Ethnocultural Initiatives: Presentations

Ronnie Gill
Regional Coordinator, Ethnocultural Services
Pacific Region (604) 870-2710
gillro@csc-scc.gc.ca

Pacific Region’s Offender Profile

Total number of inmates incarcerated 2050 & 1391 on release

12% of the incarcerated population 20% of those on release belong to ethnic minority groups.

The top four ethnic minority groups apart from Aboriginal inmates are South Asian; South East Asian, Black and Hispanic

Accomplishments of Ethnocultural Services

Regional Coordinator arrived at position in August 2008

Assessed status & acquired direction from NHQ

Attended Leclerc Institution and various community organizations in Quebec – Oct. 2008

Identified and engaged Institutional/Community Coordinators in project – Dec. 4, 2008

Organized 2 days - cultural awareness training for Institutional/Community Coordinators – Jan.29 & 30

Coordinators acquired knowledge & tools to facilitate cultural awareness sessions within the institutions

Six Coordinators attended “Diversity Matters” conference in Vancouver BC – Feb. 23rd

Quarterly Coordinators meeting to assess progress – Feb. 27th (implementation of previous training

RHQ and three other facilities recognized February as a Black History Month.

Recognition of International Day for Elimination of Racism at RHQ – Mar. 16th

Some Institutional Coordinators formed Ethnocultural Services committees from diverse backgrounds – staff & inmates

Mountain and Mission Institutions – exemplary leadership in Pacific Region.

Institution created paid inmate committee positions to assist with events & tasks ie Bi-Monthly News Letters:

• Staff & Inmate Submissions
• Present Highlights (i.e. BHM)
• Policy reminders
• Staff Spotlights
• Highlights from offender cultural groups
• Announcements
• Fun facts
• Ethnic Recipes (Newsletter samples available)
• Around the World in 60 Minutes – Held at Mountain Institution during Multicultural Week Displays on various ethnicities such as South Asians, South East Asians, Chinese, Aboriginals, French Canadians, Scottish and Black Canadians. Posters created by staff and inmates
• Ethnic Dinners every Friday for 4 weeks at Mission Institution – Educational posters on country of ethnic food.
• REAC meeting – June and Nov. 2008
• REAC Teleconferences – Oct., Jan. & Feb
• Annual REAC Forum - February 2009: 65 attendees – 20 staff & 45 attendees from community partnerships including provincial government
  To enhance understanding between REAC members and Institutional Coordinators – REAC member attended Coordinators meeting – Feb. 27th 2009

Institutional Coordinators

Community

Marco Filippin

Institutions

Ferndale: Parm Dilorenzo
Kwikwexwelhp: Susan Erickson
Fraser Valley: Sean Clark
Matsqui: Harpreet Sidhu
Mission: Russell Bowden
Mountain: Keri Sullivan
William Head: Bernie Reay
Pacific/Regional Treatment Centre: Rick Malay
Kent: Karen Ng

Challenges

Lack of awareness of ethnocultural services within the service
Better understanding of deportation cases to provide assistance to CMT’s
Staff turnover – Institutional Coordinators
Future Cultural Competency Training – needs to be recognized by NTS
A solid budget line for Ethnocultural Services is required for implementations
Developing programs addressing risk for offenders with language barriers<

Goals for 2009-10 Fiscal

With Coordinators:
Assist Coordinators in developing internal committees at each site
Support Coordinators to deliver cultural awareness sessions to staff & offenders
Assist Coordinators in identifying ethnic offenders’ specific needs
Develop specific strategies to address identified needs

With REAC members and Community Partners:
Renew current REAC memberships and recruit new members
Review and update REAC Terms of Reference
Arrange future quarterly REAC meetings at the institutions
Review “Offender Resource Directory” project currently on hold.
Involve REAC in addressing the identified gaps
Invite community service providers serving ethnic communities to attend Info Fairs at Institutions
Educate and engage community partners through an Annual Forum event

At Regional Level:
Raise awareness of CD 767 and recommendations 45 & 46
Highlight important dates – BHM, International Day for Elimination of Racism, Multicultural Week, Asian Month etc.
Raise awareness of gaps identified by independent researchers and strategies to address gaps at Management and Senior Management meetings
In consultation with Community Corrections develop a team of Community Coordinators
Continue to learn by connecting with other regions & NHQ – Intercultural Conflict Management Course.

“Ethnicity does not replace Canadian identity; it is Canadian identity” Harold Trope