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 Award Recipient Profile
Don Head Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada CEO Leadership Awarded to a CEO that has demonstrated leadership to advance Indigenous workplace inclusion
throughout an organization as a priority and a core business strategy.
We are proud to honour Don Head as the inaugural recipient of the Workplace Inclusion Leadership Award – CEO Leadership, in the Change Maker category. Through Don’s leadership, commitment, and thoughtful vision of how Correctional Service Canada (CSC) can better serve its large and rising population of Indigenous offenders in institutions across the country, the organization is advancing solutions to help Indigenous offenders take a new path -­‐-­‐ a rewarding career path. As well, drastic changes are occurring within its workplace to position CSC as an employer-­‐of-­‐choice for Indigenous workers. CSC is currently the largest employer of Indigenous people among federal government departments. Don and his team has worked closely with the Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC) to implement strategies that are helping Indigenous offenders feel comfortable in their surroundings, which in turn support effective rehabilitation efforts. He has been invested in the top tiers of AHRC’s Leadership Circle partnership since its inception in 2009 – advancing Indigenous inclusion leadership programs, strategies, and promising practices that have improved CSC’s relationships with Indigenous people, businesses and communities. CSC strategies have included, but have not been limited to, increased hiring of Indigenous workers, formation of an Aboriginal employee network, the infusion of Elder care in the lives of inmates, Indigenous awareness training for employees to help them better understand First Nations, Metis and Inuit people and structures in order to create a workplace and institution of inclusion. CSC has incorporated AHRC’s Guiding Circles career development program into institutions to help offenders understand their talents and skills, and how they relate to the world of work. The organization also operates employment-­‐bridging programs that help Indigenous offenders get connected to essential skills while incarcerated, and matched to employers once they are ready to be released. Through Don’s leadership, CSC has demonstrated how an organization can make a meaningful difference in the forward trajectory of Indigenous people in the workplace and in the community. The Commissioner believes that ROI is measured through improved culturally specific interventions and relevant programs that serve CSC’s Indigenous clientele – a true testament to Don Head’s commitment to advance Indigenous social and economic inclusion and capital.