Collins Bay Institution

Collins Bay Institution

Collins Bay Institution Main Building
Location	Kingston, Ontario
Coordinates	44°14′5″N 76°33′12″W / 44.23472°N 76.55333°W / 44.23472; -76.55333Coordinates: 44°14′5″N 76°33′12″W / 44.23472°N 76.55333°W / 44.23472; -76.55333
Status	Operational
Security class	Max/Med/Min
Capacity	700
Opened	1930
Former name	Preferred Class Penitentary
Managed by	Correctional Service of Canada
Warden	Curtis Jackson

Collins Bay Institution 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

Early stage construction at Collins Bay

Administrative staff in 1930

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 assisted in the construction of the new prison, only 2 km from KP.^[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 centre 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

An aerial photo of Collins Bay Institution.

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 original 4 cell blocks were demolished to make way for the new units, which are of a hub-and-spoke design. Buildings 6-10 were added in 2008,^[14] and Building 11 in 2014.^[15] Building 11 is a 3500 sq. m. maximum security unit that can accommodate the overflow of inmates after the Kingston Penitentiary closed in 2013.^[16]

References