News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INMATE DIES AT THE REGIONAL PSYCHIATRIC CENTRE

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 15, 2010 - At approximately 10:10 a.m. today, an offender at the Regional Psychiatric Centre was found not breathing and unresponsive in his room following a lengthy illness. Health care professionals at the Regional Psychiatric Centre pronounced the patient dead.

The deceased is 53-year-old palliative care patient Michael John Guignard who was serving a life sentence for Second Degree Murder. His sentence commenced on April 1, 2008. He had been receiving medical treatment and care from the staff at the Regional Psychiatric Centre since November 18th, 2009.

As is the case whenever an offender dies while in custody, the police and coroner were notified and they attended the Centre. Next of kin have been notified. The death may be the subject of a coroner's inquest as is common with any death of a person in custody.

The Regional Psychiatric Centre is a multi-level psychiatric hospital located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and operated by the Correctional Service of Canada through an affiliation agreement between the Government of Canada and the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre provides assessment, intensive programming, treatment for mental disorders, and 24-hour medical care to individuals from the federal and provincial justice systems. There are currently 190 inmates receiving assessment and/or treatment at the Centre.

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For further information contact:

Lorraine Guay
Assistant Warden Management Services
Regional Psychiatric Centre
Correctional Service Canada
(306) 975-5400 (ext 4155)