Community supervision in the North
January 3, 2025

Parole Officers across Canada make a difference everyday in helping offenders reintegrate into society while protecting Canadians. In the Canadian North, however, there are many additional challenges they must overcome.
Four Northern Parole Officers share their stories of how they came to this unique role and some of the changes they’ve had to make to adapt to the conditions.
Rebecca Austin, Parole Officer, Northwest Territories Parole Office
In 2015, Rebecca Austin was working as a Parole Officer in Saskatoon when an opportunity came up to move north. Growing up, she would head up to Yellowknife to visit family, so when asked if she’d be interested in being a Parole Officer in the Northwest Territories, she took the job and has been there ever since.

“It’ll be 10 years next summer, which is hard to believe,” Rebecca says.
While she had some familiarity with the region already, she quickly learned much more about the Northwest Territories including the ins and outs of living in a remote location, how to deal with the darkness during winter, and the size of the ravens (massive).
One of the main things that has been impactful about working in Yellowknife has been learning about the diverse Indigenous cultures of the north. Rebecca says she has had the privilege of gaining a deeper understanding of the Dene, Gwitchin and Inuvialuit cultures. Having this understanding has been able to help her both in advocating for offenders, and in working with them within the federal correctional system.
“Having an understanding of the differences in those cultures, especially when sending offenders from these groups down to southern institutions, is really important in making sure that we as CSC are respecting their cultural rights/norms. Northern Indigenous cultures can actually be very different than that of southern Indigenous groups”.
Because of the vastness of the territory and the large concentration of people in Yellowknife, Parole Officers in the Northwest Territories for the most part do not travel outside of the city of Yellowknife. Instead, they rely on community partners to assist them in supervising parolees in more remote communities, through an Exchange of Services Agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Parole Officers also work closely with RCMP, the Salvation Army (CRF), Probation, Territorial Corrections, and Indigenous groups. Given that the office only has two Parole Officers, having good relationships with all these parties is a critical aspect to CSC’s presence in the north.
Another major difference Rebecca has noticed since moving to Yellowknife is that the Supervisor for her works out of Edmonton Parole, part of the ABNWT District. Working independently in this type of remote environment puts a lot of responsibility on Parole Officers in the Yellowknife office as it requires “wearing a lot of different hats, other than just as a Parole Officer”. Rebecca says it is rewarding to have that level of trust put in her, which inspires her to continue making a difference each and every day.
Philip Dai, Parole Officer, Thompson Parole Office
When Philip Dai got the opportunity to work as a parole officer, he knew this was a job where he could make a difference, even if it meant leaving his home in Calgary for Thompson in Northern Manitoba.
“It was described as a pretty unique experience,” Philip says. “This is a good place for starting your career because of the variety of challenges.”
While Philip has a lower caseload than a typical parole officer in Southern Canada, that’s offset by the travel requirements. A parole officer in an urban centre may be able to visit several parolees in a day but Philip often spends hours driving to far away communities from the office in Thompson, meaning one visit can take up his entire day.
Having a small group of parole officers in such a large area can pose many challenges. In situations where parole officers would conduct visits in pairs for safety, Philip often goes with an RCMP officer.
Because of the unique circumstances of each offender’s community, Philip sometimes has to deny community supervision plans that would have been approved in an urban setting.

There are always ways to work with the parolees and the community to find a way that works though, and the connections that are forged in this process is what is so rewarding for Philip.
“I can see the change working with these offenders,” he says. “It’s great to see that offenders are making meaningful efforts to change while repairing their relationship with their community. It can be a rewarding experience.”
Erin Jamieson, Parole Officer, Yukon Sub-Office
Since moving to Whitehorse in 2012, Erin Jamieson has become embedded in the community. Being the only parole officer in the territory, she’s developed meaningful connections with parolees and community partners across the Yukon.
“In the Yukon, you're very connected with local services. You're very connected with communities.” she says. “You really see the impact that offences have on victims, on the community, and on the offender's families. You really have an understanding of the trauma and hardships that people have experienced before they get into federal custody.”

Having worked as a parole officer in several different cities in British Columbia before making the move up north, Erin knew the job well, but still had to adjust to some major differences between northern and southern parole work. Working in a vast area with a smaller population, counselling and other services are often difficult to find, and at times, have long waiting lists.
During her time in Whitehorse, Erin says she has seen the tremendous benefit a small, close-knit community can offer, not only in terms of supporting the reintegration of offenders but also ensuring the safety of the community as a whole.
“I think maybe it's because I've been here so long, or maybe it's because it's such a small community, that I really do see positive change…I really do believe in people's capacity to overcome the biggest challenges in their lives.”
Hamza Al-Baghdadi, Former Parole Officer Supervisor, Nunavut

Hamza Al-Baghdadi’s seven years as a Parole Officer Supervisor in Nunavut happened almost by accident.
Originally, he was planning to cover the position for just a few months but quickly embraced the role and became a fixture of CSC in the territory.
“You have to wear many hats,” Hamza says about his time in Nunavut. As the only parole officer in the territory, Hamza says he was the unofficial “face of CSC” in Nunavut.
To get to Iqaluit in the East to Kugluktuk in the far west of the territory, Hamza would have to fly from Iqaluit to Rankin Inlet and then to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories before flying into Kugluktuk. There and back, it would be four days of travelling.
Many of the communities had only a few hundred residents, so the connections he made with a diverse array of people across such a large area were incredibly meaningful.
Hamza says that the work he was able to do would not have been possible without local partners. The territorial department of Corrections, local justice committees, hamlet officials, and the RCMP helped in forging invaluable connections with communities and assisting with CSC’s operations.
Additionally, local community justice committees and hamlet officials played a significant role in helping CSC develop release plans. Section 84 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) allows for an Indigenous offender’s reintegration to be coordinated with their home community. This involves collaboration with local communities to create culturally appropriate plans that align with Inuit societal values and ensure a smoother, more supportive reintegration process.
Hamlet authorities and local by-law officers also help with some of the unique aspects of Northern life, like warning about blizzards or polar bears in the area.
Hamza says the job is not for everyone, but can be very rewarding.
“You have to embrace the Inuit culture,” Hamza explained.
“It’s about immersing yourself in Inuit societal values like respect, interconnectedness, and community wellbeing. To thrive in this environment, you must be open, flexible and adaptable, ready to learn from Elders, understand traditional knowledge, and integrate these principles into your approach. It’s a rewarding experience for those who are willing to grow and embrace a different way of life.”
Hamza now works at NHQ as a manager with the Reintegration Operations Division under the Offender Programs and Reintegration Branch. In this role, and in his role as a member of the Advisory Committee on Community Safety and Operations (ACCSO), Hamza is able to bring his experience in Northern corrections to the table to advocate for steps and solutions that will benefit both parole officers and parolees in the North.
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