to sleep and regular meals gave me structure that I didn’t have before. This structure is crucial for anyone going through the system; it provides a foundation for change.
Restorative justice offers various points of intervention. It’s not just about punishment but creating opportunities for individuals to better themselves, whether through addiction programs, education, or emotional intelligence development. I was fortunate to meet a parole officer who became a key figure in my life, teaching me about emotional and relational intelligence. She helped me navigate decisions and understand the importance of stability, which was crucial to my rehabilitation.
Al Leong: Thank you for sharing that personal story, Bruce. Let’s talk about the BC Borstal Association. You’ve been leading this organization for a while now. Could you give us an overview of its mission and the evolution of your services, especially with the move toward digital service delivery?
Bruce Kirk: Absolutely. The BC Borstal Association started as a boys’ home, a rehabilitation center for young offenders. The idea was to keep children out of prisons where they would be surrounded by older, hardened criminals. Over time, we’ve evolved significantly. Our mission remains the same — providing support to young offenders — but we’ve expanded beyond just providing a place to sleep. We’ve added counseling, emotional, and psychosocial support and are now recognized for our brain-based trauma-informed care.
When COVID hit, it changed everything for us. We had to stop our face-to-face counseling, which was a major part of our work. But we quickly pivoted to digital service delivery, and it’s been a blessing in disguise. We’ve been able to expand our reach beyond British Columbia, offering our services to people all over the world through platforms like Zoom. We’ve also become experts in brain-based trauma-informed care, and that has expanded our services to not only ex-offenders but also to first responders and social service providers who deal with trauma-affected individuals.
Al Leong: It’s inspiring to see how you’ve adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic. You mentioned brain-based trauma-informed care — can you explain what that means and why it has become such a focal point for BC Borstal?
Bruce Kirk: Trauma-informed care is about understanding that many people, especially those involved in the correctional system, are dealing with the long-term effects of trauma. Whether it’s from crime, abuse, or other life events, trauma has lasting impacts on the brain and behavior. Our role is to provide tools and education to help individuals understand and manage these effects.
We’ve also been fortunate to work with Dr. Pamela Seraphin, whose curriculum and content on trauma care have been invaluable. Her real and personable delivery has helped us offer the highest quality training and support to those in need, including first responders and social service providers who need to de-escalate situations involving trauma-affected individuals. The shift to digital service delivery has allowed us to reach even more people globally, and we now regularly host live training sessions for individuals across the world.
Al Leong: You’ve also had strong connections with the Vancouver Police Department. Can you tell us more about your relationship with them and how it has influenced the work of BC Borstal?
Bruce Kirk: The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has always been a big supporter of BC Borstal. Chief Ray Canuel, the former chief of police, was actually the president of our board. He played a key role in how we integrated social services into the police force. This kind of collaboration is important because it ensures that individuals impacted by the criminal justice system continue to receive support throughout their rehabilitation. Today, we still have members of the VPD and other police departments on our board, which is invaluable for maintaining that continuum of care.
Al Leong: That’s fantastic to hear. So, where do you see BC Borstal heading in the future? Are there plans for expansion, perhaps on a national or even global scale?
Bruce Kirk: We’ve already expanded beyond our original scope thanks to digital service delivery. We’re reaching people globally now, but the next challenge will be translating our services into other languages to reach non-English-speaking communities. There’s also a growing need to address the impact of cybercrime and digital scams, which are becoming more sophisticated. This is an area where we believe we can make a real difference, especially for vulnerable populations who are being exploited.
Al Leong: Cybercrime is definitely a growing issue. How do you see BC Borstal addressing this?
Bruce Kirk: The sophistication of scams and digital exploitation is increasing rapidly, and it’s having a devastating effect on people, particularly seniors and other vulnerable groups. We’re looking to leverage our experience in trauma-informed care to help these victims as well. The trauma from financial scams can be just as profound as physical trauma, and we want to be there to support people as they recover from it.
Al Leong: Bruce, thank you for this insightful conversation. You’ve shared a lot of personal stories and valuable insights into BC Borstal’s mission. Is there anything else you’d like to add before we wrap up?
Bruce Kirk: I think we’ve covered most of it. But I just want to say thank you, Al, for your support and for helping us spread the word about the important work we’re doing at BC Borstal. It means a lot.
Al Leong: It’s been a pleasure, Bruce. Thanks for your time and for all the impactful work you’re doing.
To contact Bruce Kirk, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-kirk-5b887642/
