Commissioner's update for correctional employees: August 11, 2023

This content is a message to Correctional Service Canada (CSC) staff from CSC's Senior Deputy Commissioner, Jay Pyke.

Tomorrow is International Youth Day. This is an opportunity to highlight youth issues and successes worldwide. CSC provides summer job placements to college and university students. This offers meaningful opportunities to complete their educational program requirements. We welcome their fresh ideas and the diverse perspectives they bring to our workplace. The outstanding work students do is much appreciated. On International Youth Day, take a moment to recognize the excellent contributions these young people make to your workplace.

If you are a student working at CSC, visit the Hub for useful information and resources:

• Students (Internal resource only)

National Acadian Day

August 15 is National Acadian Day. Since 1881, this day has been a celebration of the rich:

• culture
• heritage, 
• and history

of Acadian people who were the first Europeans to permanently settle in Canada. Mark this day by learning more about Acadians’:

• ethnic
• linguistic
• cultural, and 
• artistic

contributions to Canadian communities.

Various events are taking place across the country that will help us get to know each other better and celebrate our diversity.

I encourage you to find and participate in events near you:

• National Acadian Day

Happy National Acadian Day to our employees who have Acadian roots!

Alcoholics Anonymous

Over several decades, sites at CSC have had Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a key community support for individuals in our custody. AA has hundreds of volunteers that work closely with our organization to provide support for those looking to overcome alcohol abuse and recovery.

I encourage you to learn more and promote this community resource, when possible, with the offenders in our care. There is a resource for both staff and offenders that include valuable information and resources on AA for offenders both inside and in the community.

For more information on AA and to access the reference documents, please visit CSC’s Citizen Engagement Hub page:

• Alcoholics Anonymous Handout for Offenders (internal resource only)
• Alcoholics Anonymous Info Sheet for Staff (internal resource only)
• aa.org

Inmates Giving Back to the Community

I was inspired by the stories of giving told in the Let’s Talk Express articles about William Head Institution. Many inmates there spend time in the woodshop building furniture and toys that will be donated. They have made picnic tables for temporary housing and toys like wooden cars and sock monkeys.

These gifts will be shared with children in the local community as well as across the world in support of global charity initiatives. Other inmates at the same institution are learning to repair bikes to give to those in need. The skills and sense of purpose inmates gain by giving back benefits their rehabilitation journey. You can read those stories here:

• William Head Inmates give back to the community in creative ways
• Pedalling the wheels of change and giving

I am delighted to announce that we are combining my weekly message with This Week at CSC. The combined message will be delivered to your inbox every Monday morning, starting the first week of September. This will give you convenient access to the news and information you need in one email.