The province is celebrating the grand opening of the Whitespruce Provincial Training Centre, aimed at ensuring adult male offenders have the skills they need to successfully reintegrate back into society.
“Repurposing this facility will reduce crime and improve the lives of many Saskatchewan families,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said. “With enhanced employment training, offenders will leave custody well-positioned to get meaningful jobs and contribute to the future of this province.”
The facility was previously home to the Orcadia Youth Centre. The transition is part of the ministry’s efforts to rebalance the correctional system to use facilities more efficiently, relieve crowded conditions in adult facilities, and ensure offenders receive programming they need to reduce reoffending.
Whitespruce Provincial Training Centre has been operating since July 10, 2015. It can house up to 39 male offenders whose behaviours can be effectively managed in a reduced-custody facility.
The main employment training programs include: a 12-week Saskatchewan Polytechnic food services certificate program; a 12-week Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology Construction Worker Preparation Program and a Community Work Crew where offenders provide community service in the Yorkton and surrounding area or link offenders to employment.
