Following an announcement to the local press
about the selection of a site in the Wells Gray
Park area for Clearwater Camp, local
community residents organized an unexpected
protest against the project. Ernie Stevens
accompanied Warden Teal of the Kamloops
Gaol to interview residents and clear up
misunderstandings.

The woman who led the opposition was
interviewed last. After being introduced to

Warden Teal, she asked him about an inmate in
the Kamloops Gaol. She learned that this
inmate and others like him were selected for the
camp, which changed her stance from
opposition to acceptance.'* When the
provincial government announced plans to
phase out this program in 1975, local residents
held public meetings to resist its closure. The
press headlined these events as the Save Our
Prison campaign.

Haney Correctional Institution

Haney Correctional Institution officially opened
in the fall of 1957, Earlier in the year, the first
Warden, Kim Nelson, and senior staff, were
given temporary office space at 636 Burrard
Street in Vancouver to develop program
concepts and hire additional staff.

Nelson was joined at this location by:

« Malcolm Matheson, Deputy Warden of
Security;

» John Braithwaite, Deputy Warden of
Programs;

» Warren Lane, Business Manager; and
» Reg Cook, Personnel Officer.

The “mission statement” of Haney Correctional
Institution was as follows:

14 Interview with Ernie Stevens, 1987.

Era of Rebabilitation (1950-1969)

79