Correctional Service of Canada Health Centre of Excellence

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is working to design, build, and operationalize a Health Centre of Excellence (HCoE). It will replace the health services currently offered at Shepody Healing Centre, on existing CSC property in Dorchester, New Brunswick. This facility will serve as a national resource for the organization.

We acknowledge that this institution is situated on the following traditional territories and treaties:

• Mi’kma’ki
• Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy)
• Peace and Friendship

While public safety is paramount, the health and safety of our employees and those in our care and custody is our highest priority. The Health Centre of Excellence will contribute to the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts to improve health care in the federal correctional system. This will further enhance CSC’s ability to keep our employees safe and address the evolving health needs of federal offenders from across Canada.

What is the Health Centre of Excellence

• A new, bilingual facility that will strengthen CSC’s capacity to address the health needs of federal offenders, contributing to better public safety outcomes.
• A multi-level security health facility that will provide physical and mental health services for men and women, gender diverse, older individuals in our custody, and Indigenous, Ethnocultural, and persons with mobility issues, as well as those who may require access to 24-hour health care.

Why is CSC building a Health Centre of Excellence

• A new health centre with increased bed capacity is required as the current Shepody Healing Centre cannot meet growing needs.
• This new centre will enable CSC to more effectively deliver health services, in both official languages, to federal inmates, including increased in-patient mental health capacity.
• The new facility will not only meet CSC’s legal obligations to provide essential health care but will also help alleviate the pressure on community hospital beds.
• The HCoE will be a national resource for CSC to help meet the health needs of a diverse and complex offender population across the country, including women and older offenders in our custody.
• The HCoE will provide a workspace designed for staff to deliver quality services and care to patients in an innovative and therapeutic environment.

Next steps

• CSC has established a multi-disciplinary health team dedicated to advancing progress for the HCoE. The team continues to plan, consult and engage with Indigenous Rightsholders, stakeholders, unions, community and health partners, and the public, including holding public information sessions with the community of Dorchester and surrounding areas.
• The call-out for Public Advisory Group participation is now open. The application process ends January 31, 2025. More information can be found on the Public Advisory Group and Terms of Reference.
• The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) procurement process as part of the design and construction process is now completed. The next step consists of a Request for Proposals in early 2025 which allows qualified proponents from the RFQ to apply for the contract.

Associated links

• Public Advisory Group and Terms of Reference
• Government of Canada moves to create a bilingual Health Centre of Excellence at Dorchester Penitentiary (newswire.ca)