Inmate dies amid outbreak at Stan Daniels Healing Centre

An inmate died in custody at Stan Daniels Healing Centre, an Edmonton halfway house, on Thursday.

Curtis Wolfleg had served just over half of his roughly four-year, five-month sentence when he died, Correctional Services Canada (CSC) said in a Thursday news release, and his cause of death is being investigated. Next of kin has been notified.

Director Marlene Orr invites the investigation, saying Wolfleg's death has been difficult on everyone at the facility.

“We're like a family, and so everybody feels it,” she said. “Any time that an inmate dies in custody, we should all be concerned and it should be reviewed each and every time. It's common practice, and when that happens, it's to look for any areas of operations that may need strengthening.”

The centre, in the Grierson Centre at 9516 101 Ave., is listed on Alberta Health's COVID-19 outbreak list. Wolfleg recently tested negative on a COVID-19 test, as inmates had been routinely tested because of that outbreak, Orr said.

No inmates now have COVID-19. Reached at home Thursday evening, Orr didn't have the number of total cases in inmates or staff on hand, but said they asked Alberta Health Services (AHS) to lift the facility's outbreak status.

All inmate deaths are reviewed by CSC. City police and the coroner's office have also been notified. CSC spokesperson Kelly Dae Dash said they take the deaths of inmates seriously.

“The loss of a life is a tragedy at any time. As in all cases where an individual dies while in custody, the police and coroner are called in to investigate. We review the circumstances surrounding these incidents to determine if practices need improvement and to prevent reoccurrences,” she said.

Dash did not provide the total number of COVID-19 cases in inmates when requested. She said staff at the facility do not report to CSC, so they do not have the number of staff COVID-19 cases.

Wolfleg began his sentence June 14, 2018, for two counts of robbery, obstructing a public or peace officer, three counts of failure to comply with conditions of undertaking or recognizance, and uttering a threat to cause death or harm.

The centre, operated by Native Counselling Services of Alberta, is a 72-bed minimum-security facility and healing lodge. It houses Indigenous inmates on conditional release and who are serving federal sentences.