New Westminster Gaol. Concern was also
raised about the minimal amount of outdoor
labour being done by the prisoners. Premier
Richard McBride suggested that a new prison
farm would take the place of smaller provincial
gaols and provide increased opportunity for
outdoor labour.

Burnaby was selected in 1911 for the
establishment of a central prison farm. This
institution was intended to house offenders
with sentences from six months to two years
less one day. Offenders sentenced to shorter
terms would be confined in other provincial
jails, which would be renovated.

Expansion and change: Oakalla and other initiatives

In 1911, the provincial government awarded a
contract for construction of a central prison in
Burnaby. The prison, which would become
known as Oakalla Prison Farm, was to serve as
a model prison for similar institutions in
Western Canada. Attention was given to
lighting, sanitary conditions and security.

An atticle in the British Columbian described its
ptime location, features and how it came to be

called Oakalla:

The new central prison ts to be both
structurally and in equipment thoroughly
up-to-date, having been carefully planned
with a view to obtaining perfect light,
ventilation and sanitation, in conjunction
with absolute security, The building ... has
an excellent situation on the brow of a
rather steep incline, the site commanding a
fine view over Deer Lake and facing north
by northeast, so that all cells will get the
sunshine at some time of the day.

Oakalla Prison Farm was originally just
called Prison Farm. Since this facility was
located on Royal Oak Avenue people
wanted, for historical reasons, to name this
facility using the words “Royal Oak” but
could not do so because Royal Oak had

already been registered.

In a letter to Major J.S, Matthews, City
Archivist (dated October 8, 1957) William
Wright, Esq., Secretary-Treasurer, South
Burnaby Board of Trade stated: “I believe
the name is derived from the name ‘Royal
Oak’ being juggled around so as not to lose
the identity and have a name of one word
only, hence ‘Oakalla’, the ‘alla’ being the
last two letters of Royal, and then being
reversed,”

The government’s decision to replace its old
gaols with modern prison farms represented a
change in direction. Oakalla—the first bold step
in this direction—was designed and organized
to employ inmates within the gaol property.
This eventually led to the obsolescence of the
chain gang. The popular view was to reform
prisoners through farm work and teaching them
trades. This approach represented a more
sophisticated attempt to teach industry to
offenders.

However, the system still emphasized
punishment, security and discipline. The
amended rules and regulations for 1912
contained similar provisions regarding the
behaviour of inmates—provisions that had
been around since 1890. The rule of strict
silence was still in effect and remained as part

Era of Punishment (1871-1949)

37