The inmate and the guard

Jerrica Hackett had a question for the inmate mopping the common area. 

In the early 2010s, Hackett, 32, who grew up in Maple Ridge, was in the early stages of a decade-long career as a correctional facilities guard across the Lower Mainland. 

Although she had aspirations to become a police officer out of high school, her neighbour was a correctional officer and opened her brain to the possibility of working in a jail. 

From a young age, she dreamed of helping people restart their lives — and one way to do that was from inside a prison itself. So, after spending one year at university, at the age of 19, she dropped out and mailed in an application for a correctional facility. 

One week later, she received a response. 

“They wanted me to go run a physical, and next thing you know, I was 20 years old working in a men’s maximum security facility,” she said. 

On duty one day, she sparked a conversation with the inmate, not knowing her words would lead to a years-long friendship. 

“What do you want to do with your life?” Hackett asked. 

The man looked up, the mop still in his hands. 

“I want to speak to kids in schools,” he replied. “Tell them to stay off drugs and away from gangs.” 

Hackett encouraged the man to pursue that goal and the two went their separate ways for the rest of the day. Years later, after leaving her role as a guard, she worked at a non-profit and noticed the inmate, Guy Felicella, was giving a speech to her new organization at their annual general meeting.

“He’s an amazing motivational speaker, he’s done TED talks and is a huge advocate for people who use substances,” Hackett said.

“We’ve since become great friends.” 

Since their first meeting, Hackett has joined Stop Overdose Ridge Meadows (STORM), an organization that includes people from various organizations — School District 42, Alouette Addictions, and Fraser Health — to come up with a response to the toxic drug crisis. 

Following a successful fall, which saw STORM collect nearly 1,500 pairs of socks in an October sock drive, roughly double their total from last year, the organization is hosting Felicella for a speaking event next month. 

The free event, which will also feature a panel and Q&A, is expected to educate residents about the province’s toxic drug crisis. 

The public health emergency was first declared seven years ago and claimed the lives of roughly 2,200 people in B.C. in 2022 alone. 

Hackett said she believes in the power of sharing lived experiences. 

People like Felicella, who are open about their past, help local residents understand a complex problem like overdose and increase compassion for folks who may be going through a similar problem. 

“Harm reduction saved [Felicella’s] life,” Hackett said. “When people can hear it from the horse’s mouth, understand where they’re coming from, it’s much easier to see the human in people.” 

Ultimately, she said she hopes the December event will carry their momentum from 2023 — Socktober and the launch of a food truck event in June with proceeds going towards men’s mental health — into next year.

“We did some great things this year,” Hackett said. “I would love to redo them.”

For more information on STORM’s upcoming event featuring Felicella, you can find out more information here.