When I think of the Kingston Penitentiary, I think of all of the stories it must house of some of Canada’s most dangerous minds. As the saying goes, “if the walls could talk.” If only! But seven years after closing its doors, the Kingston Pen Tours offer the next best thing to knowing the in and outs of the former maximum security facility. With access to knowledgeable employees who worked at the Kingston Pen for most of their careers, those who are curious about the Kingston Pen can get the lowdown on the experience of inmates and employees.
When I arrive 15 minutes before my scheduled tour, I fill out a quick waiver and review the safety procedures for 2020, which include a health self-assessment, mandatory face covering when indoors, and physical distancing throughout the tour. Our guide Emily greets our group of 10 people and leads us to the first stop, the Private Family Visit room which has been preserved — minus the bolted down tables that were there when inmates still occupied the facility. Actually, on almost every stop of the tour, they’ve preserved each space to be as close to what it was like when inmates lived at the Pen as possible — right down to the graffiti that remains on the walls.
Along with the authentic ambience, we are filled in with fun facts from the mid-1800s. For example, the bell in the tower rung at the beginning of the prisoner’s work day and at the end and if it rang anytime in between it meant that someone escaped. But did you know that employees had to live within earshot of the bell to be hired at the Kingston Pen?
Part way through our tour, retired Recreation Officer, Garth, who spent 20 years working at the Pen takes us on the extended tour. The bonus of the extended tour is the personal insight that former employees like Garth can add to the experience. For example, are you familiar with Ty Conn? He was the last inmate to escape the Kingston Pen in 1999. Guess who was working there at the time? Garth, of course. Garth can paint a picture in almost every room of what it was like to work behind the iron bars, from the performers that would grace the Gymnasium stage like Tommy Hunter and Rich Little to the crafts and artwork the inmates would create (wallets, jewellery, paintings, etc). The empty spaces are filled with Garth’s anecdotes as we walk from room-to-room and he has a unique take on his experience, “It’s like watching history through the prison system,” he says. Adding that most people don’t believe the stories he’s shared of his time at Kingston Pen.
I have to admit that this was my second time on the Kingston Pen tour but the first time on the extended tour and I really appreciated the intimate access the extended tour offers. The main tour is awesome but the larger group restricts the candid conversations and while the tour guides are incredibly informed, they can’t speak from personal experience.
Besides the anecdotes and conversations with Garth, I really enjoyed taking in the beautiful architecture of the Pen. The vaulted, brick-laid ceilings and exposed limestone are truly remarkable to see. After years and years of being closed to the general public, it’s a privilege to have access to such a historical sight!
The 2020 Kingston Pen Tours season runs until October 31. Tickets and packages are on sale now.
