Commissioner's update for offenders and their families: May 20, 2025

On May 17, we observed the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, a day to honour the strength and resilience of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people in the face of historical and ongoing violence and discrimination. Homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia have no place in our country, and we need to continue to defend the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

I would also like to highlight the work of four Indigenous women at Joliette Institution who recently worked together to create this beautiful star blanket. The blanket will be displayed in the institutions’ hearing room as a symbol of protection for women during hearings.

The women are proud of their work. One of them emphasized her pride after learning new skills during the project, which also allowed her to connect more deeply with her ancestry and culture. What a beautiful gift for the institution.