Commissioner's update for correctional employees: November 25, 2024

Today is the launch of the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence and International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Now, more than ever, we need to work together against gender-based violence.

Every year from November 25 to December 10, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence unites people around the world. In Canada, more than 11 million people have experienced intimate partner violence, a type of gender-based violence, at least once since the age of 15.

This year, the Government of Canada’s theme is Come Together, Act Now. It emphasizes how crucial it is to involve everyone in Canada. It is also a call to action urging all of us to recognize the signs of gender-based violence and to reach out for support, for ourselves or loved ones.

I would like to remind you to continue to explore the personal stories from victims, offenders and mediators on our new commemorative web page celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Restorative Opportunities (RO) Program.

• 20 Years of Restorative Opportunities - Canada.ca

This commemorative web page brings together unique and profoundly moving experiences from participants in the RO program. Take a moment to explore these stories and see how victim-offender dialogue helps to address the needs of those impacted by crime and how it can help to restore parts of their lives that felt lost to them. Here’s to many more years of making a difference together.

This week marks the 5th anniversary of a fundamental change in federal corrections, the implementation of Structured Intervention Units in 2019. To date, SIUs have been implemented at 15 correctional institutions across the country. They provide inmates with the continued opportunity to engage in programs to support their safe return to a mainstream inmate population as soon as possible.

I want to say thank you to the tireless staff who have worked or are currently working hard every day in SIUs to support offenders. I also want to thank the many Indigenous Elders, Chaplains, Spiritual Advisors as well as community partners and volunteers for their great work.

We will continue to work on improving SIUs by listening to the valuable feedback of staff and stakeholders. These perspectives help us continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of the model and our interventions.

Recently we renewed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Interfaith Committee (IFC) on Chaplaincy. CSC has worked closely with these volunteer representatives from faith communities across Canada since 1968. The renewal of our agreement confirms the importance of the longstanding relationship and reaffirms the IFC as the primary interface between CSC and Canada’s faith communities.

The committee members are involved in site visits, meetings with Regional Deputy Commissioners, and providing advice on policy development and religious practices.

I am pleased to announce that for the third year in a row, the Treasury Board Secretariat has accepted employees, who are nominated by CSC, to be part of the Mosaic Leadership Development program.

Mosaic aims to take bold action to address barriers faced by equity-seeking employees by sponsoring, providing leadership development opportunities, and supporting them in their journey towards becoming an executive. Our employees will join candidates from 50 federal departments for the 15-month-long learning journey. Congratulations and good luck to them both.

I am so grateful for your continued dedication and commitment to excellence.

“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.”