Beyond Bars: NSAA supports inmate to become a RSE certified carpenter

The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA) has worked with Correctional Service Canada (CSC) to support an inmate challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal exam and achieve certification in the carpenter trade. NSAA was initially contacted by a CORCAN instructor at Dorchester Penitentiary. The instructor, Charles Delorme, a carpenter journeyperson, was supervising an inmate who wished to become a certified carpenter. 

CORCAN is a CSC rehabilitation program that offers employment and employability skills training to offenders in federal correctional institutions to support rehabilitation and help lower rates of re-offending. Through the program, inmates can get valuable on-the-job training in trades such as carpentry and plumbing while serving their sentences.

Steve*, an inmate at Dorchester Penitentiary, had been previously registered as an apprentice with NSAA and had completed his level 4 training prior to being incarcerated. He became involved with CORCAN immediately upon sentencing. "His main goal was to accomplish his Red Seal," said Delorme. "He had logged apprenticeship hours before being incarcerated, and at Dorchester he has been learning new skills, doing practice tests, and accumulating more hours." Steve worked on a variety of construction projects, including building garages, gyms, and modular buildings.

"Being a certified carpenter became a goal that I set as a new, healthier version of myself," said Steve. "It will help me secure not only a job in the future, but also to become a contributing member of the community. I would like to be there for others, as a coach and mentor, to teach the skills I have learned from those that taught me, and guide apprentices to find their own path and achieve their own goals."

NSAA arranged special sittings at the penitentiary for Steve to write his level 4 exam, and once successful, to take the IP Red Seal exam. Both exam sittings were monitored by NSAA Industry Training Consultants, and all exam fees were waived. Steve says he felt supported throughout the process and is grateful for being able to achieve his goal of becoming certified. He is also happy to hear there are now multiple other inmates who have signed up to become carpenter apprentices.

Now a Red Seal certified carpenter, he says his goal is to secure employment with a reputable construction company in the Halifax area upon his release. He hopes to "work side by side with and teach apprentices so they too can become certified carpenters." He also aims to eventually pursue the Atlantic Trades Business Seal and to become a site supervisor or project manager.

This is the first time NSAA has worked collaboratively with CSC as part of an inmate’s release plan. "The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency is proud to have supported this individual on their career path," said Michelle Bussey, NSAA CEO. "This is more than supporting someone becoming certified in a skilled trade; it’s about unlocking their potential so they can enter the labour market in Nova Scotia by equipping them with a meaningful, sustainable transition back into society and the skilled trades workforce."

*The name of the recipient has been changed to protect the privacy of the individual.