YORKTON, Sask. – A new facility in Yorkton, Sask. aims to give adult male offenders the skills they need to reintegrate back into society. The Whitespruce Provincial Training Centre celebrated its grand opening Wednesday.
Officials say the former Orcadia Youth Centre was repurposed to house 39 adult offenders so they can receive programming in an effort to reduce reoffending after they are released from custody.
Training programs include a 12-week Saskatchewan Polytechnic food services certificate program and a 12-week Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology Construction Worker Preparation Program.
There is also a community work crew where offenders will provide community service in Yorkton and the surrounding area or link them to employment opportunities.
“With enhanced employment training, offenders will leave custody well-positioned to get meaningful jobs and contribute to the future of this province,” said Christine Tell, the province’s minister of corrections and policing.
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Corrections officials say the transition is part of their efforts to rebalance the correctional system and ease overcrowding in adult facilities.
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