Commissioner's update for correctional employees: May 26, 2023

I want to provide you with an update on the Health Centre of Excellence project, which we are building in Dorchester, New Brunswick.

The project team continues to work on design and construction timelines. Pre-design activities are ongoing. A lot has been accomplished in the last year, including many consultations with staff and stakeholders. A big thank you to all the staff involved in this important project. 

• Please see our update for more information: Infographic: Health Centre of Excellence Progress update (Internal resource only)

National AccessAbility Week

At CSC, we recognize the contributions our employees with disabilities make and invite all staff to celebrate National AccessAbility Week, May 28 to June 3. It is a time to celebrate the valuable contributions and leadership of Canadians with disabilities, and to bring attention to our ongoing efforts to become a better, more accessible, and inclusive Canada. 

The advocacy of disability stakeholders and organizations has been critical to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. CSC is building on this legacy to improve accessibility and promote inclusion for all. Everyone has a role to play in creating a diverse, inclusive, and accessible public service.

I encourage you to participate in the Canada School of Public Service event on May 30, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET), that will showcase the authentic stories and insights of people with experience of disability.

• Yesterday, Change Today, Enhance Tomorrow: Building an Accessible Public Service Together (Internal resource only)
  

A diverse panel of public servants will discuss:

• what disability inclusion looks like in a hybrid work environment
• the role of the accommodation process
• the actions we all must take to build an inclusive public service

Learning from accessibility advocates contributes to the work we do to create a barrier-free and inclusive work environment.

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

May 29 is International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. We commemorate the members of CSC who have served as peacekeepers in UN operations. Over the past 15 years, 90 correctional employees from CSC have participated in UN peacekeeping missions, providing their expertise in assisting countries with their correctional services.

Let us not forget the essential role UN peacekeepers play in preventing conflicts, ensuring protection, and helping countries build sustainable peace.

I encourage everyone to take time during the day to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives to maintain peace.

New menu in institutions

On May 29, we are launching a new National Menu for inmates. This menu offers more variety and new items to replace some of the least popular items. The National Grocery List for the Small Group Meal Plan program has also been revised to increase the variety of spice blends, cuts of meat, fish, and vegetarian options.

• National Menu (Internal resource only)
• National grocery list (Internal resource only)

The National Menu, reviewed annually, meets the nutritional requirements of inmates, and is supported by a registered dietitian. I would like to thank the Food Services staff and the National Menu and Recipe Committee who worked on the changes to the new menu. Your contributions help ensure that we are providing food adequate in quality, and quantity to support the well-being of those in our care.

I would like to thank you for your commitment and efforts in helping offenders and keeping our communities across the country safe.