Oakalla Prison collection
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16696
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1974]-1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 37.5 cm of textual records + 125 photographs + 1 videocassette
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of a selection of Oakalla correctional facility records including reports, correspondence, photographs and a video tour of the death row incarceration cells inside Oakalla Prison taken by Burnaby Village Museum curator after the facility was closed. Most of the photographs docum…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 37.5 cm of textual records + 125 photographs + 1 videocassette
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of a selection of Oakalla correctional facility records including reports, correspondence, photographs and a video tour of the death row incarceration cells inside Oakalla Prison taken by Burnaby Village Museum curator after the facility was closed. Most of the photographs document Oakalla Prison in 1991 and were taken during the Open House event or when Burnaby Village Museum staff were granted access to retreive items prior to demolition. A small selection of facility photographs of site and staff are also included.
- Records are arranged into series:
- 1) Oakalla correctional facility records series
- 2) Oakalla correctional facility photographs series
- 3) Oakalla documentary photographs and video series
- History
- The Oakalla Prison Farm (also known as the Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre) was a model prison farm on 185 acres of land next to Deer Lake in Burnaby. The Oakalla Prison Farm opened in 1912 and was initially designed to hold 150 men and 50 women. By the 1950s, the population was well over one thousand. The prison included a working farm which included a dairy, vegetable gardens and livestock. In 1959 the last execution in British Columbia took place at Oakalla. Following a riot and mass escape in the late 1980s, poor conditions, and public outcry, Oakalla closed down in 1991. In the fall of 1991, the prison was opened up to the public whereby tours were conducted of the site. Not long after, buildings were demolished and a residential housing development took it's place. A playground now sits on the former site of the main building. In 1991, staff from Burnaby Village Museum were granted access, documenting the site prior to it's demolition. Many Oakalla artifacts and records were salvaged and accessioned into the Burnaby Village Museum's permanent collection.
- Responsibility
- Oakalla Prison Farm
- Accession Code
- BV991.45
- Date
- [1974]-1991
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Moving Images
- Related Material
- See also Oakalla artifacts - BV991.45
- Arrangement
- Arrangement of records and series of this collection is based on record creators and subject that. Facility records and photographs were created and collected by Oakalla correctional facility staff and documentary photographs and a video from 1991 were created by Burnaby Village Museum staff.
- Notes
- Title based on content of collection
- Some records within this collection are closed. Contact Burnaby Village Museum for access.
Oakalla Prison Farm papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57801
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1970] (date of original), copied 1985
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains three typewritten reports (photocopied) pertaining to the Oakalla Prison Farm, including one about the Oakalla Clydesdale horses written by Roy Staples.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1970] (date of original), copied 1985
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Material Details
- The reports in this file are photocopies - not originals
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS018-001
- Accession Number
- BHS1985-02
- Scope and Content
- File contains three typewritten reports (photocopied) pertaining to the Oakalla Prison Farm, including one about the Oakalla Clydesdale horses written by Roy Staples.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Oakalla Prison Farm papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58216
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [192-] (date of original); 1985-1988
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to the Oakalla Prison Farm including newspaper clippings, correspondence, and handwritten notes. Also included in the file is a typed page (photocopied) entitled "Applications for Appointment / Staff of Oakalla Prison Farm" written in the 1920's.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [192-] (date of original); 1985-1988
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Evelyn Salisbury subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS061-052
- Access Restriction
- In Archives only
- Accession Number
- BHS1991-24
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to the Oakalla Prison Farm including newspaper clippings, correspondence, and handwritten notes. Also included in the file is a typed page (photocopied) entitled "Applications for Appointment / Staff of Oakalla Prison Farm" written in the 1920's.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Oakalla Prison Farm papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64506
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of paper records created or collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the file are; newspaper clippings, the "Official Closing Tour / Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre / Oakalla Prison Farm" programme as well as photocopies …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Ed Eckley subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS120-001
- Access Restriction
- In Archives only
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Accession Number
- BHS2006-01
- Scope and Content
- File consists of paper records created or collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the file are; newspaper clippings, the "Official Closing Tour / Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre / Oakalla Prison Farm" programme as well as photocopies of "British Columbia / Gaol Rules & Regulations / 1912" and photocopied aerial photographs of the site.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Included in the file is a resume for former Oakalla prison guard Robert Evans Shelly
Oakalla Prison Farm reference materials
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64514
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936 (date of original) -1998
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of handwritten notes and reference materials believed to have been used in creating the oral report "Oakalla Prison Farm \ A Short History" presented by Ed Eckley to the Burnaby Historical Society on January 14, 1998. Reference materials include; photocopied plans, correspondence, yea…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936 (date of original) -1998
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Ed Eckley subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS120-008
- Access Restriction
- In Archives only
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Accession Number
- BHS2006-01
- Scope and Content
- File consists of handwritten notes and reference materials believed to have been used in creating the oral report "Oakalla Prison Farm \ A Short History" presented by Ed Eckley to the Burnaby Historical Society on January 14, 1998. Reference materials include; photocopied plans, correspondence, yearly financial statements, an "Oakalla Closes" programme along with various essays and statistics pulled from the Internet (and other sources).
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Oakalla Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark804
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The phasing out and demolition of the Oakalla Prison farm allowed for the planned development of the Oakalla Neighbourhood in the 1980s. By 1991, the City of Burnaby had adopted the Oakalla Development Plan which called for the transfer of land to the Deer Lake Park reserve as well as the creation of a new residential area consisting of multi-family housing types.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Oakalla Area
Images
Oakalla Prison
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark752
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Royal Oak Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1912
- Heritage Value
- The Oakalla Prison Farm opened in 1912 and was hailed as the most modern facility of its kind. Initially designed to hold 150 men and 50 women, by the 1950s, the population was well over 1000. A working farm, the prison had its own dairy, vegetable gardens and livestock. From the beginning, the location of Oakalla on 185 acres of scenic land next to Burnaby's Deer Lake was the source of contention with residents petitioning the government to relocate the prison and by 1979 it was decided to close the farm and 64 acres of land were transferred to Burnaby for inclusion on the Deer Lake Park. In 1991, Oakalla closed forever and the buildings were demolished to make way for a new residential housing development and an expansion of the park.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Oakalla Area
Images
British Columbia Corrections Service Uniform Specifications and Scale of Issue
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16705
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 28 Jun. 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 28 p. of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a typewritten copy of "British Columbia Corrections Service Uniform Specifications and Scale of Issue". Document provides guidelines on uniform specifications for correctional officers and staff. The last page of the document includes a copy of illustrations relating to uniform ins…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 28 p. of textual records
- Material Details
- includes cover page and table of contents
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a typewritten copy of "British Columbia Corrections Service Uniform Specifications and Scale of Issue". Document provides guidelines on uniform specifications for correctional officers and staff. The last page of the document includes a copy of illustrations relating to uniform insignia and badges.
- Creator
- Province of British Columbia
- Subjects
- Clothing - Uniforms
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.614
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 28 Jun. 1977
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Corrections standards
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16667
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of copies of records regarding Standards of Correctional Facilties for Juvenile and Adult Containment Facilties including memorandums between D. DeBelle; Ken Nygaard, Facilties Management; A.G. Gilmore, Client co-ordinator Planning and Leasing B.C. Buildings Corporation; meeting minut…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 cm of textual records
- Material Details
- File enclosed in brown duotang cover
- Scope and Content
- File consists of copies of records regarding Standards of Correctional Facilties for Juvenile and Adult Containment Facilties including memorandums between D. DeBelle; Ken Nygaard, Facilties Management; A.G. Gilmore, Client co-ordinator Planning and Leasing B.C. Buildings Corporation; meeting minutes re Security Systems and Hardware -- New Westminster Courthouse (April 7, 1978); hardware and furniture catalgues for prisons; prison floor plans for washrooms, dormitories and holding cells along with a series of handwritten notes.
- Subjects
- Public Services - Correctional
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.170
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1978
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on cover title
Memorandum re staff clothing cost
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16699
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 22 Jul. 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page facsimile memorandum from H.M. Miller, Director, Resource Analysis Section of the Corrections Branch Head Office to Regional Directors of Corrections and Institutional Directors Re: "Staff Clothing Cost - FY 1977-78 / Suggested Budget Level".
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Material Details
- original copy printed on fax paper
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page facsimile memorandum from H.M. Miller, Director, Resource Analysis Section of the Corrections Branch Head Office to Regional Directors of Corrections and Institutional Directors Re: "Staff Clothing Cost - FY 1977-78 / Suggested Budget Level".
- Creator
- Province of British Columbia
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.611
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 22 Jul. 1977
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scan Date
- 14-Jun-2021
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Memorandum re uniform specifications and scale of issue
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16709
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 20 Jan. 1975
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a memorandum addressed to "All Directors - Correctional Centres" from the Executive Director, B.G. Robinson, Corrections Branch Head Office re: "Uniform Specifications and Scale of Issue". Memorandum includes correspondence cover page along with a copy of "Corrections Bra…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records
- Material Details
- facsimilie paper; 58 pages (includes table of contents)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a memorandum addressed to "All Directors - Correctional Centres" from the Executive Director, B.G. Robinson, Corrections Branch Head Office re: "Uniform Specifications and Scale of Issue". Memorandum includes correspondence cover page along with a copy of "Corrections Branch / Staff / Uniform and Clothing Specifications".
- Creator
- Province of British Columbia
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.618
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FIPPA
- Date
- 20 Jan. 1975
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scan Date
- 14-Jun-2021
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Oakalla district director's office post review
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16670
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1974]
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of "Post Review" from Oakalla District Director's Office. The Post Review is divided into four sections; Section One: Organization Chart; Section Two: Current List of Posts; Section Three: Job Descriptions and Section Four: Floor Plan.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of "Post Review" from Oakalla District Director's Office. The Post Review is divided into four sections; Section One: Organization Chart; Section Two: Current List of Posts; Section Three: Job Descriptions and Section Four: Floor Plan.
- Responsibility
- Province of British Columbia
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.175
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1974]
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Transcribed title
Proceedings of Citizens Committee on Oakalla Lands
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17243
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 2 Mar. 1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a transcript of proceedings of the Citizens Committee on Oakalla Lands. Committee members include; Elwood N. Veitch, M.L.A. (Chairman); Burnaby Mayor, Tom Constable; Lorne A. Fingarson; Ken Norwood; Donald N. Brown; Mrs. Pat Parliament (secretary). Transcript of proceedin…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a transcript of proceedings of the Citizens Committee on Oakalla Lands. Committee members include; Elwood N. Veitch, M.L.A. (Chairman); Burnaby Mayor, Tom Constable; Lorne A. Fingarson; Ken Norwood; Donald N. Brown; Mrs. Pat Parliament (secretary). Transcript of proceedings is signed by Official Court Reporter, H.E. Bemister. Transcript is comprised of presentations made by representatives from the Century Park Museum Association, Burnaby Chamber of Commerce, Marr Bing and Associates, B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers and the Burnaby Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the future use of Oakalla lands
- Publisher
- Allwest Reporting Ltd.
- Subjects
- Public Services - Correctional
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.619
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FIPPA
- Date
- 2 Mar. 1978
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Bound report, pages are numbered 30 to 105
- Copy of transcript printed by Allwest Reporting Ltd. 1193 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C.
Purchase order for uniforms
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16704
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 28 Jun. 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a purchase order from the Province of British Columbia to a uniform supplier in Vancouver regarding the purchase of uniforms for corrections branches incuding; Alouette River Unit; Chilliwack Forest Camps; Haney Forest Camps; Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre; Lower M…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a purchase order from the Province of British Columbia to a uniform supplier in Vancouver regarding the purchase of uniforms for corrections branches incuding; Alouette River Unit; Chilliwack Forest Camps; Haney Forest Camps; Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre; Lower Mainland Correctional Centre; New Haven Correctional Centre; Prince George Regional Correctional Centre and Vancouver Island Correctional Centre.
- Creator
- Province of British Columbia
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.613
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 28 Jun. 1977
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Purchase order re camp style uniforms
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16706
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 4 Apr. 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 4 p. of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a purchase order (facisimilie) for camp style uniforms from the Department of Finance Province of British Columbia to Gordon Campbell Ltd. The purchase order includes three pages with specifications for camp style uniforms.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 4 p. of textual records
- Material Details
- facsimilie paper
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a purchase order (facisimilie) for camp style uniforms from the Department of Finance Province of British Columbia to Gordon Campbell Ltd. The purchase order includes three pages with specifications for camp style uniforms.
- Creator
- Province of British Columbia
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.615
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 4 Apr. 1977
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scan Date
- June 14, 2021
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Purchase order re raincoats
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16707
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1 Jun. 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 4 p. of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a purchase order for raincoats from the Purchasing Commission of Province of British Columbia to Outdoor Outfits Ltd. The purchase order includes three pages regarding quantities and styles per Regional Correctional Centre along with locations.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 4 p. of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a copy of a purchase order for raincoats from the Purchasing Commission of Province of British Columbia to Outdoor Outfits Ltd. The purchase order includes three pages regarding quantities and styles per Regional Correctional Centre along with locations.
- Creator
- Province of British Columbia
- Subjects
- Clothing - Uniforms
- Accession Code
- BV991.45.616
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1 Jun. 1977
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Oakalla Prison fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription100561
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 cm. of textual records.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 cm. of textual records.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Record No.
- 66669
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2022-13
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any prison inmates.
- History
- The Oakalla Prison Farm was a model prison farm on 185 acres (75 ha) of land next to Deer Lake, Burnaby. The Oakalla Prison Farm was a full-service facility that originally opened on September 2, 1912, and was initially designed to hold 150 men and women. The first inmate was William Daley, sentenced on July 31, 1912 to serve a year of hard labor for stealing some fountain pens valued at over $10. By April 30, 1913, some 328 prisoners had passed through the jail's doors. In 1916, the women's section officially opened, and in 1942, the women's unit opened on the grounds as a separate facility. It was renamed as the "Lakeside Correctional Centre for Women" in 1979. The original women's unit was expanded in 1953, and consisted of two cottage-style buildings. By the 1950s, the population was well over 1000. As a working farm, the prison had its own dairy, vegetable gardens, and livestock. Executions in British Columbia were primarily carried out in Oakalla; after 1919, it was the sole penitentiary where executions took place. The first execution was that of 25 year-old Alex Ignace on August 29, 1919. 44 prisoners were executed by hanging at Oakalla from 1919 until the death penalty was abolished in 1959. In 1959, the last execution in British Columbia took place at Oakalla, with the hanging of former sailor Leo Mantha, aged 33. Oakalla was also one of the locations that undertook the experiment of performing cosmetic surgery on inmates to remove deformities that made prisoners "more likely to offend". The experiment was led by Dr. Edward Lewison, and continued into the mid-1960s. Procedures were conducted on 450 inmates, voluntarily. In 1970, the prison was renamed as the Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre (LMRCC) The farm portion of the prison, providing work for the inmates and food in the prison, closed in 1979 and 64 acres of land were transferred to the City of Burnaby. This land was included in the existing Deer Lake Park that was adjacent to the prison. Originally designed to house a maximum of 484 prisoners, Oakalla's population peaked in 1962-1963 at 1,269 inmates. With population averages of over 600, overcrowding was always a problem. In the institution's final years, two nationally-spotlighted events occurred. 13 maximum security prisoners escaped on New Year's Day, 1988, following an uprising on December 27, 1987, and on November 22, 1983, a violent and costly riot took place. Rioters caused more than $150,000 damage in a two-day spree. Oakalla was closed down on June 30, 1991, and was developed into a new residential housing development and an expansion of the park. Prisoners from Oakalla were then moved to various other Correctional Facilities in British Columbia, including but not limited to the Vancouver Pretrial Services Centre (VPSC), the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre (FRCC), and the Alouette Regional Correctional Centre (ARCC), later Alouette Correctional Centre for Women. Source: https://wikimapia.org/8004045/Former-site-Lower-Mainland-Correctional-Centre-Oakalla-Prison-Farm Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakalla_Prison
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Ed Eckley subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64503
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911 (date of original)-[1998]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 2 boxes of textual records and 1 photographic album
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of records created and collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the subseries are notes for an oral presentation, maps, plans, contracts, memorandums and Oakalla policies, rules and regulations, as well asan album containing pho…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911 (date of original)-[1998]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Ed Eckley subseries
- Physical Description
- 2 boxes of textual records and 1 photographic album
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS2006-01
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of records created and collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the subseries are notes for an oral presentation, maps, plans, contracts, memorandums and Oakalla policies, rules and regulations, as well asan album containing photographs of the Oakalla Prison Farm just after it was closed down and some photocopied images and text.
- History
- Edmund R. Eckley is believed to have worked as a logging manager in Tahsis, British Columbia. Later, he and his wife Teresa lived at 7810 Rayside Street in Burnaby. Ed was a volunteer interpreter at Burnaby Village Museum in the 1990s. He wrote the interpreters’ notes for the first temporary exhibit held in Stride Studios [1995] at the Burnaby Village Museum entitled “Captive Heritage Oakalla Revealed” which traced the history of Oakalla Prison from construction to closure. He also designed his own walking tour of the Oakalla site prior to it being torn down. On January 14, 1998 Ed presented "A Short History of the Oakalla Prison Farm" for the Burnaby Historical Society. Ed also served as vice-president and fundraising chair for Friends of Interurban 1223 until the project's completion in 2008. Teresa worked as a school teacher for the Burnaby School District until her retirement in 2004. Following retirement, Teresa and Ed moved to Vancouver, where they currently reside.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Eckley, Edmund R.
- Notes
- Title based on creator of subseries
- MSS120, PC511
Warren Mulligan fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription71783
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963-1974
- Collection/Fonds
- Warren Mulligan fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 12 ledgers (hardcover) ; textual records
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of ledgers created by Warren Mulligan, containing his daily logs while on duty at Oakalla Prison Farm.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963-1974
- Collection/Fonds
- Warren Mulligan fonds
- Physical Description
- 12 ledgers (hardcover) ; textual records
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Accession Number
- 2011-03
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of ledgers created by Warren Mulligan, containing his daily logs while on duty at Oakalla Prison Farm.
- History
- Warren Mulligan, son of Julia Mulligan and brother of Maurice Mulligan, was born in Semans, Saskatchewan, in [1921] and moved to Langley, British Columbia, in 1934. During his youth, he attended Langley High School and was a member of the first Tuxis group at the United Church in Langley. He was also an Assistant Scoutmaster of the Milner Troop under Reverend Daniel Donaldson. During World War II, he spent seven years serving in the Royal Canadian Navy and retired in 1947. In 1949, Warren married Mary Beulah Bush, who was also from Langley. They had two sons. Warren joined the B.C. Jail Service in 1949 as a guard at Oakalla Prison Farm, later becoming the Chief Custodial Officer for the Young Offenders' Unit. He also had experience in the Westgate Area. In 1955, he was named Deputy Warden of the Prince George Provincial Jail. He was appointed as Warden of the Prince George Provincial Jail in 1956. During his time at the P.G. Jail, Warren was involved in administration and professional program training. In 1963, he was appointed as Warden of Oakalla Prison Farm, a position he served in until 1974. During his time within the B.C. Provincial Jail Service, Warren was credited with innovations in the provincial penal system, particularly in relation to prisoners' group therapy and relations between prison staff and inmates.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- Mulligan, Warren
- Notes
- MSS163
Roy Staples and Hector MacCubbin subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription115
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1950]-[1970] (dates of originals), copied 1985
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of photographs and documents pertaining to the history of Oakalla Prison Farm.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1950]-[1970] (dates of originals), copied 1985
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1985-02
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of photographs and documents pertaining to the history of Oakalla Prison Farm.
- History
- Hector MacCubbin was Principal officer at Oakalla Prison Farm. During a major disturbance in September of 1982 he fired three rounds of ammunition to prevent a mass exit from the yard. Roy Staples was a former Senior Corrections Officer. Roy has written numerous articles on Oakalla, including one on Oakalla's award winning Clydesdales.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Staples, Roy
- MacCubbin, Hector
- Notes
- PC134, MSS018
- Title based on creator of subseries