Sage Streight: On Seeking Justice and Understanding in Law
Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) alumni Sage Streight looks back on her time in the program fondly, and the program’s teachings continue to inform her work today. After graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2019, with a major in PACS and a minor in Legal Studies, Sage pursued a law career. She graduated from the University of Ottawa’s law school in 2023 and by 2024, she was a fully licensed lawyer. She now works as a criminal prosecutor and assistant crown attorney in Kingston, Ontario.
As a PACS student, Sage was heavily involved in both PACS and the Grebel community, helping with everything from events and student life to community outreach. For Sage, she sought guidance about law school from older students who had already been through the application process. Many of the connections and friendships that Sage built in the PACS program remain a vital part of her life today. She notes the importance of maintaining and nurturing these connections, even after graduation.
In the classroom, Sage was inspired by her PACS professors, who were not just instructors but experts in their subject matter. Outside of teaching, they were also doing important work in their communities. In addition to her professors, it was the guest speakers in classes like PACS 331: Trauma, Healing, and Social Transformation that influenced Sage’s perspective on conflict and law. Hearing stories from people who had experienced harm and still found a way to move forward opened her eyes to the possibilities for restoration and healing after a conflict:
I just remember thinking how resilient these people were. The fact that they would even entertain healing or speaking to someone that abused or hurt them was amazing.
Many of the teachings of the PACS program, such as restorative justice and conflict mediation, continue to inform Sage in her work today. Throughout her PACS degree and into law school, Sage gained an understanding that law does not simply exist to punish or restrict people; it can be a tool for people to heal, find closure, and build relationships. Even in situations where harm has been caused, and there is an unlikely chance of relationship building, there is always the chance to build understanding between the affected persons:
[In criminal justice processes], things are not always golden in the end, but there are at least some elements of understanding and clarity that can come from it.
In her career as a criminal prosecutor, Sage seeks to represent the truth. The goal, she says, is not about winning or losing, but about prosecuting cases based on their merits. She works with those who are accused, as well as victims and families, to help them understand the criminal justice system.
The philosophy of restorative justice informs Sage’s work by encouraging her to expand her mindset; a skill that is crucial in situations where a crime has been committed. These concepts encourage her to “think outside the box” and understand the nuance of the decisions she is making daily. In her work, the safety of the public is a significant consideration, but there are many other factors that play a role. Prosecutors must also consider the path that led a person to commit a crime, consider the impacts on the victims, and seek to find the most just outcome for all the parties involved.
This way of thinking, she notes, has limitations within the legal system. With limited funding and existing biases, it can be challenging to apply these concepts within the courts. Nevertheless, the ability to think through a restorative lens is invaluable in her line of work.
As a piece of advice to both future and current MPACS students, Sage encourages them to explore the many opportunities that a PACS degree provides:
Do not let what you think you should do with your PACS degree limit you. Think big.
While Sage pursued a professional degree right after graduating from PACS, she notes that she has seen other people imagine new and creative ways to incorporate their PACS degree into their lives. The program encourages students to imagine the many ways that peacebuilding and restorative justice can function in the world. No matter where your path leads, there is potential to get involved and make a difference with the teachings of a PACS degree.
By Alivia Schill