Bordeaux Prison

Bordeaux Prison
Map
Location800, boulevard Gouin Ouest
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates45°32′42″N 73°41′10″W / 45.545°N 73.686°W / 45.545; -73.686
StatusOperational
Security classVarious
Capacityabout 1500
Opened1912[1]
Managed byQuebec Ministry of Public Security

The Bordeaux Prison (French: Prison de Bordeaux), also known as the Montreal Detention Centre,[2] is a provincial prison in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located at 800 Gouin Boulevard West[3] in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

The prison was built between 1908 and 1912 by architect Jean-Omer Marchand [fr] to replace the aged Pied-du-Courant Prison. The prison currently houses male inmates sentenced to less than two years' imprisonment. It also houses prisoners awaiting trial.

It is the largest provincial prison in Quebec, with a maximum capacity of almost 1500 inmates.

Aerial view of Bordeaux Prison in the Northern part of the Island of Montreal

The prison was also an execution site, where 85 hangings were carried out by Quebec between 1912 and 1960.

On Christmas Day, 2022, a 21-year old inmate died after being pepper sprayed by staff while wearing a spit hood in a shower and then left face down in a cell, despite a court having ordered his release on December 23. Investigations by La Presse and The Globe and Mail found that prison staff violated internal policies on the use of pepper spray. A unit manager and a guard were suspended. In addition to the standard coroner investigation, the incident is also subject to an investigation by the Sûreté du Québec and the provincial Ministry of Public Security.[2]

  1. ^ Bordeaux Prison at IMTL.org
  2. ^ a b Duhamel, Frederik-Xavier (January 11, 2023). "Documents suggest Bordeaux personnel violated correctional services policies prior to inmate's death". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "Gordon & Gotch's Map of the Island of Montreal. 1924. Located at 8N on the map