Collins Bay Institution
 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 |
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.
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]
- Harley Davidson Guindon, outlaw biker.[21]
- Billy Knight, the leader of the 1971 Kingston Penitentiary riot.[22]
- Barrie MacKenzie, one of the leaders of the Kingston Penitentiary riot.[23]
- Jeff McLeod, one of the Port Hope 8.[24]
- Richard Sauvé, one of the Port Hope 8.[25]
- 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.
- Edwards, Peter (2017). Hard Road: Bernie Guindon and the Reign of the Satan's Choice Motorcycle Club. Toronto: Random House. ISBN 978-0345816108.
- 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"[...]"
- ^ Edwards 2017, p. 236.
- ^ 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.
