Assistant Deputy Minister Don Demers with Provincial Directors Rob Watts, Brian Mason, Wendy Hacking and Bun
Stobbe (1999) Photo: Courtesy of Shirley Maniec

« Brian Mason—Strategic Planning and
Corporate Programs; and

a Dave Bahr—Provincial Releasing Authority.

Abe Neufeld became Interim Provincial
Director for Youth Correctional Programs and
Services. The Senior Management Committee
was comprised of the provincial directors, the
issues management analyst, and chaired by the
assistant deputy minister. The provincial
directors were located in Victoria to facilitate
working together. The Provincial Releasing
Authority, however, was located in Burnaby to
interact with parole authorities and the
Correctional Service of Canada.

In 1997, the Correction Act was amended and
youth services were transferred to the new
Ministry for Children and Pamilies (MCP). With
youth services under the new ministry, the
number of provincial directors was reduced to
five.

The separation of youth correctional services
was an unsettling experience to many probation
officers and correctional staff. With the
transfer, correctional staff could decide whether
they wanted to transfer to the new ministry.
Some staff also had the option of early
retirement.

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Corrections in British Columbia