Breaking Point: The Unseen Battle of Canada's Correctional Officers (Video)

OTTAWA, ON, April 28, 2024 – In solemn observance of Canada’s National Day of Mourning, a gathering unfolded on Parliament Hill as the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) orchestrated a 24-hour vigil, a tribute to the lives lost, and the ongoing struggles faced by those in the frontline of Canada’s correctional system.

The vigil served as a powerful reminder of the perils endured by correctional officers in the line of duty, With escalating violence within correctional facilities as a backdrop, the event emphasized the urgent need for recognition, support, and reform within the Canadian correctional system.

RAIR Foundation has the opportunity to interivew Jeffrey Wilkins, National President of UCCO-SACC-CSN, who expressed, “Working in an environment where exposure to physical and psychological harm is routine should not be normalized. We are standing in solidarity today with our peers and workers subjected to violence in the workplace.”

Indeed, the challenges faced by correctional officers extend beyond the physical realm, as underscored by the alarming mental health crisis gripping the profession. Mr. Wilkins highlighted the staggering statistics, revealing that more than half of correctional officers are diagnosed with at least one mental health injury within the first five years of their employment. This crisis, he emphasized, is a direct consequence of working conditions exacerbated by a management structure that fails to prioritize frontline needs.

“Correctional officers are constantly on high alert. Hundreds of us have suffered violent attacks from inmates in the last few years,” Mr. Wilkins shared. “What we need is for our employer to take our safety and security more seriously. We have been putting solutions on the table, and we need our employer to be more receptive and show more respect and appreciation towards the correctional officers who put their safety on the line each time they start their shifts.”

In the aftermath of the vigil, correctional officers are calling for systemic change and support for those responsible for the safety of Canada’s correctional institutions. This event highlighted the sacrifices of workers across various sectors, highlighting the ongoing struggle for workplace safety, dignity, and respect, particularly among Canada’s forgotten correctional officers.