More than walls: As Millhaven marks 55 years, staff celebrate the people behind one of Canada’s most demanding institutions

On the night of April 14, 1971, before the inauguration ribbon had even been cut, Millhaven Institution was already thrust into history.

The institution had been scheduled to officially open weeks later. Instead, a major riot erupted at Kingston Penitentiary (KP), where inmates seized hostages and took control of much of the prison.

Almost overnight, Millhaven transformed from a brand-new facility awaiting its first residents into an operational maximum-security institution tasked with helping manage one of the most significant correctional emergencies in Canadian history.

Fifty-five years later, staff gathered this spring beneath the flagpoles at Millhaven to commemorate that remarkable beginning. A time capsule was assembled with photographs, posters, coins and memorabilia from today’s institution, destined to remain sealed until its 75th anniversary. 

“We carry that history with us, and learn from it, so that some day others will look on us, and see themselves in us.”

Built for a changing correctional system

Although Millhaven officially opened in 1971, its story began nearly a decade earlier.

In the early 1960s, Canada’s federal penitentiary system was under growing strain. Many institutions had been built decades earlier and were no longer suited to modern correctional operations or a rapidly increasing inmate population. The Commissioner of Penitentiaries at the time, Allen MacLeod, described the aging system as a “hodge-podge” of facilities that had simply been expanded over time to meet growing demand.

Millhaven represented a new vision. Constructed on more than 600 acres at a cost of $13 million, it was designed as one of the country’s most technologically advanced correctional facilities.

Electrically operated doors, closed-circuit television, centralized security systems and specialized accommodation units reflected a philosophy that placed safety, control and operational efficiency at the forefront.

Ironically, those very plans contributed to the institution’s dramatic beginning.

Concerns about impending transfers to the new maximum-security prison helped fuel unrest at KP. When the riot broke out in 1971, correctional authorities had little choice but to accelerate Millhaven’s opening. Within days, inmates began arriving before the official opening ceremonies could ever take place.

“When KP closed in 2013, Millhaven took over the KP inmate population. We also carry the legacy of KP’s fallen officers, and we represent KP staff at their funerals and other services,” Chris explains.

“So, it was fitting that after almost all of the the KP stone which was earmarked for the National Monument was deemed surplus, Millhaven took that stone, to build a stone wall and take a piece of KP with us.”

The wall will eventually stand beside the anniversary time capsule, symbolically connecting the institution’s past with its future.

A place unlike any other

Few institutions in the Correctional Service of Canada operate on the same scale or with the same complexity as Millhaven.

Every movement through the institution requires careful planning and coordination.

For Chris, who began his CSC career at KP before transferring to Millhaven in 2013, the difference was immediately apparent.

“Millhaven was built unreservedly as a response to the challenges we had at KP,” he says.

“This place is stone and steel. It’s built around security and it’s done well. Each cell block is almost an institution unto itself.”

That design allows staff to isolate, contain and manage multiple populations safely, an operational necessity in Ontario’s only standalone federal maximum-security institution for men.

“You could spend a week in one unit here and never know who is working in another unit,” Chris says.

Those realities mean that no two days look the same.

“There are times we might deal with three or four significant incidents in a day when another institution might experience one in a week or even a month,” Chris says.

Yet despite the pace, Chris says one characteristic has remained constant throughout his time at Millhaven: the way staff respond when they are needed most.

“When something goes awry, the machine that kicks into gear is quite impressive,” he said.

“The instinct, the training, everyone just flows. You realize, ‘Gosh, this is a well-oiled machine.’ When you need it, it’s there.”

Millhaven Institution employees gathered beneath the Canadian flag during the institution’s 55th anniversary celebration, recognizing the staff whose dedication has shaped the institution over the past five decades.

Strength through one another

Millhaven has experienced its share of difficult moments over the past 55 years.

Early media coverage frequently focused on disturbances, escapes and security incidents. More recently, public attention has often centred on critical incidents inside correctional facilities.

Those stories are part of Millhaven’s history, but they are not the whole story.

The very challenges staff face every day have also forged an uncommon sense of solidarity, says Chris.

“So much happens here, so often, that it almost becomes its own reality. But under the guise of all those difficult experiences, we’ve developed an incredible ability to take care of our people.”

That support extends beyond operational response - Millhaven is home to one of the largest Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams in Ontario, with more than 25 volunteer members representing correctional officers, nurses, psychologists and non-uniformed employees.

The peer-support program exists for one simple reason: no employee should have to face a traumatic event alone.

“We’re there to triage, connect people with resources and make sure everyone knows someone is there for them,” says Chris.

That philosophy has become woven into the institution’s culture, reflecting a broader understanding that resilience is built not only through training and professionalism, but through people looking after one another.

It’s a culture of support that Acting Correctional Manager Terra Scott says she sees every day.

Terra, who began her career at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatchewan before arriving at Millhaven in 2021, now serves as one of three leads of the institution’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team while also volunteering with the Guard of Honour.

When a serious incident occurs, the CISM team is activated to support employees affected by traumatic events. Members provide immediate peer support, coordinate debriefings, connect staff with community resources and remain available long after the incident has ended.

“We are not certified therapists,” Terra explains. “But we do offer peer support on a daily basis, through text, in person or over the phone. If someone reaches out, that’s the first step in decreasing traumatic injuries we’re exposed to and reducing the long-term impact.”

The team also recognizes that cumulative stress can be just as significant as a single traumatic event.

“If I see the same officer involved in two or three incidents, I do extra check-ins,” she says.

“Sometimes it’s not the nature of one event. It’s the compilation of events that creates the injury. We try to get our presence in there and make people feel safe connecting with us.”

That willingness to look after one another, often outside regular working hours, has become one of the defining characteristics of Millhaven.

“I spend a lot of time outside my organized work hours providing support to colleagues as a volunteer,” says Terra. “It comes from a genuine place. One day I might need that too.”

Finding pride in the story

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Terra spent months researching the institution’s history, collecting photographs, newspaper clippings and historical records to create this year’s anniversary display.

What began as a research project quickly became something much more personal.

“When I was sourcing my information and pictures, I found the history just amazing,” she says. “It changed the way I looked at the institution when coming to work.”

For Terra, understanding Millhaven’s history creates a stronger connection between today’s employees and those who came before them.

“When you know and understand the history of the place, you can connect to it and understand where you’re working versus just showing up for work,” she says. “It changes the way you view the place and who you are as a person.”

Alongside the historical display, Terra also created “Did You Know?” fact sheets, crossword puzzles and other activities designed to engage staff with the institution’s past.

“I wanted to portray that to people because the institution is highly scrutinized and viewed negatively,” she says. “I wanted to restore a sense of pride and honour for all that we do within these walls.”

Beyond the headlines

Millhaven’s history includes countless examples of employees giving back to one another and to their community.

Over the decades, staff have organized charity golf tournaments, supported the United Way, purchased gifts for children through the Angel Tree program, raised thousands of dollars for organizations such as Soldier On, Wounded Warriors, the Canadian Cancer Society and Make-A-Wish, and participated in numerous local fundraising initiatives.

Today, those traditions continue through staff sports leagues, wellness committees, family events and volunteer initiatives.

The relationships built through those programs, Terra says, help explain why so many employees spend decades at the institution despite its demanding operational environment.

“You develop your friendships and strong connections within the institution,” she says. “Those are the positive things you look forward to.”

Terra also points to another source of pride that often goes unnoticed.

“The inmates donate money out of their weekly allotment directly to charities here in Ontario,” she said. “And one of the things I like the most is seeing change. It’s satisfying when you’re able to make those connections, provide public safety and keep your peers safe.”

Sometimes, those changes are reflected years later.

“We had a former inmate write to the Warden thanking staff for how professional everyone had been and for the mental health support he received,” Terra recalls. “It’s nice when we see people released and they don’t come back. We know we might have made a difference.”

Carrying the legacy forward

That sense of continuity is perhaps most visible through Millhaven’s Guard of Honour.

Originally formed to honour fallen colleagues, the team has expanded its role to support retirements, memorial services and staff recognition events across the region.

“Being a member of the Guard of Honour has been such a privilege,” says Terra. “I believe it reflects the solidarity that we have for each other by displaying respect and dignity at all times, even when someone cannot anymore.”

This year’s anniversary celebrations reflect that same philosophy. For Warden Mike Jensen, the anniversary is ultimately about celebrating the institution’s greatest strength - the people who work inside it.

“When I come to work each day, no matter where I go on this site, it is a constant reminder that the staff are what truly defines this place,” he says.

“They demonstrate such exceptional pride, dedication and commitment every single day with their service to Canadians.”