Thirty corrections staff in B.C. have been honoured for their dedication to public safety, community protection and long-term commitment to helping offenders successfully reintegrate into society.

The annual ceremony to award Corrections Exemplary Service Medals and Bars - the most prestigious national decoration for corrections professionals in Canada - was held today in Victoria. The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, presented the medals at a ceremony this afternoon at Government House.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton attended a reception to personally congratulate staff and commend the hard work and dedication the recipients have demonstrated throughout their careers.

The awards pay tribute to BC Corrections staff who work in probation offices and correctional centres throughout the province, recognizing exceptional service. The recipients are exemplary staff members who have also reached milestones in their career for 20, 30 and 40 years of service.

Among those honoured this year is Tedd Howard, a former correctional officer and warden and current provincial director in charge of the Okanagan Correctional Centre project, who has provided 40 years of dedicated, outstanding service to BC Corrections.

Also honoured is Pete Coulson, who began his career three decades ago as a correctional officer and is now the provincial director of adult custody, responsible for the care of approximately 2,400 inmates at nine correctional centres throughout the province.

Quote:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton -

“These awards are the highest honour in Canada for corrections and probation officers, and to see 30 of our BC Corrections staff recognized really speaks to the calibre of our team. These individuals have dedicated two decades or more to protect public safety and help offenders make positive changes in their lives - they don’t do it for the thanks and accolades, but they certainly deserve the recognition.”

Quick Facts:

• The Corrections Exemplary Service Medal is awarded by the Governor General of Canada to deserving corrections staff upon the recommendation of BC Corrections.
• Awards include:
  • Twenty years for the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal.
  • Thirty years for the Corrections Exemplary Service First Bar.
  • Fourty years for the Corrections Exemplary Service Second Bar.
• Every second year, Ministry of Children and Family Development staff are also included in the ceremony.
• The Corrections Exemplary Service Medal, created in 1984, was the second medal in Canada designed to recognize long and outstanding service in public safety professions. The first was the Police Exemplary Service Medal, created in 1982.

To find out more about BC Corrections, please visit: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/corrections/index.htm

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602

BACKGROUNDER

2014 Corrections Exemplary Service Medals and Bars Award Recipients

Corrections Exemplary Service Second Bar for 40 years:
Tedd Howard - Corrections Branch Headquarters, Victoria

Corrections Exemplary Service First Bar for 30 years:
Len Cervo - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge
Pete Coulson - Corrections Branch Headquarters, Victoria
Rick Hodgson - Nanaimo Correctional Centre, Nanaimo
Pat Hyska - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge
Ben Penner - Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, Surrey
Jim Reilly - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge
Paul Roberts - Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, Victoria
Earl Siemens - Ford Mountain Correctional Centre
Lynn Sutherland - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge

Corrections Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years:
James Bainas - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre
Martina Cahill - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge
Murray Klein - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, Kamloops
Beverly Mahoney - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge
Karen McDonald - Maple Ridge Community Corrections
Shane McGrath - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre
Cary McMahon - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge
Wyatt McNulty - Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, Victoria
Judy Mitchell - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge
Noel Morris - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre
Gerald Phillips - Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, Surrey
Tony Porter - Corrections Branch Headquarters, Victoria
Brad Rankin - North Fraser Pretrial Centre, Port Coquitlam
Janet Ross, North Fraser Pretrial Centre, Port Coquitlam
Mary Schofield, Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, Kamloops
Irma Sibilleau - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge
Vito Simone - North Shore Community Corrections, North Vancouver
Alton Stone - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, Kamloops
Sonya Urbanski - Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Prince George
Sandy Whitehead - Ford Mountain Correctional Centre, Chilliwack

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602