Commissioner's update for correctional employees: January 19, 2026
This content is a message to Correctional Service Canada (CSC) staff from CSC's Commissioner.
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.
At CSC, the work we do on a daily basis is demanding, both on a human and emotional level. It requires great strength, constant resilience, and remarkable commitment, particularly during times of significant change like the one we are experiencing now. Despite the unique challenges of corrections, know that your work remains deeply meaningful and impactful. Acknowledging one's limits and asking for support are not signs of weakness, but gestures of honesty and courage.
January 21 is Bell Let's Talk Day, an opportunity to further support a national conversation about mental health and promote awareness and action built on anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace health.
Together, we are breaking down stigma by normalizing conversations about mental health and raising awareness around mental health in the federal public service.
I would like to remind you that confidential and accessible resources are available to anyone who feels the need to be accompanied or simply listened to:
- Employee Assistance Program referral agents (accessible only on the Government of Canada network)
- Employee Assistance Program (accessible only on the Government of Canada network)
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
Faces of CSC: Ian Brewster, Parole Officer Supervisor
Meet Ian Brewster, an award-winning Parole Officer Supervisor in Nova Scotia. Ian has built his career on helping people make better choices and investing in their potential.
Read his story:
International Day of Education
On January 24, we recognize International Day of Education, a day that highlights the transformative and far-reaching benefits of having access to education.
I would like to celebrate the dedicated CSC teachers, librarians, and mentors whose invaluable work creates opportunities for offenders to experience greater academic and personal development.
Thank you all for your unwavering commitment to inspiring offenders and supporting their educational journeys.
Thank you for your resilience and commitment.
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.