COLLABORATORS

Conviction is an ongoing and uniquely collaborative documentary project where the subjects, on the inside and outside, were brought into the process, invited to create content and work with each other to envision alternatives. Correctional officers worked with inmates and activists, to create art, photograph and animate. A Senator, an architect, designer, poet and music therapist all joined the process – to imagine solutions. Documentary films often leave viewers with more questions than answers, more despair than hope. The Conviction team is a large one, and our dream is help shift mindsets, create a place for discussion and hopefully to nurture a society where we do not imprison our most vulnerable.  

Senator Kim Pate

Senator Kim Pate is a nationally renowned advocate who has spent the last 35 years tirelessly working in and around the legal and penal systems of Canada, with and, on behalf of, some of the most marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized members of our society. She was the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) from January 1992 until her appointment to the Senate in November 2016. She believes that we should not be imprisoning our must vulnerable, but rather that we should be supporting them in their community. She continues to visit federal and provincial prisons, in hopes that Canada will take a leadership role in decarcerating women who are in our country's prisons. 

the women of Elizabeth Fry, Nova Scotia

It isn't easy to create relationships and gain the trust of women in our prisons, and we couldn't have done it without the support of the women of Elizabeth Fry Mainland NS and Elizabeth Fry Cape Breton. More importantly, Elizabeth Fry's Susan Ayles, Emma Halpern, Darlene MacEachern, Heather McKenzie, and in New Brunswick, Denise Durette were all there for the women involved in the project as a support throughout the entire process.
 Their commitment, cooperation and patience is truly appreciated! 

The Architects, PLanners and Facilitators

These facilitators and professionals, worked with us, and the women, to not only create inspiring workshops and insightful content for the film, but to also create an atmosphere of trust and creativity. We are so grateful for their time and talent. 

THE staff and administration OF CORRECTIONS NOVA SCOTIA AND CANADA

Conviction is unique not only in its collaborative approach, but also in the access we were granted to go inside
correctional facilities with recording equipment and cameras. We held a series of creative workshops that were designed specifically
for the women, and then returned for several years to follow our collaborators' journeys. 

 Without the cooperation of the following people in the Corrections system, this project would
not have been possible: 

NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
SEAN KELLY, PAULETTE MACKINNON and CHRIS COLLETT

CENTRAL NOVA SCOTIA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
EILEEN COLLETT, TIM CARROLL, TANYA BIGNELL, LAURIE SPARKS, STEPHANIE WHITE, CJ STEVENS, 
SHANNON FERGUSON, VANYA TRIMPER, NICOLE MCIVER and the officers on the front desk
and in the East Unit of the Central Nova Scotia
Correctional Facility.

NOVA INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN
Warden SHERI SCHWAERZLE, LAURIE BERNARD, DOREEN
PROSPER, MONICA SYMES and ANGELA HACHE.