Completed year-abroad program in Ecuador
Winner of Peter Robinson College Award for Outstanding Contribution to College Life
Dean's List Graduate

Certified intermediate/senior teacher
Specialization in Alternative and Global Education

Focus are: trauma and restorative justice for children and youth

Shannon was one of a group of select participants from across Canada to participate in the first cohort of Social Innovation Leaders for the month-long residency program, "Getting to Maybe" (affiliated with the University of Waterloo)

Writers' Union of Canada

The Forgiveness Project

Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE)

The Banff Centre

Doubleday Canada (Penguin Random House)

Simon & Schuster USA & UK

“One month into our marriage, my husband committed horrific violent crimes. In that instant, the life I knew was destroyed. I vowed that one day I would be whole again. This is my story.” An impassioned, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful story of one woman’s pursuit of justice, forgiveness, and healing. When Shannon Moroney got married in October 2005, she had no idea that her happy life as a newlywed was about to come crashing down around her. One month after her wedding, a police officer arrived at her door to tell her that her husband, Jason, had been arrested and charged in the brutal assault and kidnapping of two women. In the aftermath of these crimes, Shannon dealt with a heavy burden of grief, the stress and publicity of a major criminal investigation, and the painful stigma of guilt by association, all while attempting to understand what had made Jason turn to such violence. In this intimate and gripping journey into prisons, courtrooms, and the human heart, Shannon reveals the far-reaching impact of Jason’s crimes and the agonizing choices faced by the loved ones of offenders. In so doing, she addresses the implicit dangers of a correctional system and a society that prioritize punishment over rehabilitation and victimhood over recovery.

Through the Glass

The increasing popularity of restorative justice has prompted new and varying applications of its core principles. The authors of The Promise of Restorative Justice highlight the ways that these new ideas now spark innovations both throughout the criminal justice system and in arenas as diverse as business, education, athletics, and the aftermath of ethnic conflict. They offer fresh approaches to addressing the problems of crime and other human conflicts in ways that productively incorporate the values of mutual respect, accountability, and ultimately reconciliation between offenders and victims.

The Promise of Restorative Justice: New Approaches for Criminal Justice and Beyond

The Stranger Inside: Written by Shannon Moroney, 2012 Edition, Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd [Paperback]

In 2005, Shannon Moroney was a teacher, guidance counsellor and happy newlywed when a police officer arrived at her door to tell her that her husband was in custody having confessed to the kidnapping and brutal sexual assault of two women in their community. Thrust upon a terrifying journey of grief, loss, confusion and stigma, Shannon witnessed first-hand the vast ripple-effect of violence and gaps in the justice and correctional systems for victims, offenders, families and communities. 

After her husband pled guilty, was sentenced to life in prison, and they finalized their divorce, Shannon became an advocate for change--healing herself as she helped others. She earned a Masters degree in Child Welfare with an emphasis on trauma and restorative justice, became a certified restorative justice facilitator, began a public speaking career, and then wrote her memoir.  Through the Glass became an instant national bestseller upon its release in 2011 and was published worldwide in 2012. It has been nominated for several awards including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction, was a Canada Reads Top 40, and is currently #1 on the reading list at the international Empathy Library.  Her work and story have been widely featured by media outlets around the world and her interview for CBC radio’s The Current was named in the top ten of the program’s ten years on air. 

Passionate about restorative justice, Shannon has spoken internationally on the topic, provided written testimony to the Senate of Canada on Crime Bill C-10, and contributed to the public consultation for Canada’s Victims Bill of Rights. She is also a volunteer with Leave Out Violence and a member of the International Forgiveness Project. In 2015, Shannon wrote, narrated and co-produced a documentary called "In Harm's Way" for CBC Radio's The Current, which features the voices and stories of some of her readers--friends and family members of offenders--and gives insight to the issues they face.

Since 2008, Shannon has been engaging audiences all over the world. Using vivid photographs and artwork to illustrate her journey, Shannon tells her story and guides the audience to think about the big, universal themes: justice, forgiveness, and resilience. Shannon inspires triumph over trauma for people and communities. Those who hear her never forget her story.

Shannon lives in Toronto where she is remarried and the mother of twins. Visit her at www.shannonmoroney.com


Crime and Justice

Stigma

Trauma

Ptsd Recovery

Criminal Law

Criminal and Social Justice Policy

Forgiveness/Reconciliation

Restorative Justice

Violence

Prison Reform

Resilience

Writing to Heal

Families of Offenders

Spanish

English

Game Changer: Building From Betrayal (interview with Ana Maria Tremonti on CBC's The Current, October 2011)

Forgiveness and Restorative Justice: Shannon Moroney on CBC's Windsor Morning (November 2014)

Shannon Moroney, author of "Through the Glass", speaks with CBC Radio's Shelagh Rogers on The Next Chapter

The Leader's Lounge (Toronto) interviews Shannon Moroney

Shannon Moroney on George Stroumboloupoulous Tonight (Episode 16, October 11 2011)

Shannon Moroney speaks about Forgiveness (City News, Toronto)

Healing Through Art with Shannon Moroney (Heartspeak Productions)

Shannon Moroney speaks at St Lawrence University, NY

Shannon Moroney talks about why she wrote her book, Through the Glass 

Shannon Moroney's Official Website

Building From Betrayal 

George Stromboulopoulous Tonight

In Harm's Way

In October 2005, Shannon Moroney was a successful professional, proud homeowner, active volunteer and happy newlywed. A knock at her door shattered the life she knew: it was a police officer, there to deliver the shocking news that her husband, Jason, was in custody after confessing to the brutal sexual assault and kidnapping of two women in their town. Hear Shannon tell the story of her husband’s arrest, trial, sentencing, and the insights she gained about justice, healing and the relationship between the two as she struggled to triumph over tragedy. Openly sharing her experiences, reading selected pieces from her book and using photos and artwork to illustrate her journey, Shannon will leads the audience through an unforgettable ordeal and inspires hope even in the most desperate moments of the human condition. 

THROUGH THE GLASS: One Woman’s Pursuit of Justice, Forgiveness and Healing

Geared toward seasoned and novice writers as well as literature lovers, this presentation offers wisdom and advice on caring for oneself and one’s manuscript while writing about trauma and difficult times. Shannon shares her own writing journey and discusses the private and public experience of opening her heart and memory, providing the audience with practical tools. Whether the goal is to publish, to document a journey, or to find personal healing, participants will come away with tools and resources to guide the process. Recounting doesn’t have to mean reliving.


WRITING WHAT HURTS: Recounting without Reliving

Is resilience something you're born with or something you can develop? What makes a person, community or society elastic and able to overcome life's challenges, big and small? Sharing her own personal journey to recover from the trauma of her husband's violent crimes, and her extensive knowledge of the peace building process worldwide, Shannon Moroney engages the audience in a bigger understanding of what "being elastic" is all about and offers practical advice for building resilience in yourself and your family, workplace, school, community and society. 

RESILIENCE INSIDE OUT: How people and communities can overcome trauma and build peace

Part of being human is getting hurt. Sometimes we hurt others; sometimes others hurt us. We even hurt ourselves. Holding onto this hurt and allowing it to dictate the course of our lives can have negative long-term consequences. Forgiveness can change the shape of our journeys. It can release anger, fear, judgement and resentment, and open the door to peace and a positive future.  

The "F" Word is an experiential workshop conducted in a circle format to enable all participants to share equally in an exploration of what forgiveness may or may not represent for them.  A series of exercises and story telling offers a rich and thoughtful perspective designed to connect the individual to his or her own story. This workshop can be adapted to groups of different sizes and compositions, from youth to divorcees to mental health professionals to prison inmates. An expanded version is also available for day and weekend retreats. 

Participants are invited to explore some common misconceptions about forgiveness, the benefits and potential drawbacks of forgiveness, the role of apology, self-forgiveness and situations without the potential for dialogue or remorse. 



The "F" Word: The Power of Forgiveness (workshop/retreat)

Judah Outshoorn

Professor, Bachelor of Community & Criminal Justice

Brenda Morrison

Assistant Professor, School of Criminology & Co-Director, Centre for Restorative Justice

Gerard Bellefeuille

Professor

Howard Zehr

American Criminologist and Co-Director of the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice; Advisor to the US Sentencing Committee

Jean-Paul Boudreau

Dean of Arts

Anthony Doob

Member of the Order of Canada and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Professor Emeritus of Criminology (University of Toronto)

Kirkus Reviews

Book Reviewer

Rabble Reviews

Waterloo Chronicle

Reporter

Edmonton Journal

Timothy Appleby

Vancouver Sun

Winnipeg Free Press

The Peterborough Examiner

The London Free Press

The National Post

Anne Kingston

Journalist

Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ

Author of the international bestseller Dead Man Walking and Founder of Ministry Against the Death Penalty (USA)

Author & Public Speaker

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