Commissioner's update for correctional employees: May 12, 2025
Our mission: The Correctional Service of Canada, as part of the criminal justice system and respecting the rule of law, contributes to public safety by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control.
Our core values: Respect, fairness, professionalism, inclusiveness, and accountability.
As you may know, last week, the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) had its conference in Regina. The theme was Thriving in Public Safety: Research to Action! CIPSRT’s goal is to improve the lifetime well-being of Public Safety Personnel, their leadership, and their families. CSC was well represented and Jason Hope, CSC’s Mental Health Champion and Regional Deputy Commissioner, Prairie Region, was in attendance.
The work we do is challenging and it can affect the mental health of our staff, especially those who work on the frontline. I want to remind you that help is available, and I encourage you to use the many resources available to you. Seeking help and talking about it is a sign of strength. Although we have made great progress to reduce the stigma around mental health, more can always be done in this space. I have included resources below.
Another thing we can all do is play our part in maintaining safe, healthy and respectful workplaces. This includes showing respect and empathy for one another, being open, kind and non-judgmental. It is incumbent upon all of us to demonstrate leadership, at all levels, and to check-in with colleagues. We must also call out and report inappropriate behaviours – and be able to rely on one another. Be mindful that sometimes comments we make or the way we treat one another can have negative impacts. As Commissioner, I have made it my goal to improve the culture at CSC. Please keep on doing what you can to improve your workplace culture, whether you work at an institution, a community office or at a Regional or National Headquarters.
I regularly hear about mental health challenges from employees and more particularly from frontline staff. While it starts with prevention, I cannot stress enough the importance of recognizing the signs of distress and seeking/recommending help. Nobody should ever suffer in silence.
If you need support or someone to listen, several resources are available to you:
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
- EAP referral agents (accessible only on the Government of Canada network)
- Employee Assistance Program / TELUS Health (accessible only on the Government of Canada network)
- PSPNET
- Office of the Ombuds for Workplace Well-being (accessible only on the Government of Canada network)
If you need help, please know that there is always someone willing to listen. At CSC, we are a family, and we owe it to each other to promote individual and collective safety above all.
Victims and Survivors of Crime Week
From May 11 to 17, Canada recognizes the courage and resilience of victims of crime during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. The week aims to raise public awareness of the issues facing victims of crime and the services available to them.
CSC provides services to more than 9,000 registered victims and survivors of crime. As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, I want to thank all staff for your dedication and exceptional work in upholding victims’ rights to information, participation and protection. Many of our operational staff support CSC’s services to victims, from the victim services units to Case Management Teams, security operations, health services, Restorative Opportunities mediators, and more.
Congratulations to the recent graduates from CSC’s annual Victim Services Officer Training Program on becoming Victim Services Officers! By providing compassionate, professional, and trauma-informed services to victims, we help protect victims and their families, contributing to safer and stronger communities.
National Nursing Week
Today is International Nurses Day and the start of National Nursing Week. The theme of the week is “The Power of Nurses to Transform Health.” It highlights the impact nurses have in shaping health care, driving innovation, and advocating for patient-centred care.
At CSC, our nurses play many vital roles. They are dedicated primary-care providers, dynamic health promoters, collaborative team members, engaged educators, and so much more! Recently, we introduced 24/7 nursing at select institutions in each region. This change highlights the critical importance of nurses when it comes to providing quality health care at CSC.
I would like to thank the hundreds of CSC nurses across Canada for their significant contributions to the health and well-being of inmates in our care and custody, and I encourage you to do the same.
Museum month
I'm pleased to share that Canada’s Penitentiary Museum in Kingston in Ontario has officially opened for its 61st season.
For more than 60 years, the Museum has preserved and documented the history of federal corrections in Canada. Throughout the season, we reflect on our past as a correctional service and look to the future. We will be launching a new video series on social media highlighting our history and Kingston Penitentiary. Stay tuned!
A big thanks to all our volunteers and curators for their dedication and hard work for another season.
Thank you to everyone for your amazing work. Your commitment to keeping people safe makes a real difference in our institutions and communities.
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.