COVID-19 update for offenders and their families: April 22, 2022

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

As more institutions have reopened their doors to visitors, I hope that many of you have had the chance to see your loved ones and talk to them face-to-face. Maintaining family and community ties is very important. Remember, if face-to-face visits are not currently available at your institution, there are other options, such as video visitation.

World immunization Week, April 24 to 30, highlights the global importance of the role that vaccines play in protecting people of all ages against preventable diseases. We have become acutely aware of the life-saving value of vaccines in the last two years. The COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent becoming seriously ill from the virus and its variants. World Immunization Week is a good reminder to all of us to keep our own immunization status up to date.

Variants of COVID-19 are still circulating in many of our communities as the sixth wave of COVID-19 cases continues, so if you haven’t already done so, please get vaccinated. Booster shots are also needed as immunity diminishes over time. When you are offered a booster shot, I encourage you to take it. Thank you again for doing everything you can to protect yourselves and those around you. Please continue to wear a mask and wash your hands often.

COVID-19 has not only had an impact on our health and well-being, it has also had an impact on our environment—all of the discarded personal protection equipment adds up. International Earth Day, on April 22, is a good opportunity to highlight how at CSC, we are always trying to decrease our waste footprint. I would like to acknowledge the innovation that many of you at La Macaza and Joliette Institutions in Quebec have undertaken to address the waste associated with COVID-19. Working with staff, you have diverted more than 3,000 masks from the landfill through a disposable mask-recycling program! I am proud that we are expanding these efforts to more sites and regions. Congratulations and thank you to those involved. Your actions are making a difference.

This year, National Volunteer Week will be celebrated from April 24 to 30. Volunteers are an important part of CSC’s community. They provide support for many CSC programs and activities. In the community, volunteers can help you adjust and navigate your new environment. We are very grateful for their commitment and efforts. While the pandemic has had an impact on volunteering, many volunteers have continued to contribute, and others are looking forward to returning to institutions in the future.

If you are working with a volunteer, please take a moment to thank them and let them know what their work means to you. If you would like to work with a volunteer, please talk with your case management team. Having contact with members of the community is important, whether it is through your own support networks or through volunteers.

This April, many different faiths are marking special religious holiday celebrations. For Muslims, this is the holy month of Ramadan. April 14, Baisakhi was celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus. Christians observed Easter last weekend. And Jewish people are celebrating Passover from April 15 to 23.

Thank you for your cooperation and doing your best to keep yourself and those around you healthy. A few weeks ago, I suggested that you set goals for yourself and revisit them often.  If you haven’t done so, you can use the back of this paper to write down goals you want to set for yourself.