For nearly 200 years, Kingston Penitentiary housed some of Canada’s most infamous criminals, but its future may take a dramatic turn. Public Services and Procurement Canada has listed the historic 10-hectare site as a potential housing development, with plans to construct up to 700 residential units, including high-rise buildings overlooking Lake Ontario. Internal communications indicate that developers are interested in revitalizing the site, but local concerns arise about preserving Kingston’s heritage, as the penitentiary is a significant tourist attraction. Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen has expressed skepticism about the viability of converting the facility into residential housing, deeming it impractical and potentially insensitive due to its dark history, which includes the incarceration of notorious criminals like Paul Bernardo and Clifford Olson.
Why It Matters
The Kingston Penitentiary, which operated from 1835 until its closure in 2013, is recognized as a national historic site that played a pivotal role in Canada’s correctional history. The facility not only housed high-profile inmates but also contributed to the development of correctional practices across the country. As Canada faces a housing crisis, the proposal to redevelop the penitentiary raises ethical questions about the appropriateness of transforming a site associated with incarceration into a residential area. The historical significance of the penitentiary and its impact on local tourism further complicate discussions of its redevelopment.
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