We’re celebrating Waterstone Law Group and their 10 years of membership with the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce!
Q&A with Jacinta Gallant, Collaborative Lawyer & Mediator, Waterstone Law Group
What do you love most about running your business? Our clients!! As divorce lawyers and mediators, we get to meet so many interesting people going through a major transition in their lives. It’s an honour when they trust us to help them. Believe it or not, we have lots of laughs and we feel the strength and resiliency of these incredible people every day.
What’s been one of your biggest challenges, and how did you get through it? Family law is a challenging field. I knew that even my courtroom successes had unintended consequences in driving parents apart! I needed to get out of that grind and focus on healthier approaches to separation and divorce. So in 2017, I decided to STOP fighting other people’s battles in the courtroom and focus my practice on mediation. Now I work with parents to help them rebuild and transform their parenting relationship for the sake of their kids.
What’s something your customers might not know about you or your business? Well, I am really proud to say that I am a global creator of professional development training and mediation preparation tools. I teach conflict resolution around the world – virtually and in person. My most recent program is called The Out of Court Lawyer Program, and we have participants from 5 countries so far.
What’s a recent win, big or small, that you’re proud of? We just created a digital course for PEI families so they can get a healthy start on their separation journey and access legal support when they need it in a much more cost-effective manner. The course is also being used around the world in 9 countries (so far) but we made a special version for PEI families. I want to support families here – because healthy families make healthy communities.
What are you looking forward to in the next year? I am excited to grow our online tools to help more people navigate the various conflict challenges they face – in families, for sure, but also in the workplace, inter-generational conflict, businesses, organizations and institutions. I feel fortunate to have learned so much about managing difficult conversations that I feel very happy about having a positive impact through tools and training.
What’s one thing about PEI you think people often overlook or don’t appreciate enough? I always say that if you have a great idea – and the ability to execute – you can pilot it here on PEI much easier than in larger centres. Word of mouth is a huge market advantage here. While some people say Islanders can get “stuck in our ways”, I have found PEI to be fertile ground for innovation. That’s what has grown our little start-up to become a global export enterprise. (And it is true that people get stuck in their ways even in larger centres! J )
Who inspires you in your work or life? My mother and father, Mike and Catherine Gallant. They birthed six children in 5 and ½ years – so they were very busy in those parenting years. And when the six of us started having our own children, they opened their home and their hearts to all our little ones. Now, the values they instilled in us – friendship, community, loyalty, caring for others – these values have been passed on to new generations. They taught me that Love Multiplies (and I see that every day in my family law practice).
What does “community” mean to you, and how do you stay connected? Community means connection. Both of my parents were great role models as volunteers – officially and unofficially – meeting the needs of others while caring for their own “clan”. I have been focused on the global community for the past five years, and in 2025 I am turning back towards home. I am acting locally on environmental initiatives and advocating with other Islanders to support legislation to protect public participation in public policy. We need an engaged public to ensure our special Island responds to the challenges before us. I work to stay informed and to offer my help in my areas of expertise.
What’s your go-to way to relax and enjoy the Island’s natural beauty? To the beach! In all seasons. I think I am one of the earliest Islanders to jump in the ocean – late May or early June!
What’s your favourite hidden gem on PEI? So many are no longer hidden!! I do love a good lobster roll and some fresh-cut French fries. (They have to be fresh cut.) When you can find this close to the beach – well, that is pure heaven in PEI summers.
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