Popcorn the perfect platform to talk about drug trade, says former inmate

A former inmate at Kitchener's federal prison is using a new business as a platform to talk about how easy it is for women to get dragged into the illegal drug trade. 

Emily O'Brien landed in Grand Valley Institution for Women early in 2018 after she and her partner were caught bringing drugs into the country. 

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"I knew I was doing something wrong, but I didn't know how serious it was," she told CBC News. "I didn't think it would land me in jail."

She said her partner told her it wasn't a big deal, that he would stand by her if something went wrong, and she believed him. But she said as soon as they were stopped at customs, she knew it was over. 

Importing drugs a common charge

O'Brien was charged with importing drugs and later handed a four year prison sentence.

When she got to Grand Valley, she said she was surprised by how many other inmates were in for the same offence. 

I think in life we all make mistakes, but I think that we should all be granted second chances and a chance to redeem ourselves.- Emily O'Brien

"When you see TV, you think it's a lot of people that are there for violent crimes," she said. "But when I got there, I was like, 'Wow. 30 to 35 per cent of people are here for importing.'"

It's a fact she wants to highlight now that she's out on parole, and she's doing it through a new business: Cons and Kernels.

The company is in the research and development stage, with O'Brien handing out a lot of popcorn samples and doing "brand awareness" activities. 

But eventually, she hopes to cater to special events where former inmates — some of whom she hopes to employ — will have a chance to share their stories. 

"It's a way to promote second chances," she said. "Because I think in life we all make mistakes, but I think that we should all be granted second chances and a chance to redeem ourselves."

Importance of relationships

O'Brien was in Kitchener Wednesday, selling her popcorn to friends who knew her during her stay at Grand Valley. 

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Kate Crozier, who works for Community Justice Initiatives, met O'Brien during one of the organizations weekly Stride nights — an event hosted at the prison where inmates can socialize with volunteers from the community. 

Even then, Crozier said O'Brien was talking about and planning her popcorn business, demonstrating a drive that Crozier said is unique in the prison environment.

"They're often hearing from various sources that the community is not looking forward to them coming back out," she said. 

"So, to be resilient through that. To be determined, to say, 'No, I'm going to do it anyway. I'm going to do it despite not having access to the internet, despite not having the ability to test my market, or that the community might be apprehensive about me.' That takes an exceptional person."

Crozier said those exceptional people do exist in prison, but not without supports — something Community Justice Initiatives champions through its programs in and outside of prison. 

"We believe that the power of relationships is extraordinary," she said. "It helps women understand that there is hope of a caring community after prison. And when you have that hope, you're willing to work harder to live up to that hope."