ADR Institute of British Columbia

What ADR Institute of British Columbia does

ADR Institute of British Columbia (ADRBC) is a not-for-profit professional membership organization founded in 1980 (formerly BCAMI) that serves as the British Columbia chapter of the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC). It represents a membership of over 250 arbitrators and mediators across British Columbia and the Yukon, providing accredited training, third-party-validated professional designations (Q.Med, Q.Arb, C.Med, C.Arb), a searchable public-facing directory (ADR Connect) for clients to locate qualified practitioners, and structured roster programs such as the Notice to Mediate Program. The organization also operates the Surrey Board of Trade Dispute Resolution Program and holds a recurring service agreement with BC automobile insurers under Sections 176 & 177 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act Regulation.

ADRBC's platform consists of a web-based member portal (My ADRBC), the ADR Connect public directory hosted on the ADRIC membership infrastructure (mbr.adric.ca), an online training delivery system used for the National Introductory Mediation Course and the Online Arbitrator Training Course, and an event registration backbone for the annual symposium and, in 2025, a national-level conference. Training is ADRIC-accredited, satisfies the educational requirements for national designations, and is recognized by The Law Society of British Columbia for 40 CPD credits; ADRBC trainers additionally serve as faculty at the Justice Institute of BC's Centre for Conflict Resolution.

The business model combines four revenue streams: tiered training course fees (NIMC priced at $3,900-$4,500 per participant with member/non-member and early-bird/standard tiers), recurring membership dues, paid role-play practice and assessed mediation sessions ($100 per role-player and $250 per assessment), and professional designation application and assessment fees. Customer segments split between practicing ADR professionals (a primary acquisition target for training, designations, and directory placement) and individuals or organizations seeking dispute resolution services (served via the ADR Connect directory and roster programs). GTM motion is community-led, anchored by the symposium, partner referrals from legal associations, and partner-channel distribution through ADRIC, Mediate BC, the Law Society of BC, the Surrey Board of Trade, and JIBC.

Name

ADR Institute of British Columbia

Legal name

ADR Institute of British Columbia

Website

https://adrbc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ADR Institute of British Columbia is a not-for-profit professional membership organization and the BC chapter of ADRIC, serving over 250 arbitrators and mediators across BC and the Yukon through accredited training, professional designations, a public searchable directory, and structured mediation roster programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: Revenue from delivering the National Introductory Mediation Course (NIMC) and Online Arbitrator Training Course. Courses are offered at tiered pricing for members and non-members, with early bird discounts available.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to professional designations, networking events, member discounts on training, and the ADR Connect directory listing.
3. Role Play Practice Sessions: Fees charged for practice mediation sessions and assessed mediation sessions used for designation applications.
4. Professional Designation Fees: Application and assessment fees for professional designations (C.Med, Q.Med, Q.Arb) that validate members' experience and skill levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ADR Institute of British Columbia (ADRBC) is a not-for-profit professional association that provides alternative dispute resolution services, including mediation and arbitration, through a network of 250+ credentialed members across British Columbia and the Yukon. The organization delivers ADRIC-accredited training programs (the 40-hour National Introductory Mediation Course and the Online Arbitrator Training Course), grants third-party validated professional designations (C.Med, Q.Med, Q.Arb), and operates the ADR Connect searchable directory that connects clients with qualified ADR practitioners.

Product overview

ADRBC offers a platform of interconnected dispute resolution services and professional development offerings. The core services include a searchable Mediator and Arbitrator Directory (ADR Connect) and the Mediation Roster Program for finding qualified professionals, paired with direct dispute resolution services in arbitration and mediation. Professional development is delivered through the National Introductory Mediation Course (NIMC) and Online Arbitrator Training Course, supplemented by Mediation Role Play Practice Sessions and a Mentorship Program. The organization also grants Professional Designations (Q.Med, Q.Arb, C.Med, C.Arb) and operates the ADRBC Symposium for ongoing education. The Notice to Mediate Program provides structured mediation services, while the My ADRBC member portal supports professional networking and profile management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ADR Connect (Mediator and Arbitrator Search Directory) A searchable online directory enabling clients to find mediators and arbitrators throughout British Columbia and the Yukon, with filters for professional designations and areas of expertise.
• Arbitration Services Binding dispute resolution services where trained arbitrators review evidence and arguments from disputing parties to reach decisions on various types of disputes, including commercial, insurance, and family matters.
• Mediation Services Voluntary dispute resolution process where trained mediators facilitate understanding-based (interest-based, facilitative, win-win) approaches to help disputing parties reach mutually acceptable agreements without imposing decisions.
• National Introductory Mediation Course (NIMC) Forty-hour intensive mediation training program delivered in two parts (September 22-25 and October 5-9, 2026 for the Fall 2026 cohort), covering interest-based mediation process and skills, conflict resolution, negotiation, and communication skills. Satisfies educational requirements for Q.Med designation and provides 40 CPD credits at The Law Society of BC.
• Online Arbitrator Training Course Comprehensive online training covering arbitration principles, BC Arbitration Act, rules of procedure, evidence evaluation, and ethical concerns. Includes an optional module for automobile insurance arbitration and eligibility for the Q.Arb designation.
• Mediation Role Play Practice Sessions Guided online practice sessions for skill development, including group practice sessions with live coaching and private assessed mediations for designation applications, delivered using the Interest Based Method.
• Notice to Mediate Program Structured mandatory mediation program providing a roster of qualified mediators who have met specific professional criteria, maintain current skills, and adhere to a Code of Ethics, used to resolve various dispute types.
• Professional Designations (C.Med, Q.Med, Q.Arb, C.Arb) Third-party validated credentials (Q.Med, Q.Arb, C.Med, C.Arb) that convey member experience and skill levels, assessed through objective committee review by senior practitioners, and recognised across ADRIC's national designation framework.
• Mediation Roster Program Listing of pre-qualified mediators who have met specific professional criteria, maintain current skills, and adhere to a Code of Ethics, supporting both client referrals and roster-driven dispute resolution.
• ADRBC Symposium and National Conference Annual conference and educational event bringing together ADR professionals for networking, professional development, and knowledge sharing on dispute resolution topics, with paid registration tiers and corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 hours of ADR Training and 40 CPD credits at The Law Society of BC
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADRBC is the British Columbia chapter of ADRIC. Training programs are ADRIC-accredited and satisfy requirements for national Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) and Qualified Arbitrator (Q.Arb) designations. The relationship enables cross-referrals and standardized professional credentials across Canada.
• Mediate BC SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative organization focused on improving access to dispute resolution services in BC. ADRBC trainers coach in Mediate BC programs and members often appear on both rosters.
• Justice Institute of BC (JIBC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADRBC's mediation training instructors also serve as faculty at JIBC's Centre for Conflict Resolution. Many ADRBC members teach and assess at JIBC courses.
• Law Society of British ColumbiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADRBC training programs provide 40 CPD credits recognized by the Law Society of BC. Professional designations are recognized by lawyers referring clients for ADR services.
• Surrey Board of TrademinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorADRBC-SBOT Dispute Resolution Program provides ADR services to business members through a partnership with the Surrey Board of Trade.
• BC Automobile Insurers (via Insurance (Vehicle) Act)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerADRBC has a service agreement with BC automobile insurers to provide arbitration services pursuant to Sections 176 & 177 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act Regulation, including vehicle Actual Cash Value determinations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• JAMS: Largest private ADR provider globally, offering mediation, arbitration, and related dispute resolution services across the US and internationally. A scaled-up analog of ADRBC's roster service model with a much broader panel, established brand, and global footprint.
• CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution: US-based non-profit promoting alternatives to litigation, offering arbitration and mediation rules, panel services, and ADR training for commercial disputes. Comparable as an established non-profit industry body advancing ADR practice standards.
• International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR): International division of the AAA providing cross-border arbitration and mediation services. Comparable to ADRBC as a non-profit ADR services body, though operating at international scale rather than a BC/Yukon regional scope.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA): US-headquartered non-profit organization administering arbitration and mediation across a wide range of commercial, construction, employment, and consumer disputes. Comparable to ADRBC as a non-profit ADR service administrator with established institutional credibility.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration: World's leading institutional arbitration body handling complex international commercial disputes. Comparable as an established institutional ADR framework though operating at cross-border scale well above ADRBC's regional scope.
• National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM): US-based ADR services provider with a roster of arbitrators and mediators handling commercial, construction, employment, and personal injury disputes. Comparable model in maintaining a credentialed neutral panel that disputing parties can access.

Direct peers

• Mediate BC Society: BC-based non-profit promoting and providing access to conflict resolution services. Shares overlapping members and trainers with ADRBC, operates complementary rosters (family, civil, child protection), and is identified by ADRBC as a close collaboration partner.
• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC): National umbrella body for ADR professionals in Canada and the parent chapter network of which ADRBC is the BC affiliate. Operates the national designation framework (Q.Med, Q.Arb) and the National Conference that ADRBC members participate in; directly comparable as a professional association serving the same mediators/arbitrators with overlapping training and credentials.
• ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO): Ontario's sister provincial chapter of ADRIC, providing membership, training (mediation and arbitration courses), and designation services to ADR professionals in the largest Canadian province. Directly analogous to ADRBC in mission, structure, and ADRIC-aligned service portfolio.

Regional players

• ADR Institute of Alberta: Alberta's provincial ADR professional association under the ADRIC umbrella. Comparable to ADRBC as a provincial chapter delivering training, designations, and roster services to mediators/arbitrators but operating in a different province without geographic overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ADR_BC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ADR Institute of British Columbia