THUNDER BAY -- Heading into her new career Allison Smith already has firsthand experience working within the criminal justice system.
A former probation and parole officer, as well as a volunteer with victims’ services, Smith is continuing her career path as one of the province’s newest correctional officers.
“I think it gives me a good dynamic background,” she said. “It gives me a good knowledge of what the justice system is like and hopefully having both of those backgrounds will enhance my career.”
Smith is one of 20 new Northern Ontario correctional officers, who officially graduated from a comprehensive eight week training program in Thunder Bay with a ceremony on Friday morning.
The new officers have been hired to serve at regional facilities in Thunder Bay, Fort Frances and Kenora. They join a graduating class from May in working to fill staffing shortages after a four-year provincial hiring freeze was lifted earlier this year.
In addition to her previous employment, Smith was also presented with a mayor’s award last year for her work volunteering with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters group in the city. She was recognized with the graduating class’s humanitarian award.
Training instructor Chris Willems said a track record of making a difference in people’s lives is sought during the recruiting process.
“We’re looking for people who are involved in the community,” he said. “They know the individuals they are caring for are going to be their neighbours again and they’re going to be the people they’ll see in church or at the grocery store. The better we make it for them the better it is for the community.”
During their eight weeks the recruits underwent a mix of procedural and scenario-based training, as well as extensive fitness preparation.
Willems credited the group for quickly coming together to form a team atmosphere, which will be a vital skill in their new line of work.
“It’s absolutely paramount. Teamwork is what we’re built on,” he said.
“Whether it’s a crisis with the offender population, crisis within the staff group or normal day-to-day operations the team always has to come together. Without the teamwork we have nothing because the offenders are many and we are few.”
Group valedictorian Terence Thorsteinson said the work done by the instructors has him feeling comfortable heading into this first day on the job.
“I just know from talking to them and other people we have such a solid team and great staff that we’ll all rely on each other for anything that may come up,” he said.
Smith, who will be stationed at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre on Highway 61, is one of three women in the graduating class.
She believes they have an important role to play in their respective facilities.
“It’s definitely a small group but I think we are very strong together and try to do the best we can to bring a female presence into the institution,” she said. “It will be good to provide role modelling for the female inmates as well as something different onto the male side.”
