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Jennifer Alphonso

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Reason for inclusion / First:  First Black female Superintendent in corrections in Ontario.

Bio / Key facts: DOB - DOD, Place of Birth, Occupation: Superintendent at the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Early years/ Motivations: Alphonso has a BA (Hons) in Psychology from York University (1979-83). She entered the field of corrections in Ontario in March 1985.

Key accomplishments/contributions: With her promotion to Deputy Superintendent at the Mimico Correctional Centre, Alphonso became the first Black woman in Ontario to hold this rank.

Later years/ Present day: Alphonso has received a number of accolades over the course of her 30+ years in corrections. On 1 February 2009 she was awarded the Governor General’s Corrections Exemplary Service Medal. In 2017 she received the Viola Desmond award from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for her many contributions to diversity and inclusion.  At the ceremony on September 20th, Alphonso stated: “To be recognized as a recipient of the Viola Desmond Award – named for a woman who exhibited courage and strength for human rights – I am speechless. I am grateful to the women in corrections who nominated me. I didn’t realize they saw a Viola in me.”

Other / Interesting facts: Alphonso has maintained an active involvement in the Canadian Association of Black Law Enforcers (A.B.L.E.) (https://ableorg.ca/ (external link, opens in new window) ). She was a long time Executive member and narrowly lost out on becoming the organization’s 4th president in 2010. The non-profit organization was created in 1992. Its aims are to promote and enhance equity, diversity and inclusion in law enforcement professions and in the larger society; and to foster greater understanding and a closer relationship between the law enforcement community and the public.

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