COVID-19 update for correctional employees: June 17, 2022

I would like to start by wishing all dads a Happy Father’s Day, which takes place this Sunday on June 19. I hope you enjoy time with your loved ones.

Another important day that I want to highlight is National Indigenous Peoples Day, which takes place on June 21.

Traditionally, many :

• First Nations
• Inuit, and
• Métis

peoples and communities hold celebrations on this day, which is also the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the first day of summer. We have a number of initiatives underway on this day. I encourage you to connect with our Indigenous partners and communities, as well as celebrate with our Indigenous employees and Elders.

National Employee Diversity Champion for Persons with Disabilities

I am pleased to announce that I recently named Tony Matson as the National Employee Diversity Champion for Persons with Disabilities at CSC. As an active member of CSC’s Employees with Disabilities Support Network and the National Persons with Disabilities Working Group, Tony will provide:

• advice
• expertise, and
• recommendations

on a wide range of accessibility and disability related matters with the goal of making CSC barrier free and accessible for all. With support from the Employment Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Team in the Human Resource Management Sector, the National Persons with Disabilities Working Group is coordinating the development of CSC’s Three-Year Accessibility Plan. Congratulations Tony and thank you for your leadership! 

I invite you to join the:

• Employees with Disabilities Support Network on MS Teams

Read the overall:

• Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada

New EAP service provider

As I announced last week, LifeWorks is now the new service provider of our new external Employee Assistance Program (EAP). LifeWorks has extensive experience supporting first responders. Their counsellors are available to help you with a variety of situations you may be going through, including:

• stress
• anxiety
• depression
• grief
• parenting
• separation
• sleep
• addiction
• elder care, 
• debt management,
• work relationships, and
• career planning

More information about the LifeWorks:

• platform
• mobile app options, and
• information

sessions will be coming your way. I encourage managers to speak to their staff about this service.

You are encouraged to reach out to LifeWorks at:

• 1 855-709-2477

CSC Appreciation Month

This week, during National Public Service Week, a number of events took place across the country to highlight you and your contributions to CSC. I hope you enjoyed them. Thank you to all CSC staff for everything you do, I am very proud to work alongside you.

Just a reminder that we dedicated the month of June to CSC appreciation. I am pleased to read all the appreciation and gratitude expressed on the virtual appreciation board. I am also pleased to hear about all the messages posted on the physical appreciation boards at institutions and regional offices. These words of encouragement can make a huge difference in someone’s day and career. I want to acknowledge the importance of our framework of values, which guides our work, provides direction during difficult times, and helps us meet our Mission. Please take time to write a message, say thank you for a job well done, or recognize a colleague.

It is important that we all work to foster an environment of respect and inclusion, and one that promotes:

• development
• dialogue
• problem solving, and
• healthy conflict resolution

Continue your great work!

Support numbers for Indigenous offenders

There are now two new support numbers available for Indigenous offenders. They have been added to the National Common Access List (sites are not required to add these numbers to their lists). The Hope for Wellness Help Line has counsellors available to provide Indigenous offenders with access to counselling and crisis intervention services. Counsellors are also able to help connect offenders with wellness supports in their community, which can help build their support system as they prepare for release. Services are available in:

• English
• French

and can be made available in

• Cree
• Anishnaabemowin (Ojibway), and
• Inuktitut

upon request.Offenders can call this service at:

• 1-855-242-3310

Offenders in need of emotional support and/or crisis referral services related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people can call the MMIWG Support Line. This service is also available in:

• English
• French
• Cree
• Anishnaabemowin (Ojibway), and
• Inuktitut

Offenders can call this service at 1-844-413-6649. While these services will provide support for Indigenous offenders in need, the supports also provide community related referral services that may be beneficial for release planning and building a community support network. Offenders already in the community can also benefit from these referral services.

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line continues to be available to Indigenous offenders to provide support to former residential school students and those affected. This service is available at:

• 1-866-925-4419

Staff should also continue to make referrals to Health Services for individuals requiring support, as required. 

Thank you to staff from :

• the Women Offender Sector
• Health Services
• Preventive Security Intelligence
• the Indigenous Initiatives Directorate, and
• Indigenous Services Canada

who collaborated to implement these important initiatives to support Indigenous offenders. 

Offender donates carving

Recently, an offender made a carving of an important powerful woman figure in Inuit culture, and anonymously donated it to Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. Carving is a meaningful way for Inuit offenders to connect with their culture. It can be a source of income while also contributing to the individual’s healing journey. I would like to recognize the terrific work of staff to encourage and support Indigenous offenders in their successful reintegration. I encourage you to read more about this special carving of Sedna.

• Offender gifts Sedna carving to Inuit women’s organization