National and Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committees

The National Ethnocultural Advisory Committee (NEAC) serves as a forum for developing and providing advice to CSC's Commissioner and CSC regarding programs and services for the reintegration of ethnocultural offenders to the community. This committee strives to create connections between CSC and ethnocultural communities, as well as ensure that the make-up of CSC employees is representative of the diversity of the Canadian offender population. NEAC is made up of the chair and vice-chair of the five Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committees (REAC) voted in by the regional members.

The REACs have the same objectives as the NEAC, but at the regional level. These committees are made up of influential members of the community who come from ethnocultural backgrounds or have experience working in the area of ethnoculturalism. The advice and recommendations provided by REAC members are useful tools that help guide CSC in adapting as effectively as possible to the growing demographic changes in the offender population.

Some REACs' activities involve visiting offenders in federal institutions. The objective of these visits is to identify and respond appropriately to the needs of inmates who are members of ethnocultural minorities. They also allow the REACs to establish and strengthen ethnocultural ties between institutions and the community. Furthermore, they help the institutions' management become familiar with the roles and responsibilities of the REAC. In strengthening relations between CSC and the ethnocultural communities, the end objective is to provide ethnocultural inmates with programs and services that take into account their cultural and religious needs, while promoting their reintegration.

REAC members, at the regional level, provide support to incarcerated or community supervised ethnocultural offenders in the following areas: 

  • Assisting institutions in providing specialized cultural activities to staff and offenders;
  • Addressing offender spiritual needs and advising them on how to make community contacts;
  • Sharing information with offenders on culturally relevant resources for education purposes;
  • Assisting offenders in preparing for their parole;
  • Mentoring offenders upon their return to the community;
  • Assisting in opening lines of communication between institutions and communities to help offenders prepare their reintegration; and
  • Supporting offenders in finding jobs, a place to stay, and information such as opening a bank account or renewing a driver's license.

With assistance from various individuals, community and CSC groups, NEAC and REAC actively: 

  • Advise on how to help offenders from different cultures in their preparation to return to the community; 
  • Support and equip CSC staff with resources (like books and cultural awareness/competency training) that help them understand aspects of the different offender cultures;
  • Provide input, support and advice to staff and ethnocultural offenders;
  • Speak about ethnocultural issues, identifying challenges and recommending solutions; 
  • Assist offenders and staff with cultural competency training (equipping them with the ability to respond in cross-cultural settings through communication and awareness); 
  • Provide moral and/or spiritual advice;
  • Help CSC recognize cultural holidays and organize cultural activities for staff and offenders;
  • Assist CSC in making connections and establishing partnerships with various cultural communities; and
  • Find or provide interpretation services for offenders facing language barriers.

NEAC and REAC provide these services to various audiences: offenders, institution staff, ethnocultural communities, CSC regional offices, and the Commissioner of CSC. Join us!

Become a volunteer with CSC if you're interested in being part of the ethnocultural advisory committee in your region.