Maria Luisa Abrera-Farol

Honours Bachelor of Arts, 2009
Criminology and Sociology

Current role: Ministry of the Solicitor General

Employer: Toronto South Detention Centre

Industry: Law Enforcement

Biography: I am a first-generation Canadian, a landed immigrant from the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications majored in Journalism at the prestigious University of the Philippines. I did a brief advertising stint in Toronto as an Account Executive. I had to do a career overhaul due to a worldwide recession in 2001. Crime has always been an interest because of my journalism background. This is why I took Criminology and Sociology at UofT. My degrees led me into a challenging yet rewarding career as a first responder.

I have been a Correctional Officer for 15 years. I started as a volunteer (while still studying at UofT) with the Youth Justice Volunteer Program delivering workshops to youth in trouble with the law who have to complete their extra-judicial sanctions/measures. I was also a Volunteer Reporting Officer to assist Youth Probation Officers in their day-to-day job at youth court or at the probation office. This led me to an opportunity to work at the Roy McMurtry Youth Detention Centre as a Youth Services Officer in 2010 working with both male and female young offenders, particularly those who are classified as Special Needs. I have been actively volunteering with Youth Justice Volunteer Program since 2007.

I moved to adult corrections in 2013 at the Toronto West Detention Centre. This detention centre has been decommissioned together with the Don Jail to make way for the state-of-the-art Toronto South Detention Centre (TSDC). I transferred there in 2014.

A detention centre, jail, or federal prison is not just correctional officers and inmates. We are an inter-disciplinary team all working together for the offenders’ rehabilitation and reintegration back to their respective communities

Why I mentor: I have been volunteering as an alumni mentor at Woodsworth College and Arts & Sciences since 2016. I am also an Arbor Awardee in 2020. It’s about giving back and helping young people navigate around building networks and looking for opportunities to land a great career. Volunteerism helps people and communities.

Hobbies: I love the outdoors (camping, mountaineering). I’m a Polynesian dancer for mental health and for the joy of movement. I keep myself fit and active (due to the nature of my job), I also enjoy reading, watching movies and documentaries. I love musical theaters and visiting museums.