Freedom of the Town Procession Marks 20 Years of Federal Corrections in Grande Cache

GRANDE CACHE, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Oct. 17, 2015) - Correctional Service of Canada

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

Today, Grande Cache officially granted the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) "Freedom of the Town", a rare privilege given to valued members of the community or groups with historic ties to the area. In this case, the honour represents Grand Cache's appreciation of CSC's long-standing and dedicated service within the community.

In the spirit of tradition, CSC's Commissioner, Don Head, and numerous CSC staff marched to the front steps of Grande Cache Town Hall, where Commissioner Head formally requested Freedom of the Town from His Worship Herb Castle, Mayor of Grande Cache. After a line inspection of staff, Mayor Castle granted Freedom of the Town, and praised CSC for its service to the Grande Cache area.

Mayor Castle also declared every June 1^st as Correctional Service of Canada Appreciation Day, in recognition of CSC's 180^th anniversary of correctional operations, which precedes Canadian confederation.

During his remarks, CSC Commissioner Don Head thanked the town of Grande Cache for being supportive of the Correctional Service of Canada's public safety mandate, and thanked local residents for their dedication and commitment to the Service.

Quick Facts

• Grande Cache Institution first opened June 21, 1985, as a provincial facility. In 1995, the institution was leased to the federal government through a long-term agreement with the Province of Alberta. The medium-security institution has a capacity of 243 male offenders.

• Granting Freedom of the Town is one of the most esteemed honours that a municipality can bestow upon a group or individual. It is often an honour reserved for military units, allowing them the freedom to parade through the community.

• This is the third time any Canadian correctional service has been awarded Freedom of the City/Town in Canada since confederation. The first time was earlier this year in Kingston, Ontario, the second occasion was in Dorchester, New Brunswick.

• The Correctional Service Canada, then known as the Canadian Penitentiary Service, came into existence on June 1, 1835, with six inmates who were transferred from the local jail to the Provincial Penitentiary at Portsmouth (Kingston Penitentiary).

Quotes

"We are proud of our partnership with the Town of Grande Cache; a partnership dating back 20 years, the fruits of which have strengthened Canadian society for years to come. The community and its residents have always been supportive of our public safety mandate and helping us achieve that goal; and for that we are truly grateful."

- Don Head, Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada

"Grande Cache and the Correctional Service of Canada having been working closely together for two decades now, a milestone worth commemorating. Everywhere you go, our partnership is felt - from the building and installation of park benches, to baseball diamonds, to the local seniors' centre sign - we've worked together to improve all aspects of our community. This is a proud and momentous occasion."

- His Worship Herb Castle, Mayor of the Town of Grande Cache

Associated Links

• History of the Correctional Service of Canada: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/about-us/006-0007-eng.shtml

• Beyond the Fence: A Virtual Tour of a Canadian Penitentiary: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/csc-virtual-tour/

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20151017-GrandeCache800.jpg