Alberta Family Mediation Society

What Alberta Family Mediation Society does

Alberta Family Mediation Society (AFMS) is a non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. It serves as the primary credentialing and referral body for family mediators in the province, administering tiered professional designations — General Member ($160/year), Practising Mediator (PM, +$60/year), Registered Family Mediator (RFM, +$140/year), Registered Parenting Coordinator and Arbitrator (RPCA), and Registered Family Mediator and Arbitrator (RFMA) — each bound by a Code of Professional Conduct and complaints management procedure. AFMS operates a public Find a Mediator directory and a toll-free referral line (1-877-233-0143) that channels families to qualified mediators across Alberta, and it partners with Alberta Courts and Alberta Justice to receive court-mandated referrals and Family Mediation program contracts. The organization is staffed by approximately five employees and is governed by a volunteer board of lawyers, psychologists, mediators, and financial specialists.

AFMS monetizes primarily through recurring annual membership dues, training programs (notably a 40-hour Basic Mediation course priced at $1,500 for members and $1,700 for non-members, delivered in partnership with Family Mediation Canada), advanced arbitration training, monthly Lunch & Learn webinars, and an annual conference co-hosted with FMC and historically with the AFCC Alberta Chapter. Members receive automatic dual membership with Family Mediation Canada (valued at ~$140/year) and access to FMC's group insurance program. AFMS itself does not set mediator fees — mediators practice independently and bill clients directly — meaning AFMS revenue is structurally limited to dues, training, and event income. The technology footprint is modest: a WordPress website, public directory listings, and a members-only area with document templates and training recordings; there is no proprietary software product or AI capability. AFMS's strategic position is anchored in its regulatory recognition by Alberta Courts, its 40-year brand history, and its institutional partnerships with national ADR bodies.

Name

Alberta Family Mediation Society

Legal name

Alberta Family Mediation Society

Website

https://afms.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alberta Family Mediation Society is a Calgary-based non-profit professional membership organization that credentials and refers family mediators across Alberta, operating a public directory, tiered professional designations, training programs, and an annual conference in partnership with Family Mediation Canada and Alberta's court system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AFMS generates primary revenue through membership fees. General Membership costs $160/year. Additional designation fees apply: Practising Mediator (PM) is $60/year extra, Registered Family Mediator (RFM) is $140/year extra, and Registered Parenting Coordinator Arbitrator (RPCA) designation has additional fees.
2. Training Programs: The organization offers and partners on 40-hour Basic Mediation training courses. Pricing is $1500 for AFMS/FMC members and $1700 for non-members. Advanced training sessions and Lunch & Learn webinars are offered, with recordings available to members.
3. Provincially Funded Services: In some cases, families qualify for free family mediation through the province/Alberta Courts. AFMS connects families with qualified mediators who participate in this program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFMS is a non-profit professional membership organization that advocates and supports the resolution of family conflict through mediation by qualified professionals in Alberta. It provides a public Mediator Directory and Parenting Coordinator Directory, issues professional designations (General Member, PM, RFM, RPCA, RFMA, Child Consultant), and delivers basic and advanced mediation training programs, monthly Lunch & Learn webinars, and an annual conference (often co-hosted with Family Mediation Canada).

Product overview

Alberta Family Mediation Society (AFMS) operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of mediation services, professional designations, and training programs for family mediators in Alberta. The core offerings include an online Mediator Directory and Parenting Coordinator Directory enabling the public to find qualified professionals, alongside tiered professional designations (General Member, Practising Mediator, Registered Family Mediator, RPCA/RFMA) with specialty areas including Child Inclusive practice. AFMS provides training through its Basic 40-hour Mediation Training, LESA's specialized family divorce course, advanced arbitration training, and monthly Lunch & Learn webinars. The organization co-hosts an annual conference with Family Mediation Canada and administers the John Haynes Memorial Award for significant contributions to the field. All members are bound by a Code of Professional Conduct with formal complaints management procedures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mediator Directory (Find a Mediator) Online searchable directory enabling the public to locate and contact qualified family mediators in Alberta through mediator profiles and contact information.
• Parenting Coordinator Directory Online searchable directory connecting families with Registered Parenting Coordinators and Arbitrators (RPCA) who assist with co-parenting communication and dispute resolution.
• General Membership Entry-level membership providing access to AFMS resources, Lunch & Learn webinars, Members-Only area, and dual membership with Family Mediation Canada at $160/year.
• Practising Mediator (PM) Designation Designation for mediators who have demonstrated basic level family mediation training and experience, available for an additional $60/year on top of General Membership.
• Registered Family Mediator (RFM) Designation Advanced designation for mediators with significant experience and training in specialty areas including Separation & Divorce, General Family, Family Business, Parenting, and Child Inclusive, for an additional $140/year on top of General Membership.
• Registered Parenting Coordinator and Arbitrator (RPCA) Designation Dual-role designation where the RPCA assists parties in resolving family matters through mediation, with binding arbitration authority if mediation fails, operating under the Arbitration Act of Alberta.
• Registered Family Mediator and Arbitrator (RFMA) Designation Designation enabling professionals to assist parties in resolving family matters through mediation if possible and binding arbitration if necessary.
• Child Consultant Designation Specialized designation for professionals qualified to include children's voices in mediation or parenting coordination processes, requiring 30+ hours specialized training, ethical practice standards, and ongoing requirements.
• Basic Mediation Training (40-hour) Foundational mediation training course covering interest-based mediation basics, conflict resolution, negotiation, and communication skills, offered online asynchronously in partnership with Family Mediation Canada ($1,500 for AFMS/FMC members; $1,700 for non-members).
• LESA's Mediation of Family & Divorce Conflicts Course 40-hour specialized family mediation training offered annually in Calgary by the Legal Education Society of Alberta, typically held in November.
• Advanced Arbitration Training Two-day advanced arbitration training for experienced mediators seeking to expand their practice into arbitration services.
• Lunch & Learn Webinar Series Monthly noon-hour webinars on topics of interest to family mediation professionals, offered on the fourth Tuesday of most months, free for current members with recordings available in the members-only area.
• Annual Conference AFMS's premier annual event featuring expert speakers discussing current developments in family mediation, including the AGM and networking opportunities.
• FMC Joint Conference Joint annual conference with Family Mediation Canada featuring sessions on trust building in mediation, held annually in November in Calgary with virtual attendance option.
• Family Mediation Services Core conflict resolution process where an impartial third-party mediator helps families negotiate consensual, informed, and fair agreements regarding parenting, property, and support matters.
• Parenting Coordination Services Services provided by Registered Parenting Coordinators and Arbitrators (RPCA) to help parents with communication and cooperation for effective co-parenting, including establishing cooperative parenting plans.

Quantifiable outcome

• Many disputes are resolved in one or two mediations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Family Mediation Canada (FMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFMS and FMC have a dual membership partnership whereby current members of AFMS receive automatic General Membership with FMC at no extra cost. This partnership provides AFMS members with access to FMC's group insurance program and national recognition. The partnership is valued at approximately $140/year per member. Both organizations co-host conferences including the joint FMC-AFMS conference 'The Architecture of Trust Building in Mediation' scheduled for November 2025.
• Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLESA offers a 40-hour specialized mediation of family & divorce conflicts course annually in Calgary. AFMS references LESA as a primary training provider for its members. AFMS teaches negotiation and mediation at LESA events, and LESA courses are recognized for RFM membership qualifications.
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Alberta ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFMS and AFCC-Alberta Chapter have a history of hosting joint conferences, including the 2014 conference 'Research Informed Practice' and the 2015 conference 'Professionals at the crossroads: Helping Families and Children Access the Legal System.' Both organizations collaborate on conference programming and professional development.
• ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADRIA is listed as a related mediation organization on AFMS's Other Websites resource page. AFMS members may hold ADRIA credentials and the organizations share professional overlap in the Alberta ADR community.
• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADRIC (formerly AMIC) is listed as a related organization. In the mid-1990s, AFMS was engaged in discussions with ADRIC about designations and certifications. AFMS members may hold ADRIC credentials.
• Alberta CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Courts requires parties to participate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and refers families to AFMS-listed mediators through mandatory requirements. AFMS mediators appear on court-approved rosters. AFMS works with the Court of King's Bench on practice directives related to family mediation.
• Alberta JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Justice operates the Family Mediation program seeking trained mediators for contract opportunities throughout Alberta. AFMS promotes these contract opportunities to its members. Alberta Justice also mandates Parenting After Separation (PAS) courses that AFMS facilitates through its member mediators.
• Palix FoundationminorOthersPalix Foundation was a conference sponsor and supports research on family mediation programs such as the New Ways for Families program. Dr. Jeff Chang from Athabasca University received funding from Palix Foundation to conduct research presented at the 2016 AFMS conference.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• British Columbia Mediation & Family Solutions (or equivalent BC body): A analogous provincial professional body for family mediators in British Columbia. Operates with the same credentialing, training, and directory model as AFMS but serves a different provincial market.
• Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre: A Calgary-based community mediation center. While focused on community/neighborhood mediation rather than credentialed family ADR, it operates in the same Alberta mediation ecosystem and is listed as a related organization.
• Ontario Association of Family Mediation (OAFM): Ontario's equivalent provincial family mediation membership body. Mirrors AFMS's designations, directory, and training offerings for a different provincial jurisdiction.

Emerging players

• Family Mediation Organization (US-based; for international context): An international family mediation membership body. Not a direct competitor in Alberta but represents the broader credentialing model AFMS operates under and signals potential cross-border partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA): A broader legal continuing education provider in Alberta. LESA offers the 40-hour specialized family mediation training that is recognized for AFMS RFM qualifications, and AFMS teaches at LESA events — overlap in training content delivery.
• Canadian Bar Association - Family Law Section: Canada's national bar association with a Family Law subsection. Several AFMS board members hold CBA roles, and CBA's ADR section is referenced on AFMS materials — overlap in membership and ADR practice standards.

Direct peers

• Family Mediation Canada (FMC): The national professional body for family mediators in Canada. AFMS has a dual membership partnership with FMC, and both organizations co-host conferences and credential family mediators — direct overlap in membership model, designations, and training.
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) - Alberta Chapter: A professional association for family court and ADR professionals that runs an Alberta chapter. AFMS has co-hosted joint conferences with the Alberta Chapter for over a decade, serving overlapping members across the family dispute resolution community.
• ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA): A provincial Alberta ADR organization providing chartered mediator and arbitrator designations. ADRIA and AFMS serve overlapping Alberta ADR practitioners and are linked as related organizations on each other's resource pages.
• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC): Canada's national ADR credentialing body, formerly AMIC. ADRIC offers chartered mediator designations used by AFMS members and competes for the same professional ADR audience across Canada.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alberta-family-mediation-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alberta Family Mediation Society