Metamorphosis
My path to transformation
by Yves Côté and Alana Abramson

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How does an innocent five year old boy become a killer locked up for 23 hours a day in a super-maximum prison? How does this man survive nearly 32 years of incarceration and return to society as a compassionate, productive, and thoughtful husband, employee, grandfather, volunteer, and community member? This memoir combines Yves Réal Côté's prison writings with academic context by Criminologist and friend, Dr. Alana Abramson. This unique approach to autobiography provides readers with informative, first-hand insight into the lifelong impacts of childhood and adult trauma, the cruelty of a life sentence, criminal (in)justice in Canada, and the importance of community and reintegration. This book is critical reading for social science students and anyone interested in trauma, transformation, and criminal justice.

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I have come to admire Yves for his courage, truth telling and his commitment toward a transformed life. I look upon Yves as a friend and a person who is a positive influence in my life. —Jim Reilly, British Columbia Corrections Branch, Adult Custody Division (1982-2019) Recently I was in a conversation with one of the youth that attended Yves talk and she said it the most interesting and informative talk she has every participated in and that all of the youth were captivated and paid keen attention to what Yves had to say to them. I highly recommend Yves’ book... through this book may Yves’ desire and dream to inform and influence others for good continue to become a reality. —Reverend Don Isben, Retired Chaplain, Correctional Service Canada Yves came to understand how his childhood traumas led to his criminal thinking and behaviour and metamorphosed himself into an open and honest person with the ability to maintain healthy meaningful relationships and contribute to society. It’s now been almost twenty years and we are happy to call Yves a friend for life. —Larry Moore & Cathie Douglas, Heartspeak Productions

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Yves Réal Côté has spent most of his life in institutions. He is what is known as a “lifer,” serving two counts of the most severe sentence available in Canada; life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Yves will be under supervision by the government of Canada until his death. On December 6, 2013 after serving nearly 32 years in prison, he was released on day parole. Writing this book was part of the transformative process Yves has been engaged with for many years. Yves is a dedicated coordinator and facilitator for an violence prevention project both inside and outside prison and is a well-respected and influential public speaker who has spoken to hundreds of youth, university students, criminal justice staff, and community members. Dr. Alana Abramson is a full-time faculty member in the Criminology Department at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She is active volunteer with a violence prevention project with formerly incarcerated people and serves on the board of the Restorative Justice Association of British Columbia. She has been involved with restorative justice in community, prison, and school settings as a researcher, practitioner, and educator since 1999. In 2017, Alana was the recipient of the Restorative Justice Award from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia. She is a passionate advocate of transformative justice and is dedicated to promoting social change through bringing voice to incarcerated people.

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Contributors

Author

Yves Côté

Author

Alana Abramson

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