Events

Campaign events are listed below, with upcoming and most recent events at the top descending downward in chronological order.  Please forward questions about upcoming events, or information on any events missing from this list to Andrew McCann, mccann17@yahoo.com

Music night in Elgin, Jan. 16, 2011 -- Elgin United Church is hosting a music night, 7 to 8:30pm, on Sunday, January 16, 2011, to raise funds for the legal defense of the prison farm arrestees.  Three of the people arrested August 8 and 9 will speak about their involvement in the campaign, and local musicians will perform.  There will be a free will collection for the defense fund and those attending are asked to bring a contribution to the potluck refreshments that will be served.  This event is sponsored by area United Churches.
Elgin is on Highway 15, about 45 km northeast of the 401, or about 40 km south of Perth.

OPIRG Kingston and EPIC present Justin Piché on Prison Expansion, Jan. 13, 2011

Kingston and Canada
Thursday, January 13th, 6pm-9pm
Wilson Room, KFP Library Central Branch, 130 Johnson Street (Accessible)

The Conservative government has made clear its intention to spend
billions of dollars over the next few years as part of a major effort to
expand the Canadian prison system. Recent announcements highlight that
in the Kingston area alone, bidding for private contractors has already
commenced for new security units at Bath Institution and Collins Bay
Penitentiary in the Kingston area alone.

This expansion effort as well as the regressive changes to the Criminal
Code that have caused it have been planned without any public
consultation whatsoever. In fact, much of the details of these plans is
kept secret, but Justin Piché, a PhD student at Carleton University
whose research is focused on this topic, has learned a great deal
through persistent Access to Information requests.
He will be speaking
about what's in store for Kingstonians, the culture of secrecy at the
Correctional Service of Canada, and how the public can mobilize to
resist this expansion effort.

His multimedia presentation will be followed by a facilitated discussion
focused on building a movement in Kingston to resist this expansion,
inspired by the determination shown during the prison farms blockades
this summer but also learned from these experiences and looking to the
future. Come out and get yourself brought up to speed as we prepare to
mobilize.

Contact: epic [at] riseup.net
Backgrounders: http://tpcp-canada.blogspot.com ;
http://zinelibrary.info/superprisons-canada

On the Moooooove Again!

The Save Our Prison Farms campaign is broadening its focus.

For this reason, we are holding a

Town Hall Meeting

Memorial Hall, Kingston City Hall

Saturday, August 28, 1 to 4 pm

To brainstorm resources, future strategies, and actions

and begin to form working groups

Possible actions include:

- the Pen Farm Herd Co-op

- critiquing police actions and arrests

- stopping Harper's prison expansion agenda

- preparing for municipal and federal elections

and more. Let's hear your ideas!

All are welcome -- Please join us

We need your help more than ever!

To help us prepare for the meeting, please pre-register at
www.saveourprisonfarms.ca

6 p.m. until the cows come home
City Park south of Bagot Street, Kingston

It's been "the good, the bad and the ugly" so far, and it's not over yet!

THE FIGHT IS ON TO SAVE OUR PRISON FARMS, AND TO SAVE OUR COWS!

UPDATE AUGUST 11, 6:30am

We mourn the loss of the cows and our trust in our police and government, but this fight is not over.

All 24 citizens arrested during the peaceful demonstration and blockade at Frontenac Institution on Sunday and Monday, August 8-9 have been released on bail. Ages range from a 14 year old girl to an 87 year old great-grandmother and include 4 farmers, 2 RMC professors, a retired United Church minister, a Queen's University physics student, the president of a local federal riding association, a teacher, a lab technician, and other everyday folks. All have been criminally charged with mischief for trying to sit in front of the cattle trucks taking away the 280 head Frontenac Institution dairy herd. The bail hearing is set for September 14.

The herd was auctioned yesterday at OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) in Waterloo. Some of the cows were bought by members of the campaign and most will go to Ontario dairy farms. Approximately 20 very young calfs and mother cows remain at Frontenac Institution - we may try to mobilize the public to buy these if they go on auction in Napanee next week, so that the herd genetics can stay in the area.

The Save Our Prison Farms national campaign is deeply thankful to these and the hundreds of other citizens from Kingston, Perth, Ottawa and other communities who braved the driving rain and strong arm police tactics to try to stop the cows from being shipped out. We celebrate a victory for peaceful democratic expression in the face of a minority Conservative government that refuses to listen majority Canadian opinion.

We are ashamed of our City of Kingston, Toronto, and Ontario Provincial Police officers who dragged away their peaceful fellow citizens on orders from Steven Harper. Our police have failed us by making our streets more dangerous - prison farms make our communities safer. We know that many officers are ashamed of themselves. You could see it in their faces as they pleaded with the 87 and 66 year old women they arrested. These women courageously refused the opportunity to walk away and chose to stand for what they believe in:

* The responsibility, work ethic and skills learned by inmates on Canada's six prison farms
* The therapeutic and healing effects of working with dairy cows, chickens and other farm animals
* The rural values of self-sufficiency and commitment that these farms embody
* The importance of all communities learning to feed themselves in an age of climate change, peak oil, fresh water scarcity, soil depletion, global population growth, declining farm yields, and rising food prices
* The necessity to save all farmland for feeding the future
* Justice, Corrections, farm and food systems that are fair and sustainable

This campaign is far from over. Our resolve has been strengthened by the courage of hundreds of our fellow citizens who spent two days on the protest lines, and by the thousands of drivers-by who honked in support of all that is good and right about Canada's prison farms. We are encouraged by the federal Liberal and NDP announcements that they will re-establish the prison farm program if elected, and we remain hopeful that the Conservatives can listen and change course on this misguided policy decision.

We will be continuing the campaign with:

* a Public Celebration (probably on Thursday, August 19 in Kingston City Park - TBA)
* a Town Hall meeting to workshop future actions (probably the following Saturday, August 28th, TBA)
* further actions in the weeks ahead
* a concert, possibly with Sarah Harmer, Gord Downie, Bruce Cockburn, Broken Social Scene and others in September
* action in Conservative ridings across the country before and during the next election

Please link here to sign up for our mailing list so we can keep you posted about these and other upcoming events.

More opportunities for you and/or your organization to get involved are listed on the You Can Take Action page

Please consider making a donation to the Save Our Prison Farms Campaign

This campaign is a lightening rod for addressing the Conservative Party's generally short-sighted policies on farming, food and justice. The decision to shut down this successful rehabilitation program symbolizes our government's lack of understanding of what actually makes the public safe, and their failure to recognize the value of a restorative approach to justice and a sustainable, local approach to the future of farming and food.
UPDATE AUGUST 10, 9:30am

Today, August 10, is Prisoners' Justice Day.

Most arrestees from Monday's blockade were released on bail overnight. A few will have bail hearings in person at 12:30, so please join us to support them.

We received a letter from arrestee Patrick Thompson, sent after he was released in the wee hours of the morning. We would like to share it with all supporters.

Dear Prison Farm Campaign Supporters,

My name is Patrick Thompson, and I am proud to count myself as one of those arrested today.

Today was a great day for me. Yes, the cows are gone, which is an incalculable loss, but there was a sense of community and purpose that I have never felt. Thank you all for that. I was moved to tears by Dianne Dowling’s speech. Tears for the realization that this is not the country that we have been taught we live in, and that solidified my commitment to become “unlawful”. Yesterday singing O Canada, I felt that “we stand on guard for thee”, means us, citizens, stand guard. Today I am proud to say we did stand on guard for our democracy. Please read the rest.

UPDATE AUGUST 9, 10:15pm

Today the Kingston Police and the OPP brought in hundreds of police officers, including the tactical unit, to escort loaded cattle trucks out of Frontenac Institution. Various citizens who attempted to approach the main driveway were seen being struck, tackled, and otherwise abused by needlessly aggressive police.

We are deeply disappointed that the government has used violence against peaceful protesters attempting to express the democratic will of the people of Kingston and across Canada.

The nine people arrested on Sunday have all been released on bail. Supporters packed a courtroom today for their bail hearings.

Fifteen people were arrested today. A few have been released on bail this evening. For those held overnight, there will be a bail hearing at the Wellington Street Provincial Court at 12:30. We encourage you to attend and show your support. Tomorrow, August 10, is Prisoners' Justice Day.

Over the next couple of days the prison farm campaign will focus on getting arrestees out of jail and back to their families. Stay tuned for more updates and events in the next week.

The Conservative government thinks they can silence us by bullying citizens and removing the cows. But our resolve has only been strengthened, and our struggle for justice and democracy will continue.

Live updates will continue at http://www.twitter.com/prisonfarms.

Note: Most arrestees released on bail today were required to stay at least 1000 metres from any Corrections site. In Kingston, that means they cannot move freely in large swathes of their own city.

exclusion-zone

UPDATE AUGUST 8, 8:00pm - Aug 9 press release

There was a very successful blockade at Frontenac Institution today. Over 500 people rallied at the front entrance of the prison and blocked four cattle trucks, which arrived just before 2pm. The blockade held strong despite arrests and pouring rain. Shortly after 6pm the blockaders elected to disperse and reconvene in the morning. Police have promised that no cattle will be moved before 6am.

We need as many people as possible to join and support the blockade on Monday morning. Please try to arrive around 6:00am if possible.

Call your friends and family and ask them to join us! Call media outlets and tell them to cover this! Call the City police and tell them to stand down!

Call the trucking companies who have been duped into taking this job and tell them to stop supporting this undemocratic action that hurts farmers and our communities:

Thur Transport, Elmira, Ont: 519-669-8420, 519-577-1459

Luckhart Transport, Sebringville, Ont: 519-393-6128, dluckhart@luckhart.com

Nine people were arrested today, including a 14 year old girl and 87 year old woman, and some will have bail hearings on Monday.

You can get live updates from the prison farm twitter feed online at http://www.twitter.com/prisonfarms. Or get live updates right to your cell phone as the action unfolds! Text START to 21212, then SIGNUP, then a unique username of your choice, and finally FOLLOW PRISONFARMS, in that order.

UPDATE and MEDIA RELEASE -- Aug 6, 2010:

Despite 18 months of strong public opposition from Canadians of all backgrounds, the Conservative government has decided to try to kill the prison farms by shipping out the Frontenac Institution dairy herd from Kingston to the OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) auction house, this Sunday, August 8 and next Monday, August 9.  The Save Our Prison Farms national campaign is calling on citizens to stop them.  Kingston area residents have demonstrated that they will not let one cow leave the farm.

Citizens of all ages are called to come out en masse at 12 noon (or earlier, if you can) on Sunday, August 8 to peacefully demonstrate, and to block the shipment of the cows.  We are asking the thousands of people who support this vital program and all the good it represents to re-plan their Sunday and book their Monday off work to show our government that we intend to save our farms.  It’s not too late for Prime Minister Harper to listen to majority Canadian opinion.

We need everyone to be there to make the strongest, calm and peaceful statement about broad public support for the prison farms.  Citizens will be able to choose the level of  participation they are comfortable with - from actively blocking the cattle trucks (which involves risk of arrest), to standing nearby or across the road as witness, as supporters to the demonstration, or to bring food and water for participants.

Organizations, such as the Frontenac Federation of Agriculture and the Sisters of Providence will be in the demonstration, but leave participation in the blockade up to individual members.  The same goes for everyone - all comfort levels and all ages can participate as they see fit.

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We want to make it clear to the CSC (Correctional Service of Canada) that we have no intention of hindering access to the prisons.  This will be a soft blockade - we will ONLY block animal transports,  NOT shift changes, prisoner transfers, or emergency access.

We want to stress to the Kingston City Police that this campaign has always been peaceful and will remain so.  Peaceful civil disobedience, as inspired by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., is a way for citizens to democratically express themselves when a government has stopped listening to the majority opinion of its people.  We ask that you join your friends and neighbours in trying to make our community safer by saving the prison farms - please help everyday citizens express by standing down on Sunday and Monday.

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It could be a long day, so bring water, snacks, sunscreen/hats. Please park at Frontenac Mall or on the side of Bath road.

Please note: There will be no meeting on Saturday, August 7 at Zorba's.

You can help at the watch station at Zorba's (1474 Bath Road, across from Frontenac Institution prison farm) anytime during the day or evening on Saturday to help make signs or walk on the side of Bath Road with signs calling out the public to Sunday and Monday's demonstration/blockade.  You can also meet at the Market Square Farmers' Market to help distribute leaflets downtown anytime between 10am-3pm.  Look for the Save Our Prison Farms volunteer with the sign and leaflets.

Please link here to sign up for the phone tree.  You will be called if we need to mobilize a blockade on short notice if they try to sneak the cows out.  You can indicate what times of day you are willing to be called.

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August 3 Update: OLEX has confirmed that the auction of the Frontenac dairy herd will take place on Tuesday, August 10 at their location in Waterloo.  IT WILL BE A LIVE AUCTION - THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO SHIP THE COWS FROM FRONTENAC INSTITUTION TO WATERLOO IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO AUGUST 10.   The campaign team is meeting tomorrow to decide on how to stop this - we will update you shortly!

July 28 Update: OLEX (the Ontario Livestock Exchange) has just confirmed by telephone that pressure from citizens and Ontario's farm organizations has led to a delay of the August 3rd auction of the dairy cattle from Frontenac Institution.  OLEX General Manager, Larry Weitzel would not confirm when the auction would take place, but said, "within a month".  

RIGHT NOW we need all prison farm supporters to call and email OLEX and encourage Larry to forgo any involvement in the auction  Please call and leave a voice message, or email Larry, today! 1-800-265-8818, lwitzel@olex.on.ca

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CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE WORKSHOP -- Thursday, July 29, at 7pm

Please meet at the Sir John A statue in City Park, Kingston, at the corner of King and West Streets.

We want as many people as possible trained in civil disobedience techniques -- the techniques work (we saw that at the July 23 blockade) and the training will help people to feel comfortable with using them. We want to add to the momentum of our campaign by having more people involved at every new event.

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VOLUNTEERS needed for Information Table, at Tara Natural Foods,  downtown Kingston

We have set up an information table in front of Tara Foods, 81 Princess Street (between King and Wellington Streets), this week to:

a. Increase public awareness of the issue

b. Enlist more contacts and volunteers

c. Collect donations for the campaign

d. Increase our visibility in the community

Volunteers are needed to staff the table, usually in two hour shifts, from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.  Please contact Bridget Doherty at 613-544-4525, ext 145, or at bridget.doherty@providence.ca to book a shift for today until Saturday.  Bring a buddy, if possible -- it's more fun that way.

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July 23 Update: Over 250 citizens braved the rain from 6:30-9:00am on Friday morning to shut down access to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Headquarters on King St. in Kingston, Ontario.  A peaceful , musical, and assertive democratic message was sent by participants of all ages (from babies to grandmothers) of all political stripes to our government: the people want you to change your minds and save Canada's six prison farms.  We will not let one chicken or cow be taken away from Frontenac Institution prison farm!  Hundreds are on a phone tree to mobilize citizens blockade any attempts to move the animals off the farm, 24/7.  Today was good practice.

The blockade of 4 entrance ways and a parking lot around the corner, lasting for over two rainy hours, was jubilant and peaceful.  Access to CSC Headquarters was blocked, but traffic on King St. was allowed to pass, although it was slowed as hundreds of drivers by honked their support and accepted leaflets.  It is difficult to find anyone in Kingston, or anywhere in Canada, who does not support inmates feeding themselves as part of this cost-effective rehabilitation program.

See initial coverage here from the Kingston Whig Standard and the CBC's website

Upcoming actions may include:

• Setting the COWS (Community On Watch Station) back up across from Frontenac Prison Farm
• Holding a special session of Parliament's Public Safety Committee convened in Kingston to address the urgent matter of the future of the prison farms
• Hosting a concert to raise public awareness and do fundraising for the campaign
• Conducting a blockade of the auction of the Frontenac dairy herd, scheduled for August 3rd at OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) in Waterloo, Ontario
• Continuing to pressure on that auction house from all major farm organizations to pull out of the auction - please take a moment to write an email to OLEX directly: lwitzel@olex.on.ca, wmccomb@olex.on.ca

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July 22 Update: Over 100 citizens, young and old, participated in last night's ACTION MEETING and CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE WORKSHOP, on about 36 hours notice.  We expect several hundred tomorrow morning for a,

BLOCKADE OF CSC REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS - Friday, July 23

Friday, July 23 starting as of 6:30am (come a little later if you cannot make it that early), 440 King Street West, Kingston

Shutting down CSC (Correctional Service of Canada) Regional Headquarters for the morning is meant to send a peaceful but assertive democratic message to our government.  We will not disrupt traffic on King Street.  Citizens who do not want to block vehicles can participate by standing with signs on the other side of the road.

The Conservatives cannot ignore the vast majority of Canadians on this lighting rod public safety and local food issue.  We will not give up until they listen.  Unfortunately, they are doing the opposite of listening - this yesterday in an email from the acting Deputy Commissioner of CSC, Lori MacDonald,

While we understand that there is a desire to continue discussions in this area we consider the decision final and are continuing with the closure process. As such, no further meetings or discussions will take place.

Ignoring the will of the majority of Canadians is unfortunate attitude from our civil servants and government.  Please help us get democracy working.

“Canadians have not given up the fight to save the prison farms,” says Dianne Dowling, a member of the Save Our Prison Farms campaign and president of National Farmers Union Local 316.  “We are peaceful, and will not disrupt any traffic except animal transports, but we will not let one cow or chicken leave our prison farm,” Dowling said.  “The prison farms provide a cost-effective training and rehabilitative program that works, helps inmates feed themselves, and makes our communities safer.”

“The resolve and democratic will of the community will be demonstrated in this blockade,” said Jeff Peters of the Frontenac Cattlemen's Association and a member of the campaign.  “This action is meant as practice for what may be necessary at Frontenac Institution.  We apologize for any inconvenience it may cause CSC staff not being able to get into work, as we know that the majority of them support the prison farm program.  The goal is not to target individuals, but to allow the citizens of all ages and political stripes involved in the Save Our Prison Farms campaign to show their commitment to the farms and the cows.”

“We are hoping that blockading Frontenac Institution will not be necessary,” said John Williamson of the Frontenac Federation of Agriculture and a member of the campaign.  “The auction house, OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) in Waterloo, has been getting phone calls from all the major farm organizations, recommending that they reconsider doing this auction.  Two other auction houses in Ontario have already turned down the opportunity.”

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July 12 Update: Unfortunately, we must report that the Commissioner of CSC (Correctional Service of Canada), Don Head, was not interested in working with citizens and organizations to save and revitalize the prison farms during our meeting with him last Friday.  We believe that he will come around to democratic pressure in time, but not yet.

There is a court challenge underway led by inmates from Frontenac and Pittsburgh Institutions which makes it impossible for the CSC to move out the cows or move ahead with any shut down at these two prison farms before the case is resolved (which could take from weeks up to a year or more).

In the meantime, the campaign team is meeting this week to decide how to proceed with using peaceful civil disobedience to shift the perspective of the government and CSC on the value of Canada's prison farms.  We will provide an update later this week.

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July 7 Update: Our meeting with Ross Toller, Deputy Commissioner of CSC (Correctional Service of Canada), last Wednesday, June 30th, assured us that no animals would be sold or shipped from Frontenac Institution until after July 9, if at all.  He reported that his boss, the Commissioner Don Head is interested in ideas for revitalizing the prison farm program, including a possible biogas generation project involving the dairy herd at Frontenac Institution in Kingston, Ontario.

We have approached SWITCH (Kingston's alternative energy cluster), St. Lawrence College and Queen's University to partner on this possible initiative - all have expressed interest and are willing to move forward.  This is an opportunity for the Correctional Service of Canada, and our government, to respond to overwhelming public support for the prison farms and develop an already excellent program into a model for the future, including working with the community on the rehabilitative and reintegrative dimensions of the program.  We are excited about this possibility for constructive collaboration!

The alternative is for our government and bureaucrats to try to shut down the farms, thereby ignoring public safety, food sustainability, and democracy.  If they chose to continue on this course, they will face a mounting peaceful civil disobedience campaign supported by citizens of all ages and political stripes.  Options for future actions include reestablishing COWS (Community On Watch Stations) to monitor the farms, blockading attempts to move animals off the farms (without disrupting prison-related traffic such as guard shift changes and prisoner transfers), virtual blockades of politician and bureaucrat office communication, and shutting down CSC headquarters in Kingston, Ontario.  We sincerely hope such peaceful expressions of public will will not be necessary.

PAST CAMPAIGN EVENTS

June 23 Update: Don Head, Commissioner of Corrections, has requested a meeting with representatives of the Save Our Prison Farms campaign, which will take place on July 9.  Ross Toller, the Deputy Commissioner, has promised they will not attempt to move livestock out of the Frontenac Institution before that meeting.

In good faith, we've decided to temporarily stand down the Community On Watch Station (COWS) on Bath Road so that volunteers can put their energy into other campaign activities in the coming weeks. (So don't be alarmed when you don't see the trailer on Bath Road.)

However, we remain ready for action, and the phone tree will still be activated if necessary. Neighbours and supporters will continue to be on watch. You can still call us to report suspicious activity: 613.888.0293. Keep watch for cattle rustlers!

This progress is because of your commitment and hard work. We will keep the pressure on; more actions are coming soon.

The first COWS (Community On Watch Stations) in Kingston was set up on Monday, June 14 on Bath Road, across from the Frontenac Institution prison farm.  The 18 foot trailer is being staffed 24/7 by campaign volunteers who are on the watch for CSC attempts to ship out the dairy herd.  There are hundreds of Kingstonians of all ages and political stripes who are on call through a phone tree to blockade attempts to sneak the animals out.

Note that the blockade would be "soft", allowing all other CSC traffic to continue to pass in and out of the prison without disruption.  For more information and to volunteer link to the COWS FAQ page and the COWS volunteer scheduling page.

More updates to follow soon!

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Report on Tuesday, June 15, Ottawa

Founding Peoples Deliver Prison Farms Message to Parliament, by Canoe!

“Prison farms represent one way to reconcile broken souls with the source of all life” said Grandfather William Commanda, elder and spiritual leader of the Algonquian peoples.

Grandfather William offered his blessings during a Sacred Fire ceremony (led by Fire Keeper Peter Decontie from Maniwaki) for the 150 Canadians of all ages, ethnicities and political stripes who gathered with him on Victoria Island in the Ottawa River this morning.  Eighteen canoes set out at noon from the island to deliver a simple message to our government on Parliament Hill – the signs, which were also smudged during the ceremony, read:

“Prison farms belong to all Canadians.  Stop ignoring democracy.  Save the farms now!”

Romola Trebilcock reading Grandfather William Commanda’s message – 2 min 25 sec

Canoeing and portage clips with MP Mark Holland and others - 1 min 32 sec

Accompanying this message at the sacred fire, on the canoe ride, and on the portage up to the Hill were the Democratic Dialogue Wampum Belt, the Covenant Chain brought from Tyendinaga, and two glass jars – one filled with soil from the Pittsburgh Institution prison farm, and one with water from the Little Cataraqui River which flows by the Frontenac Institution prison farm in Kingston, Ontario.  The soil and water were spread as offerings on Victoria Island and on Parliament Hill.  These symbols are from two of Canada’s six prison farms, all of which are under immediate threat with the dairy herd at Westmorland Institution in New Brunswick scheduled for auction this Thursday, June 17 and others in Ontario and Manitoba by the end of the month.

First Nations, English and French Canadians united on Parliament Hill to call for dialogue on the future of these vital farms with their focus on rehabilitation, restorative justice and sustainable local food.  Demonstrators sat on the lawn in front of Centre Block between two rows of canoes laid down in a “fake lake” style-V.  At the head of the V First Nations leaders, farmers, prison farm advocates and eight Members of Parliament sat in a circle around the Covenant Chain.  Space was left empty on the western side of the circle for invited Tory politicians who remain obstinate on this issue, despite near universal public support for a program which helps inmates learn to feed themselves.

The Democratic Dialogue Wampum Belt was offered to Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter by Algonquian Elder and Ontario Human Right Commissioner Larry McDermott.  Easter and other MPs present promised to take the message to the Government:

Jeff Peters, farmer, National Farmers Union on Peter Van Loan wishing we would go away - 30 sec

Alex Atamanenko, NDP Agriculture critic on farm land and prison farms -17 sec

Wayne Easter, Liberal Agriculture critic on “life skills” learned on prison farms – 1 min 3 sec

Maria Mourani, Bloc Public Safety critic on united with Canadians on prison farms - 40 sec

Andrew McCann, Urban Agriculture Kingston on prison farms as sustainable local food - 29 sec

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MARGARET ATWOOD TO JOIN PRISON FARM MARCH

“Save the Farms” demands posted on jail bosses’ door

Sunday, June 6^th, 2010 approximately 1,000 Canadians participated in a rally at 1:30pm at Sydenham St. United Church in Kingston, followed by a march to Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Kingston headquarters on King St. at about 3:30pm.

Margaret Atwood joined citizens of all ages and political stripes on the march to CSC headquarters. Once arriving we posted our demands for saving and revitalizing Canada ’s six prison farms on the door.

Speakers included Sister Pauline Lally , General Superior of the Sisters of Prov idence, John Leeman, former inmate and prison farm employee, farmer Jeff Peters farmer of the National Farmers Union. Musicians will be there with their continuous support.

Margaret Atwood, one of Canada’s most articulate and prescient champions of environmental issues, one-time resident farm owner, and co-founder of the Meadowlark Organic Farm on Pelee Island in Lake Erie,  and author of Alias Grace – set in the 19^th century in Kingston Penitentiary -- is joining us in taking the campaign to a new level.

“At a time when world attention is focusing on looming food shortages linked to climate change, and when countries such as England are re-organizing to provide more food self-sufficiency,” says Atwood, the Government of Canada is making exactly the wrong move. It is also sending a clear signal to individual farmers all across Canada that it does not respect what they do. These farms reflect Canadian values – most Canadians would rather have prisons produce trained inmates than repeat offenders -- and they are increasingly supporting a vision of a future in which communities contribute to their own food supply. Let us consider also that the taxpayer’s bill for health care inside prisons will shoot up, as it is demonstrable that those with an access to nature have a much lower incidence of illness. We should not take away from offenders the very thing citizens are trying to rebuild in communities across Canada .”

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Save Our Prison Farms Information and Action Meeting

Thursday, May 27th, 7:30pm - Perth, Ontario

Perth Lions Hall, Perth Fair Grounds

Speakers included:  Mark Holland, Liberal Public Safety Critic; Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario; Dianne Dowling, National Farmers Union, Local 316 President; John Williamson, Frontenac Federation of Agriculture, Past-president.

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Save Our Prison Farms Information and Action Meeting

Wednesday, May 19, 7:30pm - Inverary, Ontario - Download the event poster for more details

Inverary United Church, Latimer Road

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Save Our Prison Farms Information and Action Meeting

Monday, May 10, 7:30pm - Napanee, Ontario

Napanee Town Hall, 124 John St.

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Save Our Prison Farms Information and Action Meeting

Tuesday, May 4, 7:30pm - Athens, Ontario

Joshua Bates Centre, second floor of the Athens Town Hall, 1 Main Street

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Drumming Circle at Frontenac Institution

Friday, April 23, 2010 - Kingston, Ontario

Several First Nations Mohawks led drumming and singing, with a total of 40 to 50 people attending.  There was a strong show of support from passing drivers, with waving, thumbs up signs and honking of horns (always welcome as a boost to morale, and because the horns can be heard inside the walls of the prison).

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Standing Committee on Public Safety Motion

Thursday, April 1, 2010 - Ottawa, Ontario

The Standing Committee on Public Safety passed a motion asking Minister Toews to halt the process of closing the prison farm program, to order a full and independent review of the the value of the program, and to report the findings to the House and to the committee. The motion was tabled in the House of Commons on April 14.  Minister Toews has 120 days to respond to the motion (mid-August).

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House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety Hearings

March 25 and March 30, 2010, Parliament Hill - Ottawa, Ontario

Presentations from stakeholders on the imminent closure of the prison farms, followed by questions from Members of Parliament who sit on the committee.

Deconstructing Dinner put together an excellent 1 hour radio program/podcast on these hearings.  Their page for the episode has further links, down the right side, to the full transcripts and audio versions of all testimony given at the hearings.   This is the third part of Deconstructing Dinner's in depth series on the proposed closure of Canada's Prison Farms.

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Kingston City Council Hears Testimony from Ross Toller

March 23, 2010 - Kingston City Hall

The deputy commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada appeared before Kingston City Council to answer questions about the impending closure of the region's two prison farms.  The EMC newspaper did a good job of covering the discussion in their article.

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Canadian Musicians Support Prison Farms Event

March 20, 2010, 7-10pm - Kingston, Ontario

Sydenham St. United Church

An evening of music and speeches was sold out with over 850 in attendance, the program included a mix of well known Canadian musicians like Sarah Harmer and Fred Penner, and knowledgeable speakers gathered to inform and stir the participants and our government to action.  The Union of Solicitor General's Employees Save Our Farms website has video clips of all performances and speeches here.

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Picketing of Correctional Service of Canada sites

Monday, February 15, 7:30-9:00 am, Corcan Headquarters

Monday, February 22, 7:30-9:00 am, Frontenac and Collin's Bay Institutions on Bath Road

Monday, March 1, 7:30-9:00 am, CSC Headquarters at 440 King St.

Monday, March 8, 7:30-9:00 am, Pittsburgh Institution on Hwy 15

Dozens participated in these picketing actions, hundreds of handouts were passed out to drivers buy, and hundreds more horns were honks by an overwhelmingly supportive public - there is little doubt that the vast majority of Kingston area residents think that closing these farms is a bad idea.

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Prison Farm Meeting with Mark Holland and Wayne Easter

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 in Dorchester, New Brunswick

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Presentation to Kingston City Council by Mark Holland and Wayne Easter

Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 7:30pm

City Hall, Kingston, Ontario

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National Dialogue on Canada's Prison  Farms Live Online from Public Safety Minister Vic Toew's Riding

Monday, February 1, 2010 in Steinbach, Manitoba

Members of Parliament and Canadians from across the country participated in a live online discussion about the planned closure, the value of, and potential for revitalization of the national prison farm program. This all party panel took place in Public Safety Minister Vic Toews riding, not far from his constituency office in Steinbach, Manitoba and was webcast interactively so that citizens from coast to coast could participate.

The panelists included:
Niki Ashton, Manitoba NDP MP, Rural and Community Development Critic
Wayne Easter, PEI Liberal MP and Agriculture Critic
Mark Holland, Ontario Liberal MP and Public Safety Critic
Kate Storey, Manitoba farmer, Green Party of Canada, Agriculture Critic
Vic Toews, Manitoba Conservative MP, Minister of Public Safety – declined the invitation

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Queen’s Panel in Jan

Dec 3 in Kingston

Sept 21 BBQ in Ottawa

Thursday, Sept. 17, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.,

at the entrance of Pittsburg Institution (Joyceville Penitentiary), and

Friday, Sept. 18, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

at the entrance of Frontenac Institution (Collins Bay Penitentiary).

Senior staff from CORCAN (the adminstrators of the prison farm program) will be visiting the two Kingston area prison farms at those times.

On Monday June 8, 2009 representatives of the Frontenac Cattlemen's Association met with Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan and a follow up media conference will be help on Parliament Hill to report on the Minister's response to our call for the revitalization of Canada's prison farms.

A media conference was held on June 3, 2009 in Kingston outside Frontenac Institution on to announce the National Campaign Position Statement and the growing list of organizations signing on across Canada.

The Save Our Farms website was launched on June 2, 2009 by the Union of Solicitor General Employees of Canada, which has been a leader in national efforts to save the farms.

On May 29, 2009 distribution of a National Campaign Position Statement to organizations across Canada began.  We hope to have as many endorsements as possible to bring to the meeting with Minister Van Loan on June 8, 2009.
On April 30, 2009 a Day of Action took place, which included guerrilla gardening and a local beef BBQ at the two Kingston prison farms, (Frontenac and Pittsburgh Institutions) and farmers taking cows to Parliament Hill and talking to the Liberal and NDP agriculture committee members.  (Conservative MPs who said they would meet the delegation failed to attend.

A public meeting was held on March 19, 2009 at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario.  It was attended by almost 250 concerned citizens and profiled on CBC radio's The House, starting at 23:55 of the episode, on March 21. The audio podcast includes the reading of a letter written by an inmate at the  Frontenac Institution who works in the farm program.

Campaign Actions:

On May 13, they got assurances that the abattoir at the Pittsburgh Institution would continue to operate indefinitely. They are scheduled to meet with Minister Peter Van Loan on June 8, 2009.

On April 30, a Day of Action took place, which included guerrilla gardening and a local beef BBQ at the two Kingston prison farms, (Frontenac and Pittsburgh Institutions) and farmers taking cows to Parliament Hill and talking to the Liberal and NDP agriculture committee members. (Conservative MPs who said they would meet the delegation failed to attend.

On May 29, distribution of a National Campaign Position Statement to organizations across Canada began. We hope to have as many endorsements as possible to bring to the meeting with Minister Van Loan on June 8, 2009.

A new Save Our Farms website was launched on June 2 by the Union of Solicitor General Employees of Canada, which is ramping up their national efforts on the campaign.

A media conference was held on June 3 in Kingston outside Frontenac Institution on to announce the National Campaign Position Statement and the growing list of organizations signing on across Canada.