With a year under the construction belt at the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) building site, the milestones and pounds of cement poured are plentiful. From fencing to footings, this nearly $200-million project is generating local jobs, community development and provincewide interest.

Progress by Numbers:

• More than 665 concrete trucks have delivered approximately 28 million pounds of concrete to the worksite to date.
• There is almost 4,000 feet of construction fencing surrounding the OCC worksite.
• So far 10,500 m2 of lumber, 3.8 million pounds of steel, 61,000 feet of plumbing and 2,800 pounds of nails have been used.
• Over 100,000 hours have been logged on-site to date.
• More than 375 people have worked on the project’s construction since groundbreaking - with around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs expected to support the build by completion.
• Thirteen separate contracts have been awarded to local businesses to date, worth a total of $115 million.
• Almost 800 people have attended information sessions aimed at helping job seekers prepare for correctional centre job openings at the OCC, with more sessions to follow this fall.

(flickr.com)

Quick Facts:

• The OCC - a 378-cell, high-security facility - will be approximately 300,000 sq. ft. and will consist of multiple low-rise, interconnected buildings built to LEED Gold certification.
• Once complete, the approximately $200-million high-security centre will represent the largest value project to date for BC Corrections and more than double capacity in the region.
• The OCC site is located on a 36-acre site in the Osoyoos Indian Band’s Senkulmen Business Park, seven kilometres north of Oliver on Highway 97.
• This is the first partnership of its kind in Canada to build a provincial correctional centre on First Nations’ land - a landmark agreement between BC Corrections and the Osoyoos Indian Band.
• More than 240 full-time correctional officer jobs will be opening up in the region for both experienced officers and new recruits.
• To keep B.C.’s economy diverse, strong and growing, since September 2011, the BC Jobs Plan has been building on the strengths of the province’s most competitive sectors by utilizing its educated and skilled workforce.

High-Resolution Photos:

View and download images of the OCC’s progress to date: http://ow.ly/Nd9lT

Sound Bites:

Parliamentary Secretary Laurie Throness discusses progress at the OCC: http://ow.ly/NcYMk

Provincial director and chief project officer for the OCC Tedd Howard shares personal highlights of the past year’s progress: http://ow.ly/NcYXp

Vice president of project delivery for Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd Richard Burley discusses the LEED Gold building and the unique build-operate design: http://ow.ly/NcZ84

Video Clip:

The Okanagan Correctional Centre - Creating Jobs and Corrections Capacity in the South Okanagan: http://youtu.be/Z9ykszdsEjo

Quotes:

Parliamentary Secretary for Corrections Laurie Throness -

“Once complete, this high-security centre will include 11 living units and 378 cells and will help to address unit capacity levels in B.C. now and in the future. The Okanagan Correctional Centre will provide an opportunity for more than 200 new and transferring officers to work in a brand new, LEED Gold building with state-of-the-art safety features - and will help to create a safe environment for inmates as they work to transform their lives.”

Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson -

“Nearly a year ago, there was dry ground and your typical South Okanagan terrain as far as the eye could see. Since that time we have seen incredible changes - we now have the framework of a great structure built with the best environmental standards and green technologies to protect the local landscape. We are seeing some of the results of a strong relationship between British Columbia and the Osoyoos Indian Band. We see the hard work of the many contractors and employees who are busy building what will prove to be a state-of-the-art correctional centre for those of our citizens who are on their path to a new beginning.”

Penticton MLA Dan Ashton -

“The construction of the Okanagan Correctional Centre has been a strong economic driver for the area - bringing in good-paying jobs for B.C. families and generating many positive economic spinoffs. As our neighbours continue to build the Okanagan Correctional Centre, we can all take pride in knowing that we are helping to build safer, stronger communities.”

Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie -

“The OCC being built on the Osoyoos Indian Band's reserve lands north of Oliver is one of the biggest projects in our region. The impact of jobs and contract opportunities will carry on for many generations.”

Learn More:

Interested in becoming a correctional officer? Visit the MyHR BC Corrections page: http://ow.ly/MlJl9

BC Corrections: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/corrections

The Justice Institute of BC: www.jibc.ca

Media Contacts:

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

Richard Burley
Plenary Group (Canada)
604 638-3897