COVID-19 update for correctional employees: October 29, 2021

This content is a message to Correctional Service Canada (CSC) staff from CSC's Commissioner.

Today is the deadline to complete your vaccination attestation. Based on the number of attestations to date, the vast majority of you are fully vaccinated or will soon be. Thank you for getting vaccinated! If you have not already done your attestation, please do it now (you can always come back to my message later).

• GC-VATS application

Regardless of your vaccination status, you must complete an attestation. Also, do not wait until you have all of your supporting documentation to request an accommodation. 

If you are experiencing issues in accessing the GC-VATS application, follow these instructions. If you do not complete your attestation, as a next step, you will be required to attend the training module on COVID-19 Vaccine Fundamentals (W210), which is now available through the Canada School of Public Service GCcampus.

• COVID-19 Vaccine Fundamentals (W210)

New federal Cabinet

A new federal Cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday, October 26. We welcome The Honourable Marco Mendicino, our new Minister of Public Safety. The Caretaker Convention has now ended, and Parliament is scheduled to return with a Speech from the Throne on November 22. 

Structured Intervention Units

I am pleased to announce that a new version of the Structured Intervention Units (SIU) (LTE) application will be released on October 30, 2021. This will increase the functionality for all users and improve our ability to record better information. This is an important step to ensure we accurately track and report on the day-to-day activities within the SIUs.

Version 1.6 of the SIU LTE application is a significant milestone as we near the two-year anniversary of the launch of SIUs. I would like to thank all staff working in the SIUs and those who support them from regional and national level for their continued hard work, both with implementation and with daily operations of the SIUs. 

SIUs marked transformational and historic change to federal corrections, and I am extremely proud of the ongoing efforts to make enhancements to how we operate SIUs.

Emerson Douyon Multiculturalism Award Winner

Congratulations to Heather Finn, A/Regional Administrator, Assessment and Interventions, who is the 2020–2021 recipient of the Emerson Douyon Multiculturalism Award. Heather’s commitment to multiculturalism is demonstrated through her:

• ongoing dedication to
  • respect
  • diversity, and
  • inclusivity;
• her work with her local and regional Employment Equity and Diversity Committees; and 
• her efforts in
  • advocating
  • supporting, and
  • championing initiatives to address the successful reintegration of ethnocultural offenders.

I would also like to recognize this year’s nominees, Donovan Blair and Taiwo Ajetunmobi, for their vital work in promoting multiculturalism and diversity within CSC and in the community!

Diversity Week

CSC is an organization of 17,500 employees of varying:

• ages
• ethnicities
• religions
• abilities
• sexual orientations
• languages, and
• cultures

We have a lot to celebrate during Diversity Week, November 1 to 5. I encourage you to participate in the virtual events to:

• increase awareness
• promote understanding and inclusion, and
• commemorate Diversity Week at CSC.

Check the Employment Equity and Diversity Committee Hub page for information about CSC’s Diversity Week events.

Diversity and inclusion conference

As you know, efforts are being made in the Government of Canada, and at CSC, to increase diversity and inclusion within our workforce. I am committed to taking concrete actions at CSC in response to our Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) results and the Call to Action on anti-racism, equity and inclusion in the federal public service.

The Government of Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Conference is organized by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) from November 2 to November 4. I encourage everyone to take part in this conference and ask, whenever possible, for managers to be supportive of their staff participating.

The conference will address topics such as:

• privilege and unconscious bias
• allyship, and
• how diversity and inclusion can lead to culture change

Personal gender pronouns

You may have noticed emails from colleagues that include their personal pronouns in the second line of their signature block. These pronouns represent what they wish others to use when referring to them, such as:

• she/her
• he/him
• they/them

CSC encourages this practice, as they are linked to a person’s identity. Using a person’s correct gender pronouns helps to promote an inclusive and respectful workplace culture. If you do not know, remember that it is always better to ask than make assumptions.

The Treasury Board Secretariat provides guidelines on gender pronouns for individual’s under:

• Appendix E: Email Signature Blocks

MS Teams backgrounds

The new official Correctional Service Canada background images for videoconferences are now available on the Hub. These images are a great tool to help us present a united front while reducing possible distractions for our colleagues and external videoconference participants. 

The Poppy turns 100! 

The red poppy that grew in fields across Europe was adopted in 1921 as the flower of remembrance as a way to raise money for First World War Veterans’ needs and to remember those who died in battle. The Royal Canadian Legion’s poppy campaign raises about $14 million annually to:

• support veterans,
• fund 
  • medical equipment,
  • research,
  • home services, and
  • long-term care facilities.

You can purchase your Remembrance Day poppy starting today, October 29. I will pin my poppy on my jacket today in honour of all the Veterans past and present who proudly served our country to keep us all safe and free. 

Diwali

I want to wish a happy Diwali to those of you who celebrate the festival of lights! Thursday, November 4 is the main day of Diwali, celebrating the triumph of light over dark, good over evil for many of Sikh, Hindu, or Jain faiths around the world. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy lighting candles and safely gathering with your family and friends.

Have a happy and safe Halloween to all those celebrating. I certainly enjoy seeing all of the decorations, pumpkin carvings, and sampling some of the treats.