With the building of these facilities, there was
momentum to close outdated provincial gaols. In
1913, female inmates were transferred from the
Victoria Gaol to the New Westminster Gaol.
Victoria Gaol then closed in early 1914. In 1916,
female inmates wete transferred to the women’s
section at Oakalla Prison Farm from New
Westminster Gaol, which closed in early 1918.

An exception to the general rule was the closing
in March 1919 of Saanich Prison Farm. Open
for only six years, it was still regarded as a
modern facility. Mental Health Services
assumed jurisdiction of the prison farm, which
became Colquitz Mental Hospital.

Unfortunately, Oakalla did not reduce the
problem of overcrowding. As early as 1923, the
need for additional accommodation was
pressing and a gaol was built in the central part
of the province. Prince George Gaol was
established in the basement of the government
building that contained a cell block with
accommodation for 20 prisoners. This gaol
setved as a lockup and gaol for short-term
prisoners.

Suggestions were made to house women
inmates at Oakalla in a separate facility. Warden
McMynn made a recommendation to move on
these suggestions.’” Instead of using $60,000
allocated in the legislature for the construction
of a new building for laundry facilities at
Oakalla, he argued that it could be spent more
efficiently by renovating the south wing for this
purpose. This area could be used to segregate
young men and individuals awaiting trial.

As part of the plan, women who were currently
in the south wing could be transferred to the
empty provincial gaol building at Vernon. The
average number of female prisoners at Oakalla
was 14, yet the entire south wing was utilized to
house them.

Attorney General A.M. Manson, K.C., went to
Oakalla with a supervising architect in
November. They investigated the construction
of a laundry facility and a separate facility for
women. The attorney general concurred with
the warden and noted that the separate
confinement of women would satisfy some
women’s organizations.

In June 1924, the Provincial New Era League
wrote to the attorney general urging that a
separate cottage be built to house women.
However, a facility for women separate from the

main building at Oakalla, was not built at this time.

From the turn-of-the-century to approximately
the end of the first quarter, Oakalla‘s program
included:

« The silent system enforced fully after 9:00 p.m.
a The restricted diet:'§

e “Mush”—cooked cereal for breakfast;

e “Stew’—boiled vegetables and meat at
noon;

e “Mush”- and bread at night.

e Wednesday and Sunday saw “plate din-
ners,”19

17 Year-end report for Oakalla Prison Farm, October 22, 1923.
18 This type of diet and the silent system faded out in the 1930s.

19 Ministry of Attorney General document, no date.

42

Corrections in British Columbia