initiatives in Canada to
segregate young adult inmates in
a separate institution, This
experiment was viewed as
trend-setting for the rest of the
country.

An admissions committee was
set up. Youths were selected on
the basis of social histories
prepared by the women’s
worker from the John Howard
Society, and an examination at
the Government Psychiatric
Clinic. Twenty boys were
chosen from the Gazoonie

A
New Haven dormitory and staff person, Ron Kennet
(1950s) Corrections Branch Archives

Gang, Initially, inmates worked on renovating

the facility.

A training program, based on the “honour
system,””* was implemented. It was designed to
help offenders become useful citizens, who
could adapt to the community with the aid of
supervision when discharged. Besides farm
work, there were courses in placer mining,
woodworking, first aid, English and elementary
school (grades one to seven). Vocational
subjects could be taken through

correspondence courses.

Because this was a new venture in British
Columbia, as well as for Canada, an advisory
board was appointed. Its members were: Mrs.

New Haven staff person in hobby shop (1950s) Paul Smith, Dr. George Davidson of the
Corrections Branch Archives Vancouver Welfare Federation, a doctor, a

24 The honour system meant that inmates were trusted not to leave the property. In contrast to other gaols in the
province, security was relaxed; there were no bars, cells or guards to prevent escape.

46 Corrections in British Columbia