file photo/ paNOW Staff

By Charlene Tebbutt

Penitentiary job openings

Saskatchewan Penitentiary hosts in-house recruitment drive

Mar 7, 2019 | 4:10 PM

Federal government officials have been looking to new ways to fill jobs at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert.

The institution held its first-ever open house this week in the hopes of attracting new people to fill a variety of federal government roles. With 16 different types of jobs currently open, for positions including jail guards, tradespeople, cooks, electricians, brick and stone masons, nurses, psychologists and administrative staff, the CSC arranged an in-house job fair, including a tour of the penitentiary.

Tours have also been held at other institutions across the country as a new way to recruit applicants, said Kelly Dae Dash, media relations advisor with the Correctional Service of Canada.

“They were taken around the facility, just so they could actually witness how a correctional facility is operated, just to help them make a more informed decision when they’re applying,” Dash said. “It does sort of help them make a more informed decision regarding the environment, because the environment isn’t a typical work environment.”

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Each of the positions available asks for various skill sets from applicants. Many positions ask for a post-secondary degree or diploma and a satisfactory score on a Public Service Commission screening test. For correctional officers, applicants must successfully complete a training program including six weeks of online training and 14 weeks of hands-on classroom training as well.

New hires for guard positions work on problem-solving skills in simulated situations, Dash added.

“During the training, recruits learn communication techniques and overall crisis management to help prevent escalating a potentially volatile situation,” she added. “They’re also trained in appropriate use of force options like self-defence, arrest and control, chemical agents [and] baton and shield.”

All new hires also get access to support for mental and physical well-being while working at the penitentiary, Dash noted. Overall, Dash said the in-house job fair has been good way to recruit for various positions.

“There’s lots of takeaways from it, lots of lessons learned, so we’ll be looking to see if we can do it again,” she added.

The Saskatchewan Penitentiary is one of Prince Albert’s largest employers. The institution has been operating since 1911.

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Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt