At the annual Aug. 10 Prisoners’ Justice day memorial, a group of 40 listened to the words of those who work with incarcerated people. Words were spoken and tears shed, with a message summed up by Kaela Pelland, director of peer engagement at Réseau ACCESS Network.
The event was hosted by Sara-jane Berghammer, John Howard Society CEO. The first speaker was Cory Rosyln of the Elizabeth Fry Society. The society specializes in helping women and gender non-conforming people who are incarcerated or at risk of justice-involvement. Rosyln said that Elizabeth Fry Society continues to call for a “divestment from incarceration, and an investment in community resources as a more effective way of preventing and addressing harm.”
The care of those with mental health or substance use issues is a need not being met, said Sue Tassé of the Canadian Mental Health Association.