EDMONTON, April 25, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), in collaboration with its partners, celebrated the launch of its vocational training and employment services centre in Edmonton, Alberta. This launch will enhance employment and employability interventions for Indigenous offenders to ensure their safe and successful reintegration into the community.
The Indigenous Offender Employment Initiative is a five-year initiative that started in 2017-18. The Edmonton Community Industry will increase skills for Indigenous offenders in various construction and manufacturing 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. As part of this initiative, CSC also launched the Saskatoon Community Industry on June 28, 2018.
The Open House event was hosted in collaboration with the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to increase community awareness and garner local support. This also gave organizations and industry employers the opportunity to learn about options for partnering with CORCAN in support of this employment initiative, including accessing referrals to meet their labour force needs.
CSC would like to thank the CAC for its collaboration in hosting the event as well as Indigenous organizations and community members, community officials, industry employers, partner organizations and media for their support of this important initiative.
Quick Facts
- On any given day, approximately 1,200 offenders are working in CORCAN operations across the country.
- Over the course of a year, more than 3,800 offenders across the country benefit from CORCAN's on-the-job skills training.
- CORCAN Community Employment Services helped to secure 2,632 job placements for federal offenders in the community in 2018-19.
- At any given time, CORCAN Community Industries across Canada employ approximately 40 offenders on work release or under community supervision.
- The Edmonton Community Industry will employ up to 24 offenders.
Quotes
"The launch of the new Community Industry in Edmonton is another great opportunity for CSC to provide Indigenous offenders with the training they need for their safe and successful reintegration into society. Collaborating with our partners will help us to better 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, Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
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SOURCE Correctional Services of Canada
For further information: Media Relations, Correctional Service Canada, 613-992-7711, [email protected]
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