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Simonne Poirier
A Thirty-Year Contribution to Public Safety

Safety and Institutions - Inside CSC Institutions

BY Djamila Amellal, Communications Officer, Communications and Citizen Engagement Sector

In 1976, at age 26, Simonne Poirier joined the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) as a secretary at the Atlantic Regional Training Centre. She had no idea that a remarkable career was ahead of her. Today, the newly retired warden of Dorchester Penitentiary takes us on her extraordinary journey and recounts her contribution to public safety.

“I loved my career at CSC,” says Ms. Poirier. “During 30 years of service, I never felt bored or wanted to go elsewhere. I followed my passion for correctional services, which led me to Dorchester Penitentiary, where I worked for 14 months.” Her colleagues in the Atlantic Region agree in saying that Ms. Poirier has more than one ace up her sleeve, including courage, determination and perseverance. “Simonne had the potential to succeed,” explains Marena McLaughlin, former Deputy Commissioner of the Atlantic Region. “She had the support of her colleagues and accomplished the rest with her open-mindedness and perseverance.”

Support Goes a Long Way

In the 1980s, employees in the field of corrections were being encouraged to return to school. Eugène Niles, former warden of Dorchester Penitentiary, noted Ms. Poirier’s interest and abilities and encouraged her to continue studying to learn more about corrections. “My boss encouraged me to move ahead,” says Ms. Poirier. “This confidence he had in me spurred me to apply, and I was accepted. I returned to school and earned a baccalaureate in business management.” According to Ms. Poirier, the support she found in her managers and colleagues was crucial. After completing her studies, she resumed working at CSC and made valuable contributions to human resources, official languages and many other fields at Regional Headquarters.

From Administration to Operations

Rémi Gobeil, then-Deputy Commissioner of Atlantic Region, did not fail to notice Ms. Poirier’s growing passion for correctional services and asked her whether she wanted to join Operations. She accepted the challenge. Still today she recalls the Range Nine at Springhill Institution in Nova Scotia, as well as her mentoring work with women offenders: “I really enjoyed my work with the women at Springhill Institution. It was quite an experience.” In 1998, she succeeded in a competition and was appointed deputy warden (and later warden) of a maximum-security facility in Renous, New Brunswick: Atlantic Institution.

A Strong Management Team Essential for Success

When asked what she feels she has contributed to the safety of staff, offenders and the public, Ms. Poirier answers with conviction: “The best way to contribute to safety is to ensure that the management team is strong and that everyone works together to achieve the same objective. Consultation with the unions is very important too. Respect for others — whether it is members of staff or offenders — is obligatory. For this reason, we put in place many initiatives to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.”

Visibility Is at the Heart of Dynamic Security

According to Ms. Poirier, ongoing consultation with members of her team, at regional and national headquarters, and with community members is important. She also sees visibility in the workplace as essential. “As an institutional warden, I felt I must be seen by all staff and offenders. It is important to walk the corridors, enter units, talk to inmates and staff, and maintain contact with the security intelligence staff. Any information we receive must always be taken seriously and checked out, and we must then act on it. When you have a presence, you have a better understanding of the reality so you can make good decisions. I remember the disturbance in January 2000 at the Atlantic Institution. We had to shut down the entire institution after I consulted with the management committee, the inmate committee and the emergency response team as well as many other key persons to avoid any loss of life and re-establish security in the institution.”

Invaluable Partnerships

Ms. Poirier feels that establishing partnerships with various organizations and the community is vital to overcoming difficulties. “Our partnerships with the police, RCMP and community members are crucial,” she says. “It is important to consult each other, listen to people and coordinate our efforts. The community is a major partner in our success and its members must be informed before offenders are released so that the latter can succeed.”

Making a Difference in Offenders’ Lives

“Being able to listen to offenders,” adds Ms. Poirier, “understand what they are going through and work with them to get them back on the right track, it makes a difference in their lives. It takes a lot of courage, tenacity and perseverance because there is so much negativity, and results are not immediately obvious. And, if at the end of the day, we can turn them into good, law-abiding citizens, then we have really made a difference and contributed to everyone’s safety.”

Retirement Looks Exciting

With the satisfied feeling of a job well done, Simonne Poirier is adjusting to retirement and already has clear plans. The mother of three children, and grandmother of three, Ms. Poirier is getting set to travel with her husband and spend more time with her family. She also wants to earn a motorcycle licence, and spend time fishing, hunting and camping. “I am leaving, but I will always be there, if need be. I am proud of our correctional system. It has a lot of tools to offer those who want to make a difference in offenders’ lives and, at the same time, contribute to public safety.” ♦