News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, May 3, 2004 - Ronald Boutin has been appointed as the new executive director for the Willow Cree Healing Lodge effective May 10, 2004.

Mr. Boutin, 50 years old, was most recently the Associate Warden in charge of the Minimum Security Unit at Drumheller Institution. His 26 year career with the Correctional Service of Canada started in 1978 as a correctional officer at Saskatchewan Penitentiary. From there, he transferred to Drumheller Institution in 1983 where he worked as a living unit officer, a living unit supervisor and unit manager before finally being appointed as the manager in charge of the Minimum Security Unit in 1995.

Mr. Boutin is originally from Saskatchewan, having spent his childhood in the St. Louis, Wakaw and Domremy areas. He is Métis, and fluently bilingual in French and English. Mr. Boutin is married with five children.

"I am confident Mr. Boutin will be able to make Willow Cree Healing Lodge a vehicle of change for Aboriginal offenders," said Prairie Region Deputy Commissioner Marc-Arthur Hyppolite.

"I'm coming back home to Saskatchewan, a move that makes me happy. I look forward to helping advance the Aboriginal agenda within Prairie Region with the assistance of the Beardy's/Okemasis First Nation resulting in the safe reintegration of Aboriginal offenders to their communities," said Mr. Boutin.

The Willow Cree Healing Lodge is a 40 bed minimum security facility located on the Beardy's/Okemasis First Nation, 90 kilometres north of Saskatoon, 60 kilometres south of Prince Albert and six kilometres west of the town of Duck Lake. The new facility accepted its first inmates last month and currently has a population of eight.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Tim Krause
Regional Communications Manager
(306) 975-5082