Arnold Galet

Arnold Galet’s appointment to the position of Chair, Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board serves as a continuation of a more than 30-year career in government that has been dedicated to public service.

As Chair, Mr. Galet provides leadership to the Board and has overall accountability for ensuring the Board carries out its adjudicative responsibilities.

Prior to his appointment to the Board on September 30, 2008 Mr. Galet served as Ontario’s first Commissioner of Corrections with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Mr. Galet’s strong commitment to the justice field is linked to his comprehensive correctional background.

During his tenure as Commissioner, Mr. Galet led a large and multifaceted transformation agenda that impacted both the strategic and operational direction of corrections.

Four cornerstones guided the transformation, an infrastructure and capacity strategy for institutions, the changing face of corrections and resulting National Task Force, improved labour relations and a diversity strategy designed to ultimately ensure that staffing within Correctional Services is reflective of the demographics of the communities served.

As Commissioner, work began on finalizing the sites and designs for two new correctional facilities, Toronto South Detention Centre and South West Detention Centre. Mr. Galet also championed the Changing Face of Corrections, a national study looking at significant change on long recognized correctional issues experienced across all jurisdictions in this country. In addition during this time, he led the successful move and integration of Ontario’s first privately operated correctional institution, Central North Correctional Centre into the public service and had responsibility for co-leading a diversity strategy that would support systemic organizational change in corrections. As he had throughout his career, Mr. Galet developed harmonious and mutually respectful relationships with the bargaining agents that facilitated smooth forward movement on a number of corrections priorities.

In a news release, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Rick Bartolucci stated, “The Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board plays an important role in helping to ensure a safe and secure Ontario. Arnold Galet has a proven track record of leadership and teamwork in the field of corrections and will make significant contributions as the board’s new chair.”

Prior to coming to Ontario, Mr. Galet was the Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Executive Officer of Correctional Services with the Government of Alberta. He authored and co-authored several public reports including Justice on Trial- a report on the Criminal Justice System and its Impact on the Indian and Métis People of Alberta. For this contribution, the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta awarded Mr. Galet Canada’s 125th Commemorative Medal in 1993.

In October 2005, Mr. Galet was also awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal by the Alberta Solicitor General for Recognition of Outstanding Service to Albertans.

Mr. Galet has additionally been recognized for his work and leadership in a number of areas and is a recipient of three Premier's Awards of Excellence for innovative management, the development of the Respect in the Workplace Program and for leading a team in the development of community alternatives to incarceration. As well, Mr. Galet and his staff won the 2002 Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) Gold Award for innovative management.

An avid volunteer, Mr. Galet has served in various capacities within amateur sports organizations and served as Commissioner, Hockey Committee in Northeast Edmonton, Alberta from 1998- 2001.

Mr. Galet holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in Sociology (Criminology) from the University of Alberta. He is also a graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Business, Senior Executive Development Program and the Queen’s Public Executive Program in Ontario.