Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 23/00) - Northern issues around rehabilitation were the topic of discussion at the Yellowknife Correction Centre June 16 and 17.

The John Howard Society of Canada held its national board of directors meeting for the first time in Yellowknife. It was also the first time a director's meeting was held at a correctional facility.

The society's president said Northern issues on the table included the struggle to find funding for rehabilitation programs aiding people currently serving sentences.

"That's a concern for me," said Arlene Hache.

She noted that the significant amount of support seen from government funding is focused on restorative justice, which is an important issue for the society, but more funding is needed to balance other programs.

"There is a refusal to increase funding around providing services for people already sentenced," she said. "And that's a whole population of people being left out."

Vivian McQueen was hired to focus on restorative, or community justice, programs, something Hache has been a long-time supporter of. Although she said that has left the other end of things in jeopardy since those funding allocations have not increased, Hache is happy to have an experienced family therapist with a background in social services on board.

Hache was also pleased with the attention received from national society directors on other "cutting edge" changes taking place in the North.

An on-site office is expected to be created in the new correctional facility that will be built in the next year. Three weeks ago approval was received for the society to man an office in the Yellowknife RCMP detachment.

"The RCMP actually welcomed us with open arms," Hache said.

The society's NWT branch held its annual general meeting at YCC June 15 where the national humanitarian award was presented to long-time Yellowknife probation officer Don Hunter.