Jailhouse Walk

As you may or may not know, Canada's oldest correction facility and a maximum security prison, a local landmark known as KP, closed its doors this fall. It is older than Canada itself and has been home to some of Canada's worst and most notorious criminals. Its history has included riots, escapes and attempted escapes, women and children prisoners, and growth in buildings and educational and healthcare programs.
While I know that it is not something that appeals to everybody, so many aspects of the Pen fascinate me and have for years: its history, its prime waterfront location, its size (8.6 hectares), the beauty in its architecture, and underlying it all, the deep mystery of what - and who - happens and lives behind the cold stone walls and barred gates.

A few weeks ago, through the combination of good fortune (thanks Alicia) and much patience, Rod and I were able to get some tickets to tour the facility. For those who are worried, all inmates had been relocated several weeks previously. All ticket proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity, so it was a great cause; truthfully, I would have done it even if it wasn't.

The tour did not disappoint. While I would have liked to have seen even more, what we were able to see was fascinating: the entranceway "It's not a warm and cozy place" one volunteer reminded us; the "phone booths" where visits took place with nothing but a phone and plexiglass and toilet paper (for tears?); the hospital, recreation yard, and the exterior of many buildings.
What interested me the most were the two separate four-winged buildings. The first, of course, housed the cell blocks. Several years ago I had been to the Penitentiary Museum, and had seen a model of a cell. Reality was much worse. Small, cold, dirty, block cell - one after the other after the other. Rod's comment was, "Just a few weeks ago this place would have been filled with so much evil and hate."
The other building - also with four wings - was the shop building. It was this building that housed the metal, canvas, carpentry, and mechanical shops where inmates would work. What surprised me was the beauty in its architecture and stonework; in fact, it was designed by the same man who designed the fine arts building at Queen's U.

All in all, it was an afternoon well-spent - particularly because we were allowed to *leave* when we were done!

It may be the lazy way out, but our pictures are not as clear as some of the others that are out there. Thank you, internet, for your photos.