Ethnocultural Initiatives

Multicultural Programs

Cross-Cultural Affirmation Programs

In order to understand the diverse cultural backgrounds of the offenders and staff, CSC organizes different activities. Different groups such as Black Inmates and Friends Assembly (BIFA), Italian groups, Chinese groups, Greek groups, Jewish groups, etc. perform activities that help raise cultural identity and positive affirmation.

Positive and Motivational Reinforcement Programs

In order to increase the participation of ethnocultural offenders in correctional core programs, CSC uses positive and motivational reinforcement by identifying the desired behaviour, acknowledging each level of improvement, maintaining the desired behaviour and individualizing the reinforcement.

Cross-Cultural Awareness Activities

A series of initiatives to help increase awareness of staff and offenders are undertaken in the area of multiculturalism. These initiatives included such things as seminars, conferences, cultural festivals, the celebration of International Day for the Elimination of Racism (March 21), the creation of multicultural groups (e.g. Phoenix in Saskatchewan Penitentiary, Rainbow in Leclerc Institution, and Racial Harmony in Warkworth Institution etc.), the creation of Diversity Committees, and visits to ethnic communities. In order to encourage staff and recognize their efforts in increasing cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity toward ethnocultural diversity and improving race relations, a multiculturalism award has been created. The award consists of a Citation signed by the Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner and the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage. It is awarded every year on March 21; International Day for the Elimination of Racism.

Correctional Programming for Foreign Nationals

In terms of the legal framework, and in accordance with the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (s.15), Foreign Nationals in the federal jurisdiction are accorded the same rights and privileges as other offenders. In other words, the sentence calculation scheme, the incarceration phase, and the eligibility and criteria for conditional release are applied to this group of offenders as they are applied to all other offenders.