Christine Bootsma had a lot to learn when she started work as a BC correctional officer at the young age of 24. The first lesson? DonB次元官网网址檛 believe everything you see on TV.

B次元官网网址淲hen people think of correctional facilities, what does everyone go to? B次元官网网址極h, is it like Orange is the New Black?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Bootsma says, laughing. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nothing like TV.B次元官网网址�

Instead, what Bootsma found after beginning her career as a correctional officer, was work where she could connect and build trust with inmates, and in the process help them be successful in their post-incarceration lives. Ten years later, she has moved up the ranks to a position as an Assistant Deputy Warden at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much growth and opportunity to advance yourself if you put in the work and you are passionate about changing lives,B次元官网网址� says Bootsma.

New officers welcome

That opportunity is something BC CorrectionsB次元官网网址� Adult Custody Division is hoping to provide to more people over the coming months, as it of new officers it typically hires B次元官网网址� offering meaningful careers for men and women with the skills and personal qualities needed in todayB次元官网网址檚 peace officers.

B次元官网网址淏eing a correctional officer with BC Corrections is not about being aggressive or showing tough behaviour. ItB次元官网网址檚 about emotional maturity, being fair and having great communication skills,B次元官网网址� says Stephanie Macpherson, Provincial Director, BC Corrections.

B次元官网网址淢any women and men who have raised kids have effectively developed these transferrable skills. We have many excellent female and male officers who previously worked in the service industry and are now some of our most effective officers because they interact very well with inmates,B次元官网网址� Macpherson says. B次元官网网址淚f someone can handle impatient and frustrated customers at a bar or a coffee shop, those same skills will help them manage an inmate in a living unit.

B次元官网网址淥ur staff truly cares about helping those who have found themselves in custody. They want to make a difference and have a positive influence on these men and women. We firmly believe our officers are so successful because they are such strong role models.B次元官网网址�

Bootsma says that women in particular should consider applying for the , because they have played such an integral mentorship role in her own time as an officer. B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be here if it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for the women in my life who helped me when I first started,B次元官网网址� she says.

Personal and professional rewards

There are personal rewards, too. In particular, the success of the , spearheaded by Bootsma and the John Howard Society of British Columbia, has been a source of pride. The program allows inmates to read a childrenB次元官网网址檚 story book and have it recorded; the story book and recording is then mailed to their child, who gets to hear their dad read to them.

B次元官网网址淚t was really cool reading the letters from the inmates and seeing the gratitude from their families,B次元官网网址� Bootsma says. B次元官网网址淓ven though theyB次元官网网址檙e far away, theyB次元官网网址檙e still with them.B次元官网网址�

Working with BC Corrections has allowed Bootsma to further her education through the BC Government Pacific Leaders Scholarships for Public Servants. B次元官网网址淚t allowed me to go back to school and finish my degree, which was pretty awesome.B次元官网网址�