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Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, The Cedarhedge Building
An unusual but very interesting family trip was our visit to the Canadian Penitentiary Museum in Kingston, Ontario. It was a small museum right across of the infamous Kingston Maximum Security Penitentiary before the penitentiary was officially closed in 2013. It was a maximum security prison for men for nearly 180 years. When we went to visit, the Penitentiary was not yet opened to the public for tours but it now.
History
The Canadian Penitentiary Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history of Canadian federal penitentiaries. Located at the birthplace of the Correctional Service of Canada in Kingston Ontario, the museum is housed within the former Warden’s residence of Kingston Penitentiary.
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I know we were amazed at some of the items that we saw that day so I thought I would share some of these great photographs. The museum is currently closed for the winter and is undergoing renovations. I am hoping that they open in the spring with tours of the actual penitentiary. I still think about some of the things that we saw (like the solitary confinement box and the other forms of punishment) but I thought it was so interesting.
The Museum is directly across from the now defunct (and infamous) Kingston Men’s Penitentiary. At its peak, there were 10 penitentiaries in active operation in the Greater Kingston Area. This included both a men and women’s institution.
The Prison for Women was established in 1934. Operated as the only federal women’s penitentiary in Canada until 1995. This institution was decommissioned on July 6, 2000.
Artifacts
Corporal punishment and solitary confinement were not uncommon in our penitentiaries. The practice of administering corporal punishment in Canada ceased in 1969 and was finally removed from the Criminal Code in 1972.Various disciplinary tools were displayed at the museum.
These rack-like structures are officially referred to as ‘The Triangle’. They are whipping posts from Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick and British Columbia Penitentiary in BC. They were used to administer corporal punishment. Such punishments would be carried out at the order of the Warden, for misbehaviour within the Institution or by the order of a Judge as part of the sentence.
It is amazing to me that we would have legally allowed corporal punishment in our prisons. It was very interesting to show this to our children. It is not the world they are familiar with but to only read about such atrocities in person was a true learning moment.
On display were various forms of restraining jackets.
These are typical ‘shivs’ or ‘shanks’ which are frequently found in prisons. These items are illegally made by inmates using materials found in the trade shops etc. Usually ‘shivs’ are carried by inmates for personal protection from other inmates.
There were banners profiling various inmates. Many were long-term prisoners and it added a reality that these other objects could not. Once again, taking the time and reviewing these were tools or devices used on other human beings was very cool.
These trays were used to hide an an inmate and smuggle them out of the prison.
Cells
I told my kids I didn’t ever want to see them anywhere near a penitentiary…
Kingston Penitentiary Today
Insider’s Tip: You can take guided tours Kingston Penitentiary. They visit various areas of the penitentiary including: cell and segregation ranges, Indigenous Grounds and the Regional Treatment Centre’s Gymnasium featuring a mural dedicated to the inmates and staff of Kingston Penitentiary. Other areas include the north gate, G-Range (cell range) programs wing, main cell dome, segregation/dissociation wing, shop dome, metal shop and recreational yard. This is a 1.5 hour tour. There is also a more extensive 2.5 hour Extended tour.
Location: Kingston Penitentiary – 560 King Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 4V7
Admission: Tickets can be purchased online – $35 Adults, $55 (students & youth to 17), Free (children 4 and under)
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