Corrections and Youth Justice members elect new leaders and raise almost $28K for Badge of Life Canada

OPSEU/SEFPO Correctional Bargaining Unit delegates from every OPS Corrections and Youth Justice local elected their leaders at the biennial OPS Correctional Bargaining Unit Divisional Meetings October 26-27, 2024. (Scroll down for election results.)

They also received reports from their Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC) teams, their health and safety committees and their bargaining team, as well as grievance and pension and benefit reports.

Head table at Correctional Bargaining Unit Divisionals, with delegates seated at tables in the foreground

Attendees raise $27,790 for Badge of Life Canada

Divisional meeting attendees welcomed Badge of Life Director Dave Hargreaves, who shared information about the important work the organization does for public safety personnel across Canada. Members showed their support for Badge of Life by raising $27,790 to support their vital activities.

Badge of Life Canada supports Canadian public safety personnel by offering a safe, confidential place where members in crisis can turn for immediate information that can provide hope, growth and recovery to those members who are suffering an operational stress injury, including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and addictions; with access to counselling, including suicide prevention counselling, information and group support programs.”

It was a timely presentation given the mental health crisis that correctional workers in Ontario face, with at least ten correctional bargaining unit members losing their lives to suicide over the past three years, and many more suffering serious occupational stress injuries due to dangerous working conditions.

The Correctional Bargaining Unit is currently circulating a petition to Queen’s Park, demanding that the Ontario government provide inpatient and outpatient treatment to correctional officers and frontline correctional workers in crisis, with the cost being borne by the employer; mandatory mental health resilience training for all employees to manage the psychological demands of corrections, and to implement a mental health anti-stigma campaign specific to the correctional bargaining unit.

OPS Correctional Bargaining Unit election results

Ministry of the Solicitor General Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC) team:

  • Chad Oldfield, Local 234 – Chair
  • Janet Laverty, Local 108 – Vice-Chair
  • Adam Cygler, Local 229 – Multi-Category Member
  • Denise Sidsworth, Local 271 – Probation and Parole Member
  • Peter Figliola, Local 234 – Member

Ministry of the Solicitor General Provincial Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (PJOHSC):

  • Ryan Graham, Local 234 – Chair
  • Mike Lundy, Local 708 – Vice-Chair
  • Ron Lavigne, Local 633 – Probation and Parole Representative
  • Tyson Marcinkowski, Local 678 – Member
  • Chad Oldfield, Local 234 – MERC Chair

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Youth Justice) Ministry and Employee Relations Committee (MERC) team:

  • Patrick DeBrou, Local 290 – Chair
  • Johanna Sinclair, Local 714 – Vice-Chair
  • Daryl Eckenstein, Local 220 – Member

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Youth Justice) Divisional Health and Safety (DHS) Committee:

  • Paula VanDusen, Local 290 – Chair
  • Terri Dimini, Local 310 – Vice-Chair
  • Peter Duguay, Local 601 – Member
  • Rob Fischer, Local 224 – Member