Commissioner's update for correctional employees: January 26, 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.
I am excited to share that on Friday, the second episode of Shift was released. Shift is our new docuseries that brings Canadians inside our institutions by following our dedicated front-line staff through their shifts and hearing directly from them, in their own words.
In this episode, we follow Guillaume, a CX-II, at Cowansville Institution, as he takes viewers through a day on the job, showing the professionalism, teamwork, and human connection that define correctional work.
I watched this episode and want to sincerely thank Guillaume for his service, as well as for the commitment and dedication so clearly demonstrated in this video. Thank you Guillaume and thank you to all of the staff at Cowansville Institution for taking the time out of your busy day to support our communications team in producing this episode.
The response to Shift has been nothing short of extraordinary. Viewers have watched the series millions of times, and we continue to receive overwhelmingly positive messages from staff, partners, and Canadians. The reaction makes one thing very clear: people are genuinely interested in the important and hard work you do everyday. I look forward to featuring many more of our staff, including those working in community corrections, so that Canadians can see the full scope of CSC’s work and the pride so many of you have in the work you do in keeping communities safe.
You can watch the new episode here:
Faces of CSC: Darlene
It takes a lot of hard work to keep our institutions running. It is an important job and our employees are proud to do it!
Meet Darlene, a Maintenance Supervisor at Edmonton Institution:
Welcoming the new Quebec Regional Vice-Chair for the Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committee
Meet Darlene, a team member from Edmonton
Institution.
I am pleased to announce Hubert M. Makwanda as the new Quebec Regional Vice-Chair of the Ethnocultural Advisory Committee. With over 30 years of experience supporting leaders and organizations through strategic and human transformation, Hubert will no doubt bring valuable insight to the role, as well as his work with the National Ethnocultural Advisory Committee.
I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Brunilda Reyes, who served as vice-chair for many years. Her contributions and dedication have been greatly appreciated.
Learn more about Hubert and the other members of the National Ethnocultural Advisory Committee:
Prisons Inside / Out: Behind the Badge: Emergency Response Team
In the latest episode of our podcast, Prisons Inside / Out, the Behind the Badge series continues to spotlight the vital work front-line staff do every day to change lives and protect Canadians.
In this episode, we speak with Patrick, an Emergency Response Team (ERT) member and National Trainer at Atlantic Institution, about the high-stakes situations ERTs face and the special training and equipment required.
ERTs are a cornerstone of CSC’s safety strategy across the country. Thank you to Patrick and all ERT members for all you do in this important role.
Black History Month
Every February, we celebrate the experiences, achievements and contributions of Black people in Canada and at CSC. This year’s theme is “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations, From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”
Let us celebrate three decades of Black History Month in Canada with amazing events and activities.
On February 9, attend an event hosted by the Canada School of Public Service in partnership with the Interdepartmental Black Employees Network:
Family Literacy Day
January 27 is Family Literacy Day. I want to recognize the dedication of our staff who organize activities that support inmates and their families. These efforts help strengthen family connections and promote literacy, which are essential for growth and hope.
I invite you to help inmates participate by:
Sharing information about Family Literacy Day during programs and conversations
Highlighting resources and services available through the Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN), Book Clubs for Inmates, and the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
Encouraging inmates to speak with their Social Program Officer (SPO) about available programs and how SPOs, volunteers, and other stakeholders could help them get started.
A shared story, a written letter, or a recorded reading can bridge distances, nurture family bonds, and inspire hope.
Thank you for supporting this initiative and helping inmates stay connected with their families through literacy.
Thank you for all the work and effort you put in every day.
“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.”