Corrections Week in Newfoundland and Labrador acknowledges the hardworking men and women who positively impact our communities island-wide
======
May 6-12 marks National Correctional Officers Week. It is a time to acknowledge and honour the men and women who provide quality care and service, that sadly many times goes unnoticed to the general public.
“Corrections Week is a time to honour our correctional employees for their contribution to our province,” shared Jenny Dyall, Wellness and Attendance Support Manager of Corrections & Community Services – Adult Corrections with the Department of Justice and Public Safety.
“Our corrections personnel very well know the risks and challenges associated with the work they do. Yet they perform their jobs on a daily basis with commitment and dedication to maintain public safety and assist in the rehabilitation of offenders. Because most of their work is performed “behind” the walls, the general public doesn’t often hear about these valuable contributions.”
Corrections NL
2017 marked the first ever Corrections Week in Newfoundland and Labrador, a long overdue and welcomed period of reflection and recognition for a group within our province and community whose selflessness and can-do attitude have positively impacted our society. 
Corrections officers are on the front-lines of our correctional institutions. They are the first responders, the security and administrative personnel, and they work round the clock day and night just as your police officers, firefighters and EMTs do on a year-round basis.
“We want to get it out there in the public eye that we’re doing real work and we’re real people,” shared Ken Nagle, Vice President of NAPE Local 7701.
‘Outside’ the Walls
Corrections personnel work tirelessly on fundraisers and charities across Newfoundland and Labrador year round.
“During this year’s Corrections Week our Wellness Committee wanted to highlight some of the contributions our employees make to our province ‘outside’ the walls,” shared Dyall.
Just a few of the initiatives and organizations they have sponsored and championed include Ronald MacDonald House, Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Young Adults Cancer Canada and Christmas Hamper. Other employees volunteer their time to sporting events which contribute to the development of our province’s children, while others represent our province in adult sporting events at provincial and national levels.
“Our goal during corrections week is to celebrate and appreciate corrections employees for their service, as well as highlight all the good they do within their communities to contribute to our province.”
“We’re not the typical movie big bad guard beating up the bad guys,” adds Nagle. “A lot of the image that the general public has of corrections is that bad guy, mean saucy people who don’t care about anybody. That’s what you see in the movies. Us as a local, as a wellness committee, we want to promote the good things that we do.”