Collins Bay Institution () is a multilevel correctional facility in
Kingston,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Canada, and falls under the supervision of
Correctional Services of Canada. The facility was opened in 1930, and is now the oldest operational federal penitentiary in Ontario. The main prison is
medium security, with a
minimum security facility (formerly Frontenac Institution) residing on the same property. A 96-bed
maximum security unit is also operational.
History
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. 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. 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. The center tower is much taller than the others, with a
steeple
In architecture, a steeple is a tall tower on a building, topped by a spire and often incorporating a belfry and other components. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a relig ...
on top. Local
Kingston Ontario residents have opted to informally call this structure "Disneyland North", due to its castle-like resemblance. Collins Bay Institution has a long history of violence, and unrest. "The Bay" or "CBI" has the moniker of "Gladiator School", in reference to frequent deadly clashes between inmates.
Living units
The first living unit (cell block B-1 built in 1932) was a rectangular,
two-story structure. It consists of
limestone
Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
, and has a
mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof (also called French roof or curb roof) is a multi-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterised by two slopes on each of its sides, with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper, and often punctured by dormer wi ...
. 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. 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. As of 2014, there are 32 buildings within Collins Bay Institution. The structure of the B-1 building remains standing and is recognized as a federal historic building. Buildings 6-9, which are of a
hub-and-spoke design, were added in 2008, and Building 11 in 2014. Building 11 is a 3500 sq. m. maximum security unit that can accommodate the overflow of inmates after the
Kingston Penitentiary closed in 2013.
Notable inmates
*
Lorne Edgar Campbell, outlaw biker and gangster.
*
Gary Comeau, one of the
Port Hope 8.
* Daniel Chi-Kwong Wong, conspirator in the murder of Bich-Ha Pan and attempted murder of Hann Pan masterminded by Jennifer Pan
[Grimaldi, Jeremy. '' A Daughter's Deadly Deception: The Jennifer Pan Story''. Dundurn Books, November 12, 2016. , 9781459735255 p]
312
"Daniel Wong is being held in Collins Bay ..The jail is sometimes referred to as "Disneyland North" ..
*
Bernie Guindon, outlaw biker and gangster.
*
Harley Davidson Guindon, outlaw biker.
*
Billy Knight
William R. Knight (born June 9, 1952) is an American former professional basketball player and executive. Playing with the Indiana Pacers in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and later the National Basketball Association (NBA), he ...
, the leader of the
1971 Kingston Penitentiary riot.
*
Barrie MacKenzie, one of the leaders of the Kingston Penitentiary riot.
*
Jeff McLeod, one of the Port Hope 8.
*
Richard Sauvé, one of the
Port Hope 8.
*
Brent Taylor, of the
Squamish Five
The Squamish Five (sometimes referred to as the Vancouver Five) were a group of self-styled " urban guerrillas" active in Canada during the early 1980s. Their chosen name was Direct Action. The five were Ann Hansen, Brent Taylor, Juliet Caroli ...
.
Books
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References
{{Authority control
Prisons in Ontario
Buildings and structures in Kingston, Ontario
Correctional Service of Canada institutions
1930 establishments in Ontario
Federal government buildings in Ontario