Kingston Penitentiary
Encyclopedia
Kingston Penitentiary is a maximum security prison located in Kingston
, Ontario
between King Street West and Lake Ontario
.
Originally constructed in 1833–1834, and officially opened on June 1, 1835 as the "Provincial Penitentiary of the Province of Upper Canada," it is one of the oldest prisons in continuous use in the world. Kingston Penitentiary is one of nine prisons in the Kingston area which range from low-security facilities to the maximum-security facilities Kingston Penitentiary and Millhaven Institution
(which was initially built to replace Kingston Pen).
The institution was built on land, described as "Lot number twenty, in the first concession of the Township of Kingston" The site was chosen for "combining the advantages of perfect salubrity, ready access to the water, and abundant quantities of fine limestone." Six inmates were accepted when the penitentiary was opened.
The penitentiary's western wall adjoins the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
, which hosted the sailing events for the 1976 Summer Olympics
. Immediately across the road to the north is the now closed Kingston Prison For Women
(the property is now owned by Queen's University
), officially opened on January 24, 1934 to take female prisoners who had originally been housed in segregated quarters in the main facility.
On August 15, 1954, a two-hour riot broke out in the penitentiary—the worst in its history up to that point—involving about a quarter of the prison's 900 inmates. During the riot a breakout was attempted, but foiled by the guards at the gate. The trouble apparently began during a morning baseball game in the exercise yard, when a guard was attacked, followed by several inmates setting fire to various buildings in the yard, including the shops and a warehouse, causing an estimated $2 million in damages. The disturbance was finally quelled by the guards with the aid of 160 Canadian Army troops and a squad of RCMP
officers. The 50 ringleaders were placed in solitary confinement.
On April 14, 1971, a riot
at Kingston Penitentiary lasted four days and resulted in the death of two inmates and destruction of much of the prison. Security was substantially increased and prison reforms were instituted. From 1971–1981, the penitentiary served as Corrections Canada's Ontario Region Reception Centre. Today the facility houses between 350 and 500 inmates, plus another 120 at R.T.C. (the Regional Treatment Centre) contained within the prison. Every inmate is given an individual cell.
In 1990, Kingston Penitentiary was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
escaped from within the prison; although this feat had been accomplished on at least 26 occasions beginning in 1836, Conn was the first to succeed since 1958. Conn's body was found in Toronto: He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while speaking on the telephone to a producer from the CBC
.
, was sentenced to be hanged on September 17, 1859, for the murder of Patrick Farrell. A petition for clemency started by his wife Johannah saw his sentence reduced to seven years in Kingston Penitentiary.
Other notable inmates include Russell Williams
, Paul Bernardo
, Clifford Olson
, Roger Caron
and Grace Marks
. Wayne Boden
, the Canadian "Vampire Rapist" died there in March 2006. Tim Buck
, leader of the Communist Party, was a prisoner at Kingston convicted under Section 98 of the Criminal Code
during the early 1930s. Marie-Anne Houde, formerly convicted for the murder of her stepdaughter Aurore Gagnon
, was sentenced to life in Kingston Penitentiary, following the appeal to commute her sentence to death citing health reasons. She was released on June 29, 1935.
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
between King Street West and Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
.
Originally constructed in 1833–1834, and officially opened on June 1, 1835 as the "Provincial Penitentiary of the Province of Upper Canada," it is one of the oldest prisons in continuous use in the world. Kingston Penitentiary is one of nine prisons in the Kingston area which range from low-security facilities to the maximum-security facilities Kingston Penitentiary and Millhaven Institution
Millhaven Institution
Millhaven Institution is a maximum security prison located in Bath, Ontario. Approximately 400 inmates are incarcerated at Millhaven. Opened in 1971, Millhaven was originally built to replace the area's other maximum security prison . A riot at Kingston Penitentiary forced Millhaven to open...
(which was initially built to replace Kingston Pen).
The institution was built on land, described as "Lot number twenty, in the first concession of the Township of Kingston" The site was chosen for "combining the advantages of perfect salubrity, ready access to the water, and abundant quantities of fine limestone." Six inmates were accepted when the penitentiary was opened.
The penitentiary's western wall adjoins the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
Portsmouth Olympic Harbour is a harbour located in Kingston, Ontario. For the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, it hosted the sailing events.Constructed in 1969, it has played host to the Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, Kingston , an annual event. The harbour was reconstructed in 1974 in time...
, which hosted the sailing events for the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. Immediately across the road to the north is the now closed Kingston Prison For Women
Prison For Women
The Prison For Women , located in Kingston, Ontario, functioned at a maximum security level from 1934 to 2000.The first female inmates arrived on January 24, 1934...
(the property is now owned by Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
), officially opened on January 24, 1934 to take female prisoners who had originally been housed in segregated quarters in the main facility.
On August 15, 1954, a two-hour riot broke out in the penitentiary—the worst in its history up to that point—involving about a quarter of the prison's 900 inmates. During the riot a breakout was attempted, but foiled by the guards at the gate. The trouble apparently began during a morning baseball game in the exercise yard, when a guard was attacked, followed by several inmates setting fire to various buildings in the yard, including the shops and a warehouse, causing an estimated $2 million in damages. The disturbance was finally quelled by the guards with the aid of 160 Canadian Army troops and a squad of RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
officers. The 50 ringleaders were placed in solitary confinement.
On April 14, 1971, a riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
at Kingston Penitentiary lasted four days and resulted in the death of two inmates and destruction of much of the prison. Security was substantially increased and prison reforms were instituted. From 1971–1981, the penitentiary served as Corrections Canada's Ontario Region Reception Centre. Today the facility houses between 350 and 500 inmates, plus another 120 at R.T.C. (the Regional Treatment Centre) contained within the prison. Every inmate is given an individual cell.
In 1990, Kingston Penitentiary was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
Escapes
In 1999, prisoner Ty ConnTy Conn
Tyrone Williams "Ty" Conn was a Canadian bank robber. He was the only person in the last half century to escape over the wall from the Kingston Penitentiary, one of Canada's most secure prisons....
escaped from within the prison; although this feat had been accomplished on at least 26 occasions beginning in 1836, Conn was the first to succeed since 1958. Conn's body was found in Toronto: He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while speaking on the telephone to a producer from the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
.
Infamous inmates
Kingston Penitentiary has been home to many of Canada's most dangerous and notorious criminals. James Donnelly, patriarch of the infamous Black DonnellysBlack Donnellys
The Black Donnellys is the common nickname of the Donnelly family who emigrated from County Tipperary, Ireland, to Canada in about 1845–1846, and who participated in a notorious feud in Biddulph Township in Middlesex County, Ontario, which culminated in a massacre in which five family members were...
, was sentenced to be hanged on September 17, 1859, for the murder of Patrick Farrell. A petition for clemency started by his wife Johannah saw his sentence reduced to seven years in Kingston Penitentiary.
Other notable inmates include Russell Williams
Russell Williams
Russell Williams is an English former professional road and track cyclist from London. Williams is also a cycling coach and David Duffield's co-commentator on Eurosport.-Palmarès:19781983198419891994199619971998199920022003...
, Paul Bernardo
Paul Bernardo
Paul Kenneth Bernardo, also known as Paul Jason Teale , is a Canadian serial killer and rapist, known for the sexual assaults and murders he committed with his wife Karla Homolka and the serial rapes he committed in Scarborough.-Early life:Bernardo's mother, Marilyn, was the adopted daughter of a...
, Clifford Olson
Clifford Olson
Clifford Robert Olson, Jr. was a convicted Canadian serial killer who confessed to murdering two children and nine youths in the early 1980s.-Murders:...
, Roger Caron
Roger Caron
Roger "Mad Dog" Caron is a Canadian bank robber and the author of the influential 1978 prison memoir Go-Boy! Memories of a Life Behind Bars...
and Grace Marks
Grace Marks
Grace Marks was an Canadian maid who was convicted in 1843 of murder in the death of her employer Thomas Kinnear, and was suspected of murdering his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery...
. Wayne Boden
Wayne Boden
Wayne Clifford Boden was a Canadian serial killer and rapist active between 1969 and 1971. He was raised in Dundas, Ontario, near Hamilton. He earned the nickname "The Vampire Rapist" because he had the penchant of biting the breasts of his victims, a modus operandi that led to his conviction due...
, the Canadian "Vampire Rapist" died there in March 2006. Tim Buck
Tim Buck
Timothy "Tim" Buck was a long-time leader of the Communist Party of Canada...
, leader of the Communist Party, was a prisoner at Kingston convicted under Section 98 of the Criminal Code
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
during the early 1930s. Marie-Anne Houde, formerly convicted for the murder of her stepdaughter Aurore Gagnon
Aurore Gagnon
Aurore Gagnon , was a victim of child abuse. She died of exhaustion and blood poisoning from some 52 wounds inflicted by her stepmother, Marie-Anne Houde, and her father, Télesphore Gagnon...
, was sentenced to life in Kingston Penitentiary, following the appeal to commute her sentence to death citing health reasons. She was released on June 29, 1935.