COVID-19 update for offenders and their families: April 1, 2022

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

We continue to see public health measures being lifted in many of our communities across the country, but we are not out of the woods just yet. You may have heard on the news that we are now in a sixth wave. Public health experts, including CSC, continue to monitor wastewater. It serves as an early indicator for a spike in cases.

Given we continue to have outbreaks in some institutions across the country, please keep up the good work in following our health and safety measures. We know that masks are an effective layer of protection and we will continue wearing them for the time being. In addition, please notify health services if you feel ill. Vaccines, including booster shots, remain important in preventing severe illness and complications from COVID-19. Health services continues to offer vaccines and you can speak to someone confidentially if you would like to learn more.

We have started resuming in-person visits and other activities in institutions, as it is safe to do so. You can let your loved ones know that they can find the status of visits for each institution on our website or they can call the institution directly.

April is Sikh Heritage Month. Interesting facts: Canada has the second largest Sikh population in the world and became the first country, in 2019, to officially recognize April as Sikh Heritage Month. Sikh Canadians have made and continue to make significant:

• social,
• economic,
• political, and
• cultural contributions

to communities across the country.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts on the evening of Saturday, April 2, and will end on Sunday, May 1, at sundown. During Ramadan, Muslims fast, not eating or drinking anything during daylight hours as a way of celebrating and reflecting on their faith. ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ to all those observing Ramadan.

On April 1, 30 years ago, CORCAN became a special operating agency within CSC. CORCAN provides industry-relevant and real world training to individuals in our custody. Those who participate in the CORCAN program gain valuable skills that help them find and maintain jobs in the community.

Through its five main business lines:

• manufacturing,
• textiles,
• services,
• agriculture, and
• construction

CORCAN provides on-the-job training opportunities within institutions and at community industry locations. Thank you to everyone involved!

The Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC) are independent and impartial committees that contribute to the mandate of CSC. CACs are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the community. Their role is to observe CSC operations, liaise between communities and provide advice on programs, services and policies. If you would like to meet with a CAC member, you can send a note through the mailbox on your range or you can submit a request form through internal mail.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation.