OCNews

Q: What is your name? 
A: Garnet H. Grant

Q: What are your pronouns? 
A: He/Him/His

Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now? 
A: I currently work and live in Edmonton, Alberta. I previously lived and worked in Kelowna BC for 5 years.

Q: What did you take at OC? When did you graduate? 
A: I completed the Criminal and Social Justice program. I graduated in June 2013.

Q: What got you interested in your program? 
A: I worked in law enforcement when I lived in Jamaica, but my academic qualifications were in business. I wanted to be formally trained and certified in the law enforcement field, so I started to search for schools overseas that offered any such program.

Q: How did you find out about the program you took at OC? 
A: I met Yvonne Tobias at the Air Jamaica building in Kingston, Jamaica. She informed me that she is a recruiter for a school in Canada by the name of Okanagan College. She told me the steps I need to take to apply, which I did, and I got accepted into the school, and into the Criminal Justice program. I also contacted Michelle Somerville, who at the time was a staff in the international office in Canada. She gave me further guidance about the program and its long-term benefits. I then applied for a study permit at the Canadian Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica and was granted the privilege to move and study in Canada as an international student.

Q: What is your current position? 
A: I am a Correctional Peace Officer 11, at the Edmonton Remand Centre in Alberta, Canada.

Q: How did your training at OC prepare you for what you’re doing now? 
A: The training I got at Okanagan College opened my eyes to the theory of crime, the root causes of crime, the social aspect of crime, the psychology behind criminal behavior, and why some groups are overrepresented in prisons.  I can now say that I have a full understating of crime, criminality, psychopathy and how it affects/impacts society. 

Almost everything I learned in theory at OC, I was able to see the practical aspect on the job. With the foundation received from the program I was able to apply it to my everyday routine when dealing with inmates.

Q: What was one of your most meaningful memories during your time at OC? 
A: My most meaningful memory was getting back-to-back A+ on research papers marked by my criminology professor, Jarkko Jalava. He was the most detailed oriented professor from my point of view in the program. Getting an “A” in his class makes you feel like you just scaled Mount Everest!

Q: What do you think has been the biggest turning point for your career success? 
A: After graduation, I stayed in Kelowna for two additional years and worked as a gaming security officer at a casino. I was not satisfied with that career and my progress there, so armed with my new Criminal and Social Justice Certification, I started to send out applications all over Canada to try and get a job in my field of studies. My biggest turning point was when I got accepted by the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency, in Edmonton, Alberta, to work as a Correctional Peace Officer. My family and I packed a U-Haul truck and moved to Alberta. Then my journey in this new and rewarding career begun. I am now nine years in this job.

Q: What advice would you pass on to current/future students? 
A: Okanagan Collage have an excellent well-rounded Criminal and Social Justice Program. The professors are willing to assist you if you at any time find yourself having trouble with your courses.  Focus on the prize; it will take a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, dedication, perseverance, discipline, persistence, and great initiative, but in the end, it will be well worth it, I have a great career in the service.

My journey was never easy, especially whilst attending the college. I was separated from my family for a while and had to make sure that their wellbeing was being looked after while they were away from me. I had to support both myself and family whilst studying full time. But at no time did I consider quitting. I pushed myself and made the dean’s list on three different occasions. 

I stuck with it to the very end. All the papers that I read, wrote and gathered over the program summed up into one sheet of paper - my Criminal and Social Justice Certification on graduation day!

Q: When you’re not working, what are you doing? 
A: Whenever I’m not working, I’m doing chores around my home, hanging out with my wife and kids, or just entertaining friends in our backyard.

I must also make a special shout out to all my professors who assisted me along my journey. My success is your success. Also, to all the staff at the international office who care about us and attended to us during the difficult times. A special shout out to Miss Lulu Hall, she was my rock.