Launch of Saskatoon Community Industry in support of Indigenous offender employment

by ahnationtalk on June 28, 20181036 Views

News release

June 28, 2018 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Correctional Service Canada

Today, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), in collaboration with its partners, celebrated the launch of its vocational training and employment services centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This launch will enhance employment and employability interventions for Indigenous offenders to ensure their safe and successful reintegration into the community.

As part of the Indigenous Offender Employment Initiative, a five-year initiative that started in 2017-18, the Saskatoon Community Industry will increase skill acquisition opportunities for Indigenous offenders in various construction-related industries. CSC Community Industries are operated by CORCAN (a special operating agency of CSC) and provide on-the-job training and transitional employment opportunities for federal offenders under community supervision and on work release.

The Open House event was hosted in collaboration with the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to increase community awareness and garner local support for this initiative. Attendees toured the facility and observed offenders participating in hands-on skills training with the construction of a residential modular unit. The event highlighted the importance of providing support to offenders through meaningful partnerships, and gave organizations and industry employers the opportunity to learn about options for accessing a labour force in the construction industry.

CSC would like to thank the CAC for its collaboration in hosting the event as well as community officials, industry employers, partner organizations and media for their support of this important initiative.

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Quotes

“The launch of the new Community Industry in Saskatoon is another great opportunity for CSC to provide Indigenous offenders with the training and transitional employment opportunities they need for their safe and successful reintegration into society. We look forward to collaborating with our partners to further assist and support offenders in a gradual and supervised reintegration process allowing for lower rates of re-offending and greater public safety for all.”

– Anne Kelly, Interim Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada

Quick facts

At any given time, CORCAN Community Industries across Canada employ approximately 45 offenders on work release or under community supervision (e.g., parole).
On any given day, approximately 1,209 offenders are working in CORCAN operations across the country.
Over the course of a year, more than 3,700 offenders across the country benefit from CORCAN’s on-the-job skills training.
CSC’s Employment Services helped secure 2566 job placements for offenders released in the community in Fiscal Year 2017-18.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Correctional Service Canada
(613) 992-7711
media@csc-scc.gc.ca

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