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Developing work skills for people in custody

Last updated on August 2, 2024

Individuals in B.C.’s correctional centres participate in programs that offer opportunities to gain  employment skills and perform meaningful work.

The skills individuals learn and confidence they gain can help with their transition back into the community, making a significant difference to their circumstances and community safety.

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Providing a head start toward employment

Individuals provide maintenance work within correctional centres, such as painting and landscaping, and help with daily operations, including food preparation and laundry.

Correctional staff also work closely with community partners to provide opportunities to earn technical certificates that can lead to employment in the community. Depending on the centre, individuals may earn certification in:

  • Building maintenance
  • Industrial first aid
  • Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) welding
  • FOODSAFE Level 1
  • Workplace hazardous materials information systems
  • Safe pesticide application
  • SuperHost customer service
  • Chainsaw operation
  • Basic electrical
  • Drywall installation
  • Forklift operation
  • Bobcat operation
  • Construction craft worker

Some of the other work skills programs in correctional centres include:

ALLCO fish hatchery

In partnership with the Alouette River Management Society, a crew from Fraser Regional Correctional Centre keeps salmon stocks healthy in the Alouette River and other watersheds.

The crew raises salmon fry from eggs, releases them and then collects new eggs from returning adults to begin the cycle again. With the assistance of BC Corrections, the ALLCO hatchery has released more than 75 million salmon fry into the wild.

Animal care

A unique program on the grounds of Okanagan Correctional Centre trains individuals to care for horses. Through a partnership with the Okanagan Indian Band, trained handlers guide up to six participants as they feed, groom and wash horses.

At Ford Mountain Correctional Centre, residents help rehabilitate and socialize rescue dogs, and get them ready for fostering and finding a new home. Learning to care for an animal can improve mental health, provide new life skills, and give residents purpose.

Carpentry, metal fabrication and apprenticeship

Many correctional centres teach carpentry and metal works, including fabrication, power tool use, welding and repair. Crews learn to build items like gazebos, lawn furniture and picnic tables that are often used in the community when finished. A formal welding certification program offered at Fraser Regional Correctional Centre allows individuals to achieve their certification from the training provider while in custody.

Horticulture

Horticulture programs at several correctional centres throughout B.C. grow and donate thousands of pounds of produce to community groups, local food banks, and seniors’ organizations. Some of the food items grown and raised by horticulture program participants include eggs and fresh fruit and vegetables such as berries, lettuce, kale, radishes, carrots, spring onions, tomato seedlings, potatoes and zucchini.

Roofing apprenticeship

Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Ford Mountain Correctional Centre, and North Fraser Pretrial Centre partner with the Roofing Association of BC to help individuals earn their Level 1 Roofing Apprenticeship and gain meaningful, well-paying employment upon release.

Services for camps, parks and community groups

Individuals with the appropriate security clearance give back to the community by performing maintenance, path clearing, cleaning and building for parks, municipal and non-profit groups. They can also help set up festivals and events, such as they did at the 2010 Winter Olympics. These crews are supervised and undergo strict risk assessments to participate.

Tailor Shop program

The Tailor Shop at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre makes and mends clothing for people in custody and other items for all 10 correctional centres in B.C. and creates much-needed items for local community groups and international aid organizations.

Each order comes with special requests, and participants work hard to meet them with accuracy. Some of the projects made in this shop include bed rolls for shelters, dog beds for the BCSPCA, and bandanas with embroidered logos for Cops for Cancer cyclists.

Wildfire suppression

Specially trained crews from correctional centres provide vital support to the BC Wildfire Service, allow individuals to feel more connected to their communities, and contribute to saving property and lives.

  • Crews from the Prince George and Fraser Regional Correctional Centres set up and take down firefighting base camps, keep an inventory of supplies, and maintain camp equipment and facilities.
  • Crews at Ford Mountain (Xàws Schó:lha [house-Shhka-law]) Correctional Centre clean, inspect, test and repair firehoses in an innovative 15,000 sq. ft. purpose-built facility that operates year-round.

These services save significant public funds by extending the life of fire equipment in B.C.

Wildlife Repurpose Partnership

The BC Conservation Officer Service is dedicated to relationship-building with Indigenous communities across the province. This includes prioritizing the donations of wildlife and wildlife parts that are lawfully in their possession to be returned to the Indigenous community from whose territory the wildlife originated from.

When donations are declined by Indigenous Nations and/or not feasible, the Wildlife Repurpose Partnership between the COS and BC Corrections helps to ensure these donations are used to support Indigenous programming, cultural learning opportunities and ceremonies for individuals in custody.