News Releases

Pacific Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AGASSIZ, B.C., September 22, 2004 - Federal inmates at Kent and Mountain Institutions participated in a number of activities to commemorate International Literacy Day, which was celebrated worldwide on September 8, 2004. These activities highlight the importance of accredited education programs offered by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

Among the planned activities, CSC hosted a writing contest for inmates across the country. A Literacy Newsletter and the rules for the writing contest were posted in the institutions in July. Contestants were invited to submit poetry or prose. The contest was broken down into three levels:

• ABE 2 (up to grade 8)
• GED/ABE 3 (up to grade 10)
• Grade 12 / Outside school

The winners were announced on International Literacy Day. Winners received portfolios, pen sets, and writing pads and their submissions will be published in a subsequent copy of the Literacy Newsletter.

The Pacific Region received approximately 80 entries. Out of a possible 17 awards for the province, Kent Institution inmates won a total of seven awards and Mountain Institution inmates won three awards.

Research has established that education is an important way to help offenders successfully prepare for their safe return to the community and improve their employment options upon release.

This year at Kent Institution, seven inmates have received GED completion certificates, 10 inmates have completed courses towards their Adult Dogwood Diploma and five inmates have completed ABE Level II.

Further, Mountain Institution recognized inmates who completed an academic level since last September. Of the group of 50 inmates who were commended, 15 received their Adult Dogwood high school certificates, one completed his Associate of Arts Diploma and one completed a Psychology 100 course from Queen's University. Courses are available in various formats, including day and evening classroom courses, tutoring and correspondence. Costs of courses over and above high school certification are normally covered by the inmate.

Kent Institution is a federal maximum security institution located in Agassiz, 120 km east of Vancouver. The institution currently houses 252 inmates.

Mountain Institution is a medium security facility located in Agassiz and currently houses 470 inmates.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Greg Fortnum
Mountain Institution
(604) 796-1438

or

Brenda Lamm
Kent Institution
(604) 796-4404