COVID-19 update for offenders and their families: July 9, 2021

This content is a message to federal offenders and their families from Correctional Service Canada's (CSC's) Commissioner.

I am pleased to inform you that we continue to have zero cases of COVID-19 in our institutions. I want to thank you for getting vaccinated. To date, over 68% of inmates are fully vaccinated (with two doses) and we continue to offer the vaccine. As you know, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others around you. Vaccines, along with continued health and safety measures in place, create layers of protection that make a real difference.

This week, we started to resume visits at many institutions across the country. For everyone’s protection, visitors will be required to:

• wear a mask
• wash/sanitize their hands before entering an institution, and
• practice physical distancing

Visitor spaces will be cleaned and disinfected before and after each visit. Your loves ones can check our website for more information and to confirm which sites are open for visits:

• Visiting status of federal correctional institutions

We have also started to increase the availability of various in-person programs and activities, based on public health circumstances in each community.

Today, July 9, is Nunavut Day, which commemorates the day when Parliament passed the Nunavut Act in 1993. On April 1, 1999, Nunavut became a legally distinct territory. The territory celebrates the day as a holiday. Happy Nunavut Day to all Nunavummiut!

William Head on Stage (WHoS), an inmate-run theatrical production group, has been performing for the community at William Head Institution since 1981. While WHoS had to cancel their shows in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, they turned their talents to a different medium, creating a podcast called the Dark Traveller. It is the first public podcast created by inmates in Canada. It was released on June 2, 2021, and broadcasted by CFUV, a local radio station. Congratulations to all those involved!

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced that Mary Simon will be the next Governor General of Canada. Ms. Simon is an Inuk leader who has been an advocate for Inuit rights and culture, and the rights of all Indigenous peoples. She is making history as the first Indigenous person to take on the role.

During the pandemic, CSC volunteers continued to connect with many of you. In honour of National Volunteer Week 2021, an inmate at Matsqui Institution wrote a poem for volunteers. Staff and inmates then sent packages to volunteers containing a copy of the poem and seeds to grow poppies. Thank you to those involved.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

 

Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better.