ADR Institute of Alberta

What ADR Institute of Alberta does

ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1982 (originally as the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society) that serves as Alberta's designated body for mediators, arbitrators, adjudicators, and other alternative dispute resolution practitioners. The organization supports approximately 2,200 members through a portfolio spanning training, professional designations (Q.Med, C.Med, Q.Arb, C.Arb, Med-Arb), a public directory/roster, a Select & Appoint matching service, the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP), and a formal complaints resolution process. ADRIA operates two physical locations—an Edmonton headquarters in the Mill Woods area and a Calgary training facility at The Edison Building—delivering courses online and in-person.

ADRIA's revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring membership subscriptions ($380/year plus a $50 sign-up fee, including ADRIC national membership at $135 plus GST), professional training courses priced between $210 and $2,595 per seat (including 37-40 credit-hour certificates in Consensus Decision Making and ADR fundamentals, plus tiered construction adjudication modules), and service fees from its Select & Appoint roster and government-partnered programs. Through the ARCANA (AB) joint venture with ADRIC and RICS, ADRIA holds exclusive ongoing Ministerial authority as Alberta's sole Nominating Authority for construction adjudication under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act, a regulated monopoly. The organization also partners with the Alberta Government's Dispute Resolution Network and Legal Aid Alberta to deliver family mediation services, leveraging Alberta Budget 2023's $5 million family resolution allocation. ADRIA is led by Executive Director Paul Conway, governed by an elected Board, and operates with a small staff of approximately 13 employees.

Name

ADR Institute of Alberta

Legal name

ADR Institute of Alberta

Website

https://adralberta.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADR Institute of Alberta is a non-profit professional association serving Alberta's 2,200 mediators, arbitrators, and ADR practitioners through training, professional designations, a public directory, and regulated dispute resolution services including construction adjudication via its ARCANA (AB) joint venture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Full membership is priced at $380.00 per year plus a $50.00 sign-up fee for new or expired memberships. Membership includes ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) annual membership ($135 plus GST) and provides full voting rights, designation eligibility, and roster participation.
2. Professional Training Courses: ADRIA generates revenue through various training programs including Communications in ADR ($2,200), Consensus Decision Making ($2,000 for members, $2,100 for non-members), and construction adjudication training modules. Courses are offered online and in-person across Edmonton and Calgary.
3. Select & Appoint Service: The organization provides a Select & Appoint service for matching parties with qualified ADR professionals, generating service fees for roster management and appointments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) is a non-profit professional association providing Alternative Dispute Resolution training, certification, and membership services for mediators, arbitrators, and adjudicators in Alberta. The organization offers professional designations (Q.Med, C.Med, Q.Arb, C.Arb, Med-Arb), a practitioner directory, Select & Appoint matching service, and operates regulated adjudication programs including ARCANA (AB) for construction disputes and CAMVAP for motor vehicle arbitration.

Product overview

ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) operates as a professional association offering a comprehensive portfolio of dispute resolution services, training programs, and member resources. The core offering consists of professional ADR training courses (mediation, arbitration, negotiation, conflict management) leading to designations, a directory and select/appoint service for connecting parties with qualified practitioners, and regulated arbitration/adjudication services including CAMVAP and ARCANA construction adjudication. The organization offers various membership tiers with full membership ($380/year) including ADRIC national membership, professional designations (Q.Med, C.Med, Q.Arb, C.Arb, Med-Arb), events programming, mentorship opportunities, and public education resources. The ecosystem includes specialized programs like the Consensus Decision Making certificate, Approaching Conflict public courses, and complaints resolution services. ADRIA functions as the provincial nominating authority for construction adjudication under Alberta's Prompt Payment Construction Lien Act.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Membership Professional membership package at $380/year plus $50 sign-up fee for new/expired memberships, including ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) membership ($135 plus GST), full voting rights, eligibility for professional designations, and access to member-only resources and rosters. Designed for individual ADR practitioners in Alberta.
• ADR Training Programs Professional development and training courses in Alternative Dispute Resolution including mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and conflict management skills, offered online and in-person across Edmonton and Calgary. Includes foundational through advanced courses leading to professional designations, plus public-facing conflict skills series.
• Professional Designations Program Credentialing program for ADR practitioners offering five designations: Qualified Mediator (Q.Med), Chartered Mediator (C.Med), Qualified Arbitrator (Q.Arb), Chartered Arbitrator (C.Arb), and combined Med-Arb designations, awarded based on training, experience, and adherence to professional standards.
• Directory of ADR Professionals Searchable roster of certified mediators, arbitrators, and other ADR practitioners available to the public seeking professional dispute resolution services in Alberta. Member directory listings support practitioners' visibility and case referrals.
• Select and Appoint Service Roster-based selection and appointment service for matching parties with qualified ADR practitioners for specific dispute resolution needs, generating service fees for roster management and appointments. Available for mediation, arbitration, and adjudication matters.
• Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP) Provincial arbitration service for resolving new vehicle defect complaints outside of court, administered in partnership with provincial regulators. Provides binding arbitration decisions for vehicle manufacturer disputes.
• ARCANA (AB) Construction Prompt Payment Adjudication Regulated construction payment dispute adjudication service operating under Alberta's Prompt Payment Construction Lien Act (PPCLA), providing Nominating Authority for certified construction adjudicators. Effective August 28, 2022, all construction payment disputes became subject to this regulated process.
• Events and Webinars Professional development events including ADR Luncheon Webinars, Annual General Meetings, Conflict Resolution Day activities, and networking opportunities for members. The 2025 ADRIC National Conference hosted 255+ professionals from across Canada.
• Complaints Resolution Service Formal complaints handling process for addressing professional conduct concerns regarding ADR practitioners holding ADRIA designations. Provides accountability and quality assurance for the profession.
• Alberta Family Mediation Program Government-partnered family mediation program with the Alberta Ministry of Justice providing subsidized mediation services for separating and divorcing families with household incomes under $60,000. Average wait time is 1-3 weeks with 90%+ satisfaction rate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85%+ of mediation sessions lead to a resolution
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 and minor.

• ARCANA (AB) - ADRIA, ADRIC, and RICS PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2023ARCANA (AB) is a collaborative partnership between ADRIA, ADR Canada (ADRIC), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) designated as the sole Nominating Authority for construction adjudication services in Alberta. Effective March 7, 2023, ARCANA (AB) received ongoing ministerial authority to provide NA services for prompt payment construction disputes. The partnership combines ADRIA's ADR expertise with ADRIC's national reach and RICS's international construction industry knowledge.
• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADRIA serves as the Alberta affiliate of ADRIC, the national ADR body. Full membership in ADRIA includes ADRIC membership ($135 plus GST). The organizations collaborate on training standards, professional designations, and national conferences. ADRIC provides adjudication training in partnership with RICS.
• Alberta Government - Dispute Resolution NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADRIA collaborates with the Alberta Government's Dispute Resolution Network on annual Conflict Resolution Day initiatives and the provincial family mediation program. The government partnership includes $5 million in Budget 2023 funding to enhance family resolution services.
• Legal Aid AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting family justice services, with President John Panusa, KC publicly supporting ADRIA's position on family mediation accessibility.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)coreTechnology or IntegrationRICS partners with ADRIC to deliver the ADRIC-RICS Canada Adjudicator Training Program, establishing the Model Framework for Construction Adjudication across Canada. Through ARCANA (AB), RICS provides expertise for Alberta's construction adjudication system.
• We Work (Edison Building, Calgary)minorOthersCommercial workspace partnership providing in-person training facilities at The Edison Building, 150 9th Ave SW, Calgary.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mediate BC: British Columbia's non-profit society promoting mediation and ADR. Comparable to ADRIA as a provincial professional association offering rosters, training, and public-facing conflict resolution services.
• ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO): Ontario's provincial ADR professional association offering similar membership, designations, training, and a directory service. Operates the same model as ADRIA in a different province, making it a direct functional peer.
• Canadian Arbitration Association: Canadian ADR body offering arbitration and mediation services with a roster of practitioners. Directly comparable in offering and target market to ADRIA's Select & Appoint and arbitration services.
• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC): National umbrella body for ADR practitioners in Canada. ADRIA is the Alberta affiliate of ADRIC and full membership in ADRIA includes ADRIC membership, making ADRIC the closest direct peer in both function and governance structure.

Broad incumbents

• JAMS: Major private ADR provider offering mediation, arbitration, and adjudication services with a roster of neutrals. Comparable in service offering (mediation/arbitration/adjudication rosters) but operates as a for-profit at much larger scale.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA): Large U.S.-based provider of arbitration, mediation, and other ADR services across industries. Comparable as a comprehensive ADR service provider, though operating at much greater scale and geographic breadth than ADRIA.

Regional players

• British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre (BCICAC): Western Canadian international arbitration centre providing administered arbitration and mediation services. Comparable as a regional ADR institution offering case administration and rosters, though focused on international commercial disputes.
• Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre (MRJC): Alberta-based non-profit offering mediation and restorative justice services. Comparable in scope (community mediation, family conflict) and geography to ADRIA's public-facing family and community services.

Emerging players

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): International construction and surveying body that partners with ADRIA through ARCANA (AB) for construction adjudication. Comparable as an ADR/training provider, particularly for construction dispute resolution.

Others

• Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP): National automotive arbitration program that ADRIA helps administer in Alberta. Comparable as an ADR service, though narrowly focused on vehicle defect disputes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/adralberta
• Facebookfacebook.com/adralberta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adria2024

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ADR Institute of Alberta