A Visit to Fort Saskatchewan – The Meeting that Stayed with Me

Empathy is not a luxury; it is a necessity that enables lawyers to see beyond case files, institutional settings, and other adverse circumstances to understand the lived experiences of the families we represent, whose lives are profoundly affected by decisions, policies, and systemic barriers.. My recent visit with a client at Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre reminded me that the law is never just about statutes; it is about people, relationships, and the fragile connections that hold families together.

When I sat down with my client, the conversation was not about charges or courtroom strategy. It was about his children. It was about the ache of being unable to see them while incarcerated, the fear that they might feel forgotten, and the emotional toll of missing birthdays, school milestones, and everyday moments that matter deeply to him as a father. He spoke openly about how profoundly he is impacted by the lack of access and how separation feels like a punishment far beyond the sentence itself. Our discussion focused on what steps he could take to facilitate visits, how correctional policies intersect with family rights, and the role I would play as his counsel in advocating for meaningful, ongoing contact with his children.

It was raw, human, and heavy. When the meeting ended, I offered him a handshake. He reached for my hand, and in that moment, I instinctively leaned in slightly unconscious gesture of closeness, reassurance, humanity. I’m not sure if it was my appearance or simply the unusualness of such a gesture in a correctional setting, but the correctional officer’s reaction was unmistakable. His face registered pure surprise and almost startled look, as if witnessing something out of place in an environment built on distance and control.

But empathy does not always fit neatly into institutional expectations. Sometimes it shows up in small gestures that remind someone they are still seen.

The Impact of Drugs on Children and Families

Many incarcerated parents are not violent offenders, they are individuals struggling with addiction, trauma, and systemic barriers. Substance use disorders create ripple effects that touch every member of a family, especially children.

Children impacted by parental drug use often experience:

Instability, unpredictable routines, sudden moves, inconsistent caregiving, Emotional distress, fear, shame, confusion, and anxiety.

They can also experience developmental challenges that could be evident in difficulty in school, attachment disruptions and loss of connection, especially when incarceration interrupts the parent child bond.

Yet even in the most difficult circumstances, one truth remains constant: parents love their children. That love does not disappear because of addiction or incarceration. And children, in turn, benefit from maintaining safe, structured contact with their parents.