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By Christian Renaud, Acting Director, Laval Area Parole Office
On May 7, 2004, a meeting took place at the Laval Area Parole Office between the Waseskun Healing Centre Board of Directors, East/West Quebec District management, and Aboriginal Affairs representatives from regional and national headquarters. The purpose was to discuss the terms for renewing the service agreement between the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and the Waseskun Healing Centre for the custody of Aboriginal offenders under Section 81 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA).
For the past two years the Waseskun Healing Centre, located in the small village of St Alphonse-Rodriguez in the Lanaudière region, has been accepting Aboriginal inmates from the Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions. Although not considered a penitentiary under the CCRA, the healing centre operates in much the same way as a minimum-security institution. The main focus is on treatment, with all residents required to participate in the Waseya program, a therapy based on traditional Aboriginal healing methods that include a cognitive/behavioural approach.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss how the project has been developing since its inception and to agree on financial and operational issues. Members of the Waseskun board of directors and Correctional Service of Canada officials expressed their satisfaction and agreed to meet again periodically.
The next meeting is scheduled to take place at the healing centre in the fall of 2004.