During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.
Today I have for you...
The Quebec Jail Association
The Quebec Jail Association was established to bring education to prisoners at the Quebec Jail. The association paid the teachers' salaries and did other good works through donations and subscriptions. A subscription of 5s a year was all that was needed to become a member of the association.
The report gives the conditions in the jail and states that their request to the Quebec Legislature for assistance and recognition of the gaol conditions fell on deaf ears. The association also tried to establish a House of Industry to employ prisoners on discharge.
The fifth annual report tells that in the jail during the winter they were able to "erect a loom and machinery for the manufacture of coarse hempen cloth, which is now in full operation." Voluntary employment was a successful endeavor that gave the prisoners a bit of money to support themselves until they could find work.
Maybe the provincial government did not sit up and take notice, but other prison associations did.
This excerpt is from the Annual Reports of the Prison Discipline Society of Boston...
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