Bar None Newsletter
Restorative Justice Ministries - Mennonite Central Committee Alberta (MCCA)
M2 DRUMHELLE R by Gord Hutc hi ns on
The Memorial Service at the Drumheller Penitentiary is being held in the chapel, and the room is
packed with those serving time. The chaplains have
decided that along with several hymns and scripture
readings, the service will include an open mike. A few
of these men will try to share their thoughts and feelings. It is not easy. Vulnerability is protected in here,
and nobody bares their heart. Yet a few stand up to
try. They are shaking with nervousness. And one
looks at a side wall completely unable to face the
crowd. Yet the words expressed are arresting in their
realism and felt pain.
The two men we are remembering were found
unresponsive in their cells. One of them was known to
the M2W2 Program. And an M2 Sponsor is the only
‘outsider’ here. He stands to read a letter that expresses the importance of the many years he visited the deceased. He would drive from Edmonton, and follow up
with letters. This relationship mattered to him. And it
mattered to the man now gone.
M2W2 Drumheller has thirty volunteers visiting inmates
– not much in a population of 600. Yet it is a connection that matters when trouble rears its unhappy
head. A company of thirty offering that most precious
vehicle of hope: friendship. Like a flower at a memorial, it is a ‘bloom’ that springs to life where there is nothing left.
Gord and Nicholas at the CoSA Halloween Party
Spring 2015
EDMONTON M2
by Janet Anderson
The Edmonton institutions have had some
changes. There is so much to celebrate. At
EIFW (Edmonton Institution for Women), the
new minimum unit opened this fall – outside
the fences! It is very refreshing to visit with the
women in this space – they having taken responsibility for setting up the room, arranging
the visiting areas and getting the kettles ready
for tea. The small group gatherings encourage
many conversations and relationships are developed from the consistent attendance of both
the volunteers and women. Kudos to the volunteers. Summer difficulties in getting into the
Secure Unit corrected themselves this fall and
we have had some wonderful visits. In addition, the summer brought new volunteers into
EIFW to connect with the women through Pilates classes. In the fall, this group connected
with women in the chapel with an evening
hymn sing. Their last event for 2014 was carolling with a large group of women.
Consistency of visitors is so important at
Edmonton Institution. Our visits with C and D
Unit are really important to the guys. They
support each other in coming to the visits and
we support them with our visiting. We are
blessed in getting to know the guys for who
they are. Several individual matches have
continued to develop this past year with the
support of the chaplains at EI.
Great news! This fall, we started the M2
program at Grierson Institution. An inmate
who was transferred to Grierson requested the
M2 program. It’s amazing how the influence of
the program at another institution comes with
the fellow when he is transferred. It’s a true
testament of the success of the program.
There are now 3 guys interested in one-to-one
sponsorships. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor – please call Janet Anderson at
780-995-3503
M2 BOWDEN
Quilt presented to Moira Brownlee, CoSA Coordinator by the Pathways Unit at Bowden Penitentiary for all her work in that institution.
FAITH BASED REINTEGRATION
by Laurie Bennie
Our M2 continues to make a difference for
both the inmates and the 29 sponsors.
There will always be more names on the
waiting list than sponsors, but the volunteers
continue so faithfully, and by their word-ofmouth I am able to bring in new volunteers.
At the M2 Christmas event, we were able to
have more pie and ice cream than the 40 of
us could finish. Woody was allowed to bring
in his guitar, and we sang Christmas songs.
The photographer took pictures of each pair,
and there was some time for individual conversations. Then we formed a large group
and each person spoke up. The sponsors
said: “This is my favourite Christmas event.”
“I become more blessed than the men here.”
“I have really enjoyed spending time with my
friend inside.” “No matter how tired I am, I
always get blessed when I come in to visit.”
Every one of the inmates also had something to say. One said it was the first time in
his life he had ever celebrated Christmas. Another said it was very touching that
we would give up a night to come and visit
them. Another: "We can't thank you volunteers enough! We don't have anyone on the
outside. What you do is so powerful to us
on the inside! By your commitment and sacrifice, you touch people in deep and profound ways!" The men are so grateful for all
we do, we cannot help but be touched and
changed ourselves!
by Peter Worsley
A prisoner I will call Al, who I had visited for several years in prison, had become eligible for escorted
temporary absences (ETAs). He hoped to connect with his young-adult son, whom he had seldom seen
since being incarcerated, by meeting him in Calgary. It was arranged that a Chaplain from the prison
would bring Al to Calgary for the day and we set a time for him and his son to meet at our office.
When Al and the Chaplain arrived in Calgary the three of us went to Timmy’s for lunch. As it was near
his son’s birthday Al bought a cupcake from Timmy’s to put a candle in. Back at the office his son arrived, we lit the candle in the cupcake and celebrated by singing him happy birthday. We then gave Al
and his son some time to spend alone and talk. Afterwards the Chaplain took Al back to the prison. It
was a simple but meaningful occasion for all of us.
Al later wrote to me from prison saying, “I would like to again thank you for lunch and accommodating
my son and I. I appreciate all you’ve done more than I can say”. … “It’s because of people like you that
my faith has been restored and I have the desire to give back. Thank you again!”
I’m privileged to assist in the process of helping ‘normalize’ life for prisoners and their family members
and to contribute to restoring the faith of offenders in God. I’m thankful to those involved in providing this
opportunity, MCCA, Catholic Charities and individual donors, and to volunteers and colleagues who support this work. Thank you all!
An Experience in Reconciliation Tom Brownlee
I recently was invited to be present at the
Muslim “Festival of the Sacrifice” – Eid al-Adha.
There were about fifty people in attendance, Muslims and guests. The story of the festival was explained and we feasted well! I was at a table reserved for guests. Two Muslims were with us as
well to answer any questions we might have and to
serve as hosts.
When we finished eating, various people
were thanked for what they had contributed to the
meal. More speeches followed. Afterwards preparations were made for afternoon prayers. One of
the men who had sat at our table went to two other
men seated at another table and specifically asked
them to come to the prayers. They thanked him and
good-naturedly declined the offer. The man who
had invited them said with a smile, “We’ll convert
you yet.” One of the men replied jovially, “No, we’ll
convert you.” I asked one of the men invited to the
Muslim prayers: “What religion are you?” He replied, “Jewish.” While the Muslims engaged in their
prayers, led by the Imam, the Jewish men also
prayed in their own way. As a Christian, I spent the
time reflecting on a couple of passages of scripture.
After the Muslims had finished their prayers,
the young man who had invited the Jewish men to
prayers came back, shook hands with them, and sat
down to chat with them. They were smiling and
laughing.
I learned later that one of the Jewish men
had been born in Israel, but had come to Canada at
an early age because both his parents had been
killed in conflict. Muslim radicals had killed them. I
also discovered that the Muslim man who was chatted with them had been a Muslim radical earlier in
his life. Here they were, able to move beyond their
past history and experience a good degree of reconciliation. What made this experience in reconciliation surprising for me is that it took place in prison.
The event itself took place in the prison chapel with a
number of Christians present. For this particular prison, for any group to hold an event, ten prisoners
need to attend. Since there are less than ten Jewish
men in this prison, they should be unable to hold one
of their festivals. However, the astonishing part of
this whole story is that the Muslim group in this prison
always signs up enough of its members for the Jewish events that the Jewish group can celebrate their
festivals. In return, the Jewish prisoners are invited
to the Muslim events. This discovery is what made
the experience of this day truly extraordinary for me.
It speaks to me of God’s grace at work in the most
amazing way.
COSA UPDATE
by Laurie Bennie
CoSA continues to have successful weekly and
monthly gatherings, as well as individual circle
meetings with Core Members (CMs). Last summer
we hiked from Beynon to Wayne, Alberta, near
Drumheller, along an abandoned railway track. We
also rafted down the Bow River in Calgary (see photo). Our 3-day camp was thoroughly enjoyed, including by a Bowden inmate and 2 Parole Officers
from Bowden. We continue to celebrate the small
progresses and victories we see, including a CM
who can now keep money in his pocket and get all
his bills paid. Another has impressed his new boss
with his small machine repair skills.
One of our CMs in his 30s is taking High School
courses, and his marks have been so high, he has
received the huge honour of being one of 2 students
invited to attend the prestigious Aboriginal Achievement Awards.
Government funding losses this year have concerned us, and the CoSAs across Canada have created a National entity to lobby on our behalf. We
are hopeful for success. Meanwhile we continue to
our fellowship together!
M2 TESTIMONIAL
by Terry Marcinkoski,
Grierson Centre Inmate, Edmonton
My name is Terry Marcinkoski. Janet Anderson of M2W2 came
to me and asked me if I would write a few words of my impression and involvement with M2W2. Of course without hesitation
I said yes.
New CoSA brochure for Core
Members. We also have new
ones for Volunteers and Stakeholders.
I am a first-time Federal Inmate and in the past I’ve had no experience with the justice system or what to expect from it.
When I was arrested, incarcerated, and sentenced, I was unfamiliar on what to expect and how fast you lose your sense of
persona. Once sentenced, I was admitted to the federal prison
of Drumheller Institution in Drumheller Alberta, away from family, children, friends and the surroundings I was used to. If anyone knows the history of Drumheller to put it candidly, it’s a
Gladiator school - it’s all about punishment not correction. Prior to arriving at Drumheller Institution, I came from Calgary Remand Centre where I sat two years waiting on sentencing. To
say the least this is where you see a failing justice system
around you and the start of where you become embittered and
rancorous. The negativity all around you from inmates, correctional staff, lawyers, authority - you feel defeatist. In a failing
prison system - budget cuts, tough on crime bill pushed
through, programs depleted, schooling budgets diminished there’s a need for something or someone to give relief to prison and inmates.
M2W2 is that organization in my notion, I have become a life
member without knowing it. My first engagement with Gord
Hutchinson and Dave Hendricks was enlightening to say the
least; there was an instant sense of emancipation. I was introduced to Dave and Gord by another inmate that was involved
in M2W2 for some time now, and was doing the cooking for
some of the special events for M2W2 and sponsors. I was
asked to fill that void as he was to move to another Institution.
I was clasped by their altruistic public spirited souls; I was captured by their non-judgmental and merciful personalities. It
was hard to believe there are persons out there that care and
want to see second chances, a better inmate, and friend.
In developing my relationship with Gord and Dave of M2W2, I
met with them weekly until they were able to get a sponsor to
match with me, which was James Schnell. Our meetings were
monthly at the Institution where all members and sponsors
would gather in the chapel. There was an instant sense of disengagement from the Institution temporarily - I had felt, this
was all ‘GOOD.” Dave myself and Gord decided we would
continue meeting weekly, our friendships grew and I was in
awe with what was developing among all of us and how it
brought me back to see how such good Humanitarians exist for
prison and inmates. I was feeling good about myself again,
letting go of bitterness, resentment, feeling confident about my
progression forward, all due to my friendships with sponsors
and M2W2 coordinators, thanking them all!
I faithfully believe there is a real need for their presence in a
prison system, so much that I have now become an advocate
for M2W2 by bringing and signing many inmates, bringing
M2W2 to other Institutions: Drumheller
Annex, and Edmonton Grierson Centre.
I have gained an enduring relationship
with my sponsor James Schnell, and
M2W2 coordinators Gord Hutchinson,
Dave Hendricks and Janet Anderson.
As time progresses for me, I see my future as an ear for inmates a sponsor and
coordinator for M2W2 in a prison system
that’s depleting in so many areas, we
need to find ways of instilling confidence
in men who are still human beings, and
that’s M2W2!