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outside civil disturbances in 1913, he described
his selection as: “Well disciplined officers; good
horsemen and riders.”

Female offenders and staff at New Westminster
also experienced difficulties due to
overcrowding. Prior to opening Oakalla, space
was available at all gaols of the province
(Victoria, Nanaimo, New Westminster,
Kamloops, Nelson and Vernon) for housing
female prisoners, but there were only a small
number of cells.

Although all prisoners were housed in the same
facility, women were separated from male
prisoners. The matron, under the direction of
the warden, was responsible for the care and
supervision of the female prisoners. Women
prisoners at New Westminster were transferred

Oakalla Prison Farm (1987 by AE. Riou) Corrections Branch Archives

to the south wing at Oakalla to alleviate
overcrowded conditions.

The prison farm concept was again utilized
during construction of a facility on Vancouver
Island in 1912. Saanich Prison Farm (later
known as Wilkinson Road Gaol) opened in
1913 and replaced the outdated Victoria Gaol.
It operated on a similar basis to Oakalla Prison
Farm, but on a smaller scale.

Concurrent with the new direction taken by the
government was the building of an Industrial
School for Girls. As early as 1910, pressure was
put on the provincial government to establish
such an institution. In 1911, officers of the
Council of Women argued in favour of it. The
attorney general decided on the location and a
contract was secured for its construction in the
fall of 1912.

Era of Punishment (1871-1949)

39