Parkland program restores lives after prison time
Spending the last 45 years in-and-out of prison, 79-year-old Henry Cyr said something as simple as friendship helped change his life.
Cyr, who was granted full parole late last year, is part of a program offered by Parkland Restorative Justice that works to assist long-time offenders to reintegrate into communities.
Often times committing a crime is seen as a breaking the law, but restorative justice views it as a break in personal relationships. Volunteers conduct visits to offenders at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, work with them to offer support during their time in prison and assit in the reintegration process.
“That can look like a job or a house or a friendship or someone to go for coffee with,” Heather Driedger, director of Parkland Restorative Justice said. “That is so important because most of these individuals have spent many years inside and maybe don’t have anyone to go back to when they are released. This helps with the journey back into the community.”