Literacy instructor earns national recognition for work in Iqaluit jails

Patrick Woodcock, who developed a formal literacy program for Nunavummiut who are incarcerated, has been named the winner of the 2024 Council of the Federation Literacy Award for Nunavut.

“It’s nice to be recognized for the work I’ve been doing in the justice system,” he said.

“I am extremely thankful to the premier’s office for this award. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Woodcock’s program is based in Iqaluit and run by United for Literacy, a Canadian non-profit organization that works to create access to books and learning for everyone.

Since joining the program two years ago, Woodcock has been teaching around 80 people in the Nunavut corrections system, including the Uttaqivik Community Residential Centre in Iqaluit.

He also does one-on-one classes with clients at Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility and at the Nunavut Women’s Correctional Centre in Iqaluit.

Woodcock was teaching his first remote learning class at the Aaqqigiarvik facility on Sept. 6 when he received a message from Premier P.J. Akeeagok’s office announcing the award.

The timing was ideal — funding for the program, supported since 2016 by the federal Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, recently lapsed.

A winner is selected from each province or territory. They receive a certificate signed by their premier and a Council of the Federation Literacy Award medallion.

Woodcock’s role at United for Literacy extends beyond his lessons, which can range from creative writing and history to essential skills training like pre-trades, GED for high school diploma equivalency, and driver’s licence test preparation.

“Once they’re released, dealing with lawyers, judges and probation can be nerve-racking so it’s nice for them to have someone to call to vent, and I’m here for that,” said Woodcock.

“I’ve helped people go to the bank for the first time to open an account and written students reference letters when they’re applying for jobs after being released.”

He also acts as a character reference for his incarcerated students who are released to communities outside of Iqaluit, and provides letters of accomplishment for their court hearings.

Woodcock said he hopes to fundraise and build new partnerships with correctional facilities and halfway houses to ensure the program becomes permanent in northern communities like Rankin Inlet, Clyde River and Igloolik.

“The foundation is sturdy enough to start building the program, and down the road I plan to expand and have local Inuit staff on board,” said Woodcock.

He said he is meeting with wardens at correctional facilities in Nunavut this month.

Remote lessons are another aspect of the program Woodcock is exploring, having successfully set up a lesson on Zoom with a new student at Aaqqigiarvik using a monitor in the facility’s library.

“It seemed a bit easier to begin learning remotely, as the computer offered a comfortable distance and he was a bit more relaxed,” Woodcock said.

Building trust with his students is an important first step, especially since he is not told what charges they are incarcerated for.

Part of that involves not having a guard in the room.

“Ideally, once I have the remote system sorted out across Nunavut I will be able to offer any course a student can think of, because I can link them to qualified and trained tutors across Canada.”

Woodcock has spent more than 30 years teaching English and being a literacy volunteer around the world, most recently in the hamlet of Paulatuk in the Inuvialuit region of the Northwest Territories, before moving to Iqaluit.

What motivates his work is the program’s goal of being a “source of good in someone’s life without an agenda.” He hopes each student’s achievement is a reminder of their potential as they rebuild their lives following release.

“I feel like I’m doing something good and there’s value in what I’m doing. I didn’t come to the community to make a token project to let flounder once I leave,” said Woodcock.

“That’s why the award meant a lot to me.”