ABOUT US

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Contact Us

Fifth House Group serves clients globally through our two main offices in Ottawa, ON and Vancouver, BC, Canada.

In North America call us toll-free, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM EST: 1-844-5TH HOUSE (1-844-584-4687)

Email us: connect@fifthhousegroup.com.

Fifth House Group President Ken Ashdown is a lapsed musician and former music journalist, indie label entrepreneur, and major label executive. Over his career Ken has worked with some of the music industry’s biggest stars, including Shania Twain, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Dire Straits, New Order, David Bowie, the Pixies, and U2. He served as Vice President at PolyGram Group Canada (Mercury/Polydor division) and later at QDesign Corporation, a leading provider of advanced digital audio compression technologies. An award-winning, certified adult educator, Ken spent several years as Head of Department at Vancouver Film School’s innovative Entertainment Business Management transmedia program and has been hailed as a “master teacher.” He earned his Master of Arts (MA) degree in Music Business Management (with Distinction) from the University of Westminster in London, England and his certification in Mediation/Third Party Intervention at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. In addition he is a Belbin® Team Role Accredited facilitator and a certified Workplace Fairness Analyst. Among other associations he is a member of the Cultural Human Resources Council and the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association.

CEO Helene Arts has had a full-time practice in the field of conflict Image of Helene Artsresolution since 1996. She is a professional mediator with significant experience in family, criminal, civil, and workplace conflict resolution. Over the years Helene has also developed a specialization in working with teams and small groups, focusing on restorative practices for healthy systems, and healing from significant incidents and trauma.

As an educator, Helene has over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering hundreds of learning events in multiple areas related to conflict prevention, resolution, and management. She designed and delivered the Certificate Program in Conflict Management for Leaders (Sprott School of Business), and has continually taught in her field of expertise at various Canadian universities since 2004.

Helene is the author of the Federal Public Service “Restoring the Workplace Following A Harrassment Complaint: A Manager’s Guide”; designer and co-author of the psychometric Instrument “CR²I – Conflict Response Roles Inventory”; and co-author of the books “Conflict Resolution for Musicians”, and “Keep the Drama In Front of the Camera”. She is currently working on two more books on the subjects of Group Intervention, and Workplace Restoration.

Helene has a BA in Religious Studies, an MA in Human Systems Intervention, and is completing a PhD in Conflict Studies.

 

Clients

Prior to joining forces under the Fifth House Group umbrella, our team has collectively helped hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals. A partial list of past and present clients includes:

Agriculture Canada
Bank of Canada
Canada Revenue Agency
Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
Canadian Police College
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Carleton University
Centre for Arts and Technology Okanagan
Centre for Conflict Resolution International
Corrections Canada
Department of National Defence
Environment Canada
Health Canada
Industry Canada
Library of Parliament
Ministry of the Attorney General
Music BC
NAV Canada
National Research Council
Ontario Provincial Police
Office of Public Service Values and Ethics
PMAC
PMRA
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Sprott School of Business
Statistics Canada
Vancouver Film School
VHA

Our Process

At Fifth House Group, we view our clients as the experts within their own systems. Our expertise is in the solutions that improve interpersonal or organizational health and effectiveness.

Our process always begins with a free, no-obligation consultation or Initial Meeting. The goal is to ensure clients feel comfortable and confident that the fit is right, whether the client is an individual on their own behalf or representing a team, group, or entire organization.

Our meticulous and carefully designed group process really begins once a decision to proceed is reached. Diagnosis is the critical first post-contracting step: this requires extensive research and assessment, and we survey or interview those involved to collect essential data about the situation. The result is valuable Feedback for the client, and a solid basis for any subsequent action.

Based on the Feedback there are two main pathways: Interventions, or Workshops & Training. Interventions can include, but are not limited to, processes such as:

  • Appreciative Inquiry
  • Dialogue
  • Group process facilitation
  • Open Space Technology
  • Participative Design Workshop
  • Search Conference
  • Organizational Climate Assessments
  • Workplace restoration
  • Workplace Fairness Analysis
  • Coaching
  • Negotiation
  • Facilitation
  • Mediation
  • Conciliation.

Click here for a list of our current Training & Workshops; we also offer custom training to suit your particular needs.

You ultimately decide the most appropriate course of action, with our support, because you’re the expert in your own situation.

Once the appropriate Intervention or Training has been delivered, there is post-assessment and evaluation, with further Follow-up and Closure.

FHG Four Dimensions chartFifth House Group offers an holistic approach that incorporates personal, interpersonal, group, and system dynamics.

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TAKE THE CR²I™

Learn how you respond to conflict, and how to manage yourself – and others – more effectively in conflict situations. The Conflict Response Roles Inventory (CR²I)™ has been used and trusted by hundreds of organizations and thousands of individual users for over a decade. Learn more, or take the self-assessment inventory here.

 

FAQ

Our FAQ answers some popular questions about our products and services.

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WORKSHOPS AND BESPOKE TRAINING

We offer a wide variety of prepared and custom training solutions for you, your team, group, or organization. Our training is always problem-based and experiential, so clients benefit from the most relevant and realistic approaches.

 

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Like you, we avoid email overload. That’s why we only send out the occasional newsletter when there’s something really worthwhile that we believe our friends, colleagues, and clients should know about. Sign up knowing that you’ll get valuable tips, tricks, resources, and other useful stuff only every now and then.

Mission, Vision, and Values

Our Vision: Fifth House Group is the leading provider of conflict management, team building, and leadership skills training services for the creative arts & entertainment industries. Through our work and that of our creative clients the world is healthier, more peaceful and sustainable.

Our Mission: We enable artists and creative organizations to captivate audiences and produce transcendent experiences by helping them remove barriers to inspiring collaborations.

Our Values: We value co-creative working relationships; thoroughly ethical behaviour; and positive, transformational outcomes.