Inmates and staff at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre have gotten into the Christmas spirit.
Inmates have knitted some 200 tuques, most of them in time for the Chilli Blanket rally at the courthouse steps in early December. The knitters included both men and women.
"That's a lot of tuques," said PGRCC assistant deputy warden Rob Richard. "And the guys who traditionally may not do things like knitting, it's interesting to watch them and see the pride they get out of it.
"In fact, they're quite proud of their accomplishments and some of them wanted to send them to their families as Christmas gifts, but they were happy to see them go to people who needed them.
"It allows them to give back to the community and have a bit of a sense that they're doing something for somebody."
As they have in past years, staff at PGRCC have accumulated $1,000 worth of household items and groceries for each of two needy families through the Salvation Army's adopt-a-family program.
Similar efforts have been held at correctional centres and corrections offices across the province.
"The holiday season can be a very difficult time for many families in our communities across the province," said B.C. Justice Minister Shirley Bond, also the MLA for Prince George-Valemount. "So it's very special to see both corrections staff and inmates alike getting into the holiday spirit by helping families in need this year.
"Whether they're collecting donations for the food bank or making wooden toys for children or the adopt-a-family program, everyone at B.C. Corrections, both staff and inmates, are making a meaningful contribution to their communities this holiday season."
