The Ontario Province is breaking ground on a new $1.2 billion Thunder Bay correctional facility. The 345-bed Thunder Bay Correctional Complex actually started construction in August. The new facility will alleviate capacity pressures, create additional space for programming and expand supports for inmates with mental health issues.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature:
- Dedicated Indigenous cultural spaces
- Indoor and outdoor smudging space
- Sweat lodge
- Teaching lodge
- Greenhouse
- Secure yard
Northern Ontario Business states that the complex is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner called the new build an important part of his government's plans to modernize facilities that are sometimes badly outdated. He stated that the infrastructure dates back to the time of confederation. He wants to have a great environment that will be safe for their staff and also for the inmates. He hopes to make the facility more inviting for the staff who will be working there as well as the inmates.
Ellis Don and subcontractors have begun work to clear and prepare the site over the summer. The project would both replace the century-old Thunder Bay District Jail as well as the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex which was first promised by the former Liberal provincial government back in 2017.
Ontario Newsroom reports that this project is one of a series of corrections infrastructure builds in the North. Last month, the government completed expansion projects at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and Kenora Jail to help address overcrowding while the government builds the new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex. The expanded space will also increase access to:
- Literacy programs
- Skills development
- Technology programming to support safe community reintegration
These projects build on the government's $500 million over five years investment to modernize correctional services to improve the health, safety and security of provincial facilities.
"Bird is pleased to have safely delivered the rapid build expansions at Kenora Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre. The successful completion was made possible through the strong collaboration and engagement with stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, trade partners, and our clients. The projects leveraged Bird's integrated conventional site construction and innovative modular construction solutions with Stack Modular and demonstrated the value and benefits of accelerated builds for delivery of important infrastructure to communities."
President & CEO of Bird Construction Inc. | Teri McKibbon
Following an open, fair, and competitive process, the contract was awarded to Ellis Don Infrastructure to design, build, finance, and maintain the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex project.
The existing Thunder Bay jail and Correctional Centre are among the oldest provincially run adult correctional facilities in Ontario. The Thunder Bay jail opened in 1928. The Thunder Bay Correctional Centre opened in 1965; however, the original building structure which operated as a prison farm opened in 1911.
The expansion projects in Thunder Bay and Kenora were designed and built by Bird Construction Inc. and delivered using Infrastructure Ontario's rapid delivery approach, which aims to deliver projects more efficiently using rapid procurement processes and construction methods.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - IO-MCSCS Thunder Bay Correctional Complex - DBFM RFQ (0093022018)