Summary
Collins Bay Institution (French: Établissement de Collins Bay) is a multilevel correctional facility in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and falls under the supervision of Correctional Services of Canada.[1] The facility was opened in 1930,[2] and is now the oldest operational federal penitentiary in Ontario. The main prison is medium security, with a minimum security facility (formerly Frontenac Institution[3]) residing on the same property. A 96-bed maximum security unit is also operational.
 Collins Bay Institution Main Building | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 44°14′5″N 76°33′12″W / 44.23472°N 76.55333°W |
|---|---|
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Max/Med/Min |
| Capacity | 700 |
| Opened | 1930 |
| Former name | Preferred Class Penitentiary |
| Managed by | Correctional Service of Canada |
| Warden | Larry Ringler |
| Street address | 1455 Bath Road Kingston, Ontario K7L 4V9 |
History edit
Collins Bay Institution was opened in 1930 under the name "Preferred Class Penitentiary (Ontario)" to accommodate the growing number of inmates in the Ontario region. Inmates from Kingston Penitentiary, only 2 km away, assisted in the construction of the new prison.[4] The facility was built to further the government strategy of creating a graduated tier of penalties, that placed offenders in levels of security corresponding to the crime.[5] The main building (A-1) was built in the Canadian Chateau style, and has steeply pitched red metal roofing. Dormers are symmetrically placed across the front and rear, with pointed towers at the corners.[6] The center tower is much taller than the others, with a steeple on top. Local Kingston Ontario residents have opted to informally call this structure "Disneyland North", due to its castle-like resemblance.[7] Collins Bay Institution has a long history of violence,[8] and unrest.[9] "The Bay" or "CBI" has the moniker of "Gladiator School",[10] in reference to frequent deadly clashes between inmates.
Living units edit
The first living unit (cell block B-1 built in 1932) was a rectangular, two-story structure. It consists of limestone, and has a mansard roof. It has half-circle windows on the outer walls, and cell enclosures confined to the centre of the building. It was the first building erected within the walls of the prison, and signified a permanency to local residents.[11] A further 3 similar cell blocks were constructed over the next 20 years (B-2, B-3 and B-4). The blocks were referenced as "1 Block, 2 Block, 3 Block & 4 Block" by staff and inmates.[12] As of 2014, there are 32 buildings within Collins Bay Institution.[13] The structure of the B-1 building remains standing and is recognized as a federal historic building.[14] Buildings 6-9, which are of a hub-and-spoke design, were added in 2008,[15] and Building 11 in 2014.[16] Building 11 is a 3500 sq. m. maximum security unit that can accommodate the overflow of inmates after the Kingston Penitentiary closed in 2013.[17]
Notable inmates edit
- Lorne Edgar Campbell, outlaw biker and gangster.[18]
- Gary Comeau, one of the Port Hope 8.[19]
- Daniel Chi-Kwong Wong, conspirator in the murder of Bich-Ha Pan and attempted murder of Hann Pan masterminded by Jennifer Pan[20]
- Bernie Guindon, outlaw biker and gangster.[18]
- Billy Knight, the leader of the 1971 Kingston Penitentiary riot.[21]
- Barrie MacKenzie, one of the leaders of the Kingston Penitentiary riot.[22]
- Jeff McLeod, one of the Port Hope 8.[23]
- Richard Sauvé, one of the Port Hope 8.[24]
- Brent Taylor, of the Squamish Five.
Books edit
- Edwards, Peter (2013). Unrepentant The Strange and (Sometimes) Terrible Life of Lorne Campbell, Satan's Choice and Hells Angels Biker. Toronto: Vintage Canada. ISBN 9780307362575.
- Fogarty, Catherine (2021). Murder on the Inside The True Story of the Deadly Riot at Kingston Penitentiary. Windsor: Biblioasis. ISBN 9781771964029.
- Lowe, Mick (2013). A Conspiracy of Brothers: A True Story of Bikers, Murder and the Law. Toronto: Vintage Canada. ISBN 978-0345813169.
References edit
- ^ "Collins Bay Institution". Collins Bay Institution. CSC. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- ^ "Canada's Penitentiary Museum". Canadian Penitentiary Museum. 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- ^ "Frontenac Institution". pbc-clcc.gc.ca. CSC. 2008-11-15. Archived from the original on 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- ^ "Canada's Penitentiary Museum". Canada's Penitentiary Museum. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ "BUILDING A1, COLLINS BAY PENITENTIARY" (PDF). HistoricPlaces.ca. Parks Canada. 2002-09-12. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ "Historic Places of Canada - Collins Bay A-1". HistoricPlaces.ca. Parks Canada. 2005-07-25. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ "Kingston - The Penitentiaries". boldts.net. Hans Boldt & Sylvana Grisonich-Boldt. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ Dimmock, Gary (2008-09-16). "Mongeon killed day after failed transfer". Canada.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
- ^ "Prison sitdown strike staged at Collins Bay". The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
- ^ "Collins Bay staff file complaint". thewhig.com. Sun Media. 2008-10-08. Archived from the original on 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
- ^ "Historic Places of Canada - Collins Bay B-1". HistoricPlaces.ca. Parks Canada. 2002-09-12. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ Hughes, Graham (2008-09-26). "Collins Bay and the opening of new units" (PDF). UCCO-SACC-CSN. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ "Collins Bay Institution - Medium/Maximum". Treasury Board of Canada. Treasury Board of Canada. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ "HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca". www.historicplaces.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ KTW Staff (2010-10-14). "Prison expansion ahead for Millhaven & Collins Bay". The Kingston Whig Standard - Sun Media. Archived from the original on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ Cameron, Stevie (2013-09-29). "Kingston Pen - Canada's most famous prison closes". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ a b Edwards 2013, p. 166-167.
- ^ Lowe 2013, p. 358.
- ^ Grimaldi, Jeremy. A Daughter's Deadly Deception: The Jennifer Pan Story. Dundurn Books, November 12, 2016. ISBN 1459735250, 9781459735255 p. 312. "Daniel Wong is being held in Collins Bay[...]"The jail is sometimes referred to as "Disneyland North"[...]"
- ^ Fogarty 2021, p. 11.
- ^ Fogarty 2021, p. 290.
- ^ Lowe 2013, p. 365.
- ^ Christie, Erin (8 February 2018). "Prisoner's Rights activist tells tales of injustice". Vernon Morning Star. Retrieved 15 October 2020.