News Releases

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Ottawa — December 8, 2003 - The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is preparing for its Giving Back to the Community Week, December 8-12, 2003. The week highlights some of the many ways CSC staff and offenders "give back" to Canadian communities. It also provides an opportunity to demonstrate how, with the assistance of CSC staff, offenders can contribute positively to society. During this season of giving many initiatives focus on bringing cheer to children, elderly and less fortunate people in the community who could use help, as well as food and clothing drives.

"We must encourage and help offenders to turn their lives around, so that when they return to the community, they are able to contribute in positive ways," said federal Solicitor General Wayne Easter. "An important part of the process is to foster a sense of responsibility, by giving them opportunities to help other people and the community at large."

"CSC is committed to serving Canadians," says Lucie McClung, Commissioner of CSC. "We are fortunate to have dedicated staff who through their actions assist offenders in giving back to the communities."

CSC provides innovative opportunities for both incarcerated offenders and offenders on supervised conditional release in the community to contribute thousands of hours of voluntary labour for many worthwhile causes. Activities vary from supplying a volunteer workforce for projects that benefit the community, to building and repairing hundreds of toys for less fortunate families at Christmas time, as well as speaking to youth about the consequences of engaging in unlawful behaviour and the benefits of living a crime-free life.

Sean Taylor, National Chairperson of the Citizens' Advisory Committee notes, "Many success stories from Canada's correctional system are often overlooked and this week provides an opportunity to highlight some of them. These projects provide the community insight into the efforts of CSC staff and offenders to affect positive change."

"All offenders come from the community, and most will return there," says City of Calgary Alderman John Schmal and immediate past President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. "Providing them with real skills for real jobs contributes significantly to the protection of society in the long run." Mr. Schmal is also a member of the advisory board of prominent citizens appointed by the Solicitor General of Canada to provide advice to CORCAN -- CSC's employment and employability skills program for offenders.

"A supportive community helps offenders become responsible citizens," says Commissioner McClung. "Communities across Canada have given us the opportunity to contribute to society in a meaningful way -- and for that we thank them."

Backgrounders related to community-oriented activities in each of CSC's five regions are attached.

For further information or third-party contacts in the community, please contact the following:

BACKGROUNDER

December 2003

The Correctional Service of Canada, as part of the criminal justice system and respecting the rule of law, contributes to the protection of society by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control. - Correctional Service of Canada Mission Statement

The following are just some examples of the many community-oriented activities involving Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) staff and offenders carrying out CSC's Mission. Media are invited to visit institutions to see some of these initiatives in action and meet with staff and offenders who are "giving back to the community."

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY -
ATLANTIC REGION

DORCHESTER PENITENTIARY: (Medium security, Dorchester, N.B.) Toys for Tots - Inmates in the Basic Skills Shop are once again giving Santa a helping hand by building, repairing and cleaning hundreds of toys that will be distributed to less fortunate families in time for Christmas. The Dorchester "Christmas Toy Project" has been ongoing for the past 13 years. Inmates have built, repaired or cleaned all kinds of toys, stuffed animals, and bicycles. In fact, to date the total is over 90,000!

ATLANTIC INSTITUTION: (Maximum security, Renous, N.B.) This year, some staff members are involved in several activities, including a clothing drive to benefit the local Women's Shelter, as well as raising funds to help provide Christmas hampers to needy families in the local area.

NOVA INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN: (Multi-level security, Truro, N.S.) Pawsitive Directions Program - This extremely successful program continues. Inmates are training dogs to serve as assistants to the physically and mentally handicapped. Other dogs are being trained to become companion dogs for elderly citizens.

SPRINGHILL INSTITUTION: (Medium security, Springhill, N.S.) In October 2003, the local Springhill Salvation Army needed to obtain food to fill their depleted food bank. In an effort to support this worthy cause, the inmate population donated groceries and "challenged" staff to equal their donation. Staff accepted, met the challenge and as a result, struggling families in the local community will benefit.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY -
QUEBEC REGION

DONNACONA INSTITUTION: (Maximum security, Donnacona, QC) Les Paniers… Sans Faim [Christmas baskets], formerly known as Les Paniers d'Espoir [Baskets of Hope], is a campaign to collect non-perishable food items for disadvantaged people in the community. This year, the campaign has been running since November 15 and will continue to December 17, 2003. With the assistance of the Société Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Portneuf county, baskets will be delivered to needy families in Donnacona on behalf of employees of the institution.

Children's Wish Marathon - For the fourth consecutive year, more than 20 CSC employees (mainly from Donnacona Institution) participated in a Portneuf county marathon in September. The event raised $6,500, which will be used to make children's dreams come true through the Canadian Children's Wish Foundation. To this day, seven children have already benefited from the donation from the CSC employees.

FEDERAL TRAINING CENTRE: (Minimum security, Laval, QC) Every Wednesday, five offenders work at Soupe Populaire St-Maxime, where they help make dinner, set up the dining room, distribute food, and clean up after the meal for approximately 200 recipients.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY -
ONTARIO REGION

OTTAWA PAROLE DISTRICT: (Ottawa, ON) On Thurs., Dec. 11, parole officers, Community Residential Facility (CRF) staff, volunteers, as well as offenders on release, will be joining forces to help one of the Local Ottawa Food Banks. They will be spending the day sorting food and other donations for the Christmas food baskets. Currently approximately 30 individuals (10 parole officers and CRF staff and 10 offenders) have registered to participate.

FRONTENAC INSTITUTION: (Minimum security, Kingston, ON) In conjunction with CORCAN's farm operation, 50 turkeys were raised by offenders. Some were used to raise funds for the United Way, and others will be donated to local organizations (Salvation Army, Food Bank, Martha's Table, etc.) to provide Christmas dinners to those in need in the local community. CORCAN is CSC's employment and employability skills program for offenders.

WARKWORTH INSTITUTION: (Medium security, Campbellford, ON) Inmates are currently in the process of making shelves for a local food bank, with the target project completion being the middle of December. Material suppliers were canvassed and asked to donate material. Thank you to Robert Bury of Peterborough and Arborite from Montreal for donating the material for this project.

PEEL AREA PAROLE OFFICE: (Mississauga, ON) St. Leonard's House Peel has a woodworking shop program called Woodlife in which two offenders provide a training program for 10 "at risk" youth in the community. The program involves both woodworking skills and cognitive skills (improving attitudes and behaviour).

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY -
PRAIRIE REGION

RIVERBEND INSTITUTION: (Minimum security, Prince Albert, SK) A new program, coordinated by the Lifer's Group is underway! This program is a partnership between police services, local businesses, non-profit agencies, the Riverbend Lifer's Group and CSC staff. Unclaimed lost or stolen bikes donated to the institution are repaired and rebuilt by the Lifers. They are then given to needy children in the community via the police and non-profit agencies, such as the Salvation Army.

SASKATCHEWAN PAROLE DISTRICT: (Saskatoon, SK) Offenders on conditional release in Saskatoon contribute by making presentations at local schools, working with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteering at mealtimes in soup kitchens.

EDMONTON INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN: (Multi-level security, Edmonton, AB) Inmates and staff support several community initiatives throughout the year. For example, the United Way Campaign, AIDS walk, and Christmas Toy and Food Bank drives. Approximately $4,000 and numerous toys and food items have been collected this past year and will continue throughout the Christmas season. In addition, women in the Secure Unit have been making blankets out of material donated by the Catholic Women's League for the purpose of donating them to the needy and mothers of newborn babies in particular.

STONY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTION: (Medium security, Stony Mountain, MB) Inmates will be building a playhouse to be raffled off at a fund-raising event for Habitat for Humanity. Two picnic tables will also be constructed from salvaged lumber, which will then be donated to a local senior citizens' complex.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY -
PACIFIC REGION

MOUNTAIN INSTITUTION: (Medium security, Fraser Valley, B.C.) Each year at the end of November, inmates work in the Horticulture and Ground Department to begin preparing for the Christmas Centerpiece Fundraiser. The "Hollylogs" are constructed from pieces of birch logs, decorated with branches of holly, cedar and pinecones. Candles, sparkles and a spray of snow complete the job. Donations for the centerpieces come from staff members, social groups and the inmates themselves. The proceeds for the Hollylogs are donated to the Chilliwack Salvation Army to assist in the distribution of gift and food hampers for disadvantaged families.

PRINCE GEORGE PAROLE OFFICE (Prince George, B.C.) This year, the directors of three Prince George halfway houses are helping St. Vincent de Paul drop-in center and emergency food services facility. Each halfway house (Activators, St. Patrick's, and Ketso Yoh) will provide funding to donate six food hampers to the facility. The hampers will be ready during Giving Back to the Community Week. Offenders at Activators halfway house volunteer at the local Salvation Army all year by going along in the van to pick up donations and help stock the shelves at the thrift stores.

KENT INSTITUTION: (Maximum security, Agassiz, B.C.) Kent Institution is working with CORCAN to make dollhouses for B.C. Children's Hospital. Kent also collects donations during the Christmas season for local food banks. Every year, staff supports a Christmas Family who is struggling in the community by providing them with a full Christmas dinner, gifts, clothing and toys. This year, staff began raising funds for this family at Halloween with a pumpkin-carving contest and raffles.