'He had a strong voice': Sask. prisoner advocate Cory Cardinal dead at 38
Well-known prisoner advocate Cory Cardinal has died at the age of 38.
Cardinal was known to fight for prisoners' rights and for exposing prison conditions in the province.
He had made his presence even more known during the COVID-19 pandemic by flagging overcrowding and fighting for those who had a compromised immune system.
Cardinal ran a group called Inmates for Humane Conditions that helps connect inmates with resources.
His death was confirmed by a colleague. The cause of his death is suspected to be an overdose with no foul play.
Sherri Maier, founder of Beyond Prison Walls Canada, says it was a "shock" when she heard the news.
"He was really influential in doing things, getting those Skype visits for inmates, especially in Saskatoon," she told CTV News.
In February, Cardinal went on a hunger strike to support women in the Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert.
Maier says he went on six or seven hunger strikes and even went 21 days for one of them.
She says he'll be remembered for his advocacy, his poetry and having a strong voice for prisoners' rights.
"I always say the more people that stand together the stronger that we become. But I mean him alone, just himself, is influential," Maier adds.
"You look at any of his poetry and stuff he is published in a lot of places and i think that's what he will be remembered by. It's a huge loss for all the advocates."
An investigation into his death is underway, according to Maier.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.