News Releases

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Laval, Quebec, April 27, 2004 - The 2003 Taylor Award was presented today to Jacqueline Verrette, who has volunteered with federal inmates for almost 20 years, at a ceremony held in Laval, Quebec. The Taylor Award is an annual award presented by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), in conjunction with the National Volunteer Association, to an outstanding volunteer with the CSC who has shown admirable dedication in the service of volunteerism to corrections.

"Ms. Verrette plays an important role in the reintegration of inmates," stated Commissioner Lucie McClung. "Not only is she dedicated to assisting inmates in their personal evolution, but she has also built new partnerships and developed strong and significant ties between the Correctional Service of Canada and humanitarian organizations in her community. Ms. Verrette is a pioneer in restorative justice."

Ms. Verrette has taken on a number of roles within the CSC over the years, including that of volunteer escort, accompanying inmates in their community so that they can take part in activities that will assist them in their reintegration, such as Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, the Entrée Libre Program, and a number of spiritual activities.

"Ms. Verrette is aware of the importance for inmates of contributing to the well-being of the community," added Jean-Luc Gougeon, Director of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines Institution. "Through her dedication, Ms. Verrette has assisted inmates in learning the importance of investing of themselves in supporting the most vulnerable members of society. Many inmates, as well as CSC staff and the community at large, have benefited from Jacqueline Verrette's dedication to this cause."

Selfless and highly motivated, Ms. Verrette has set up a number of activities to allow inmates to assist organizations and individuals in the community. A number of inmates have themselves become volunteers with community organizations working with the homeless and persons living with AIDS, as well as with a hospital requiring assistance with recreational activities for its patients. She has accompanied inmates who have spoken in schools to deter young people from crime.

With her many years of experience, Ms. Verrette has proven a dependable associate and an invaluable source of reference for CSC staff and the other organizations for which she volunteers. Since 1997, she has appeared at six judicial reviews for inmates, at their request.

Ms. Verrette is the third recipient of the Taylor Award. Through this award, the CSC recognizes volunteers and the support they provide to the corrections system and communities. CSC has over 10,000 volunteers working in correctional facilities and parole offices. These volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the work of professionals in correctional services. CSC is currently involved in the Government of Canada volunteer-sector initiative.

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For further information, please contact:

Normand Daoust
Regional Manager, Communications,
Media Relations
Correctional Service of Canada
Laval, Quebec
(450) 967-3350

Backgrounder: THE TAYLOR AWARD & VOLUNTEERS

The Taylor Award

The Taylor Award, established in November 2001 to mark the International Year of Volunteers, is given annually to an outstanding volunteer with the Correctional Service of Canada who has shown admirable dedication in the service of volunteerism to corrections.

The award is named after Dr. Charles Taylor and his wife Charlotte, of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, the first recipients of the award. They were recognized for a lifetime of faith-based counselling and work with offenders in institutions and communities and for Dr. Taylor's contribution to the development of prison ministry education.

The National Volunteer Association determines the recipient for the award. Established in November 2001 by the Solicitor General, the National Volunteer Association (NVA) serves as a national voice for the 10,000 volunteers working with the Correctional Service of Canada.

Acknowledging the many contributions that volunteers make, the NVA provides a strong platform for communications between CSC and volunteers as well as amongst volunteers. The NVA also promotes volunteers within penitentiaries and their communities.

To mark the occasion, the award recipient receives an attractive glass statue, depicting five Inukshuks in a circle. Inukshuks (an Inuit word meaning "in the image of man") are stone figures built to resemble humans, originally built as landmarks to aid in navigation and to assist in caribou hunting. The Inukshuk has been adopted today as a symbol to remind Canadians of our dependence on each other and the value of strong relationships.

CSC Volunteers

Volunteers are an equally indispensable part of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Each year, some 10,000 volunteers bridge the gap between offenders in correctional facilities and the community, playing an integral role in achieving the CSC mission of "contributing to the protection of society by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens."

Who are CSC volunteers?

The CSC is committed to achieving a skilled, diverse volunteer base that reflects the cultural diversity of the Canadian population. CSC volunteers come from all walks of life and include homemakers, tradespeople, teachers, accountants, nurses, and retirees. Many are students who wish to acquire experience in the correctional system to complement their studies.

Anyone who is over the age of 18 and is committed to the CSC mission can volunteer with CSC. All volunteers receive some training and their security is always a priority.

What do CSC volunteers do?

Volunteers help provide programs and services, serve as positive role models and contribute in many ways including:

• Education - tutoring, literacy training, computer skills, and vocational skills;
• Chaplaincy and Circles of Support - working with chaplains to provide spiritual healing and support for incarcerated offenders and those returning to the community;
• Ethno-Cultural Programs - assisting with support groups and acting as translators and interpreters;
• Aboriginal Support - spiritual activities such as sweatlodges, healing circles, pow-wows, and drum groups, as well as Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood, cultural nights, native theatre, round dance, and Inuit feast;
• Health Care - palliative care, suicide prevention;
• Social/Recreational - sports activities, theatre groups, quilting groups, public speaking forums, family social events, and holiday project events;
• Support for Release Plans - helping offenders to participate in community activities such as treatment programs or local community development projects like playground construction.

Citizens' Advisory Committees

Many volunteers also participate through membership in over 75 Citizens' Advisory Committees (CACs) that exist across the country. Through their involvement in the CACs, more than 500 volunteers advise on CSC's operations and their impact on communities, serve as independent observers and act as liaisons with the community.