Ontario Abandoned Places will be rebranded as Ominous Abandoned Places

Rideau Correctional Treatment

Demolished Correctional in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Jan 21 2012

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Recent status Demolished
Location # 3906

"Opened in 1947, The Rideau Correctional Centre in Merrickville, Ontario originally served as a minimum security facility where inmates learned farming skills while serving out their sentences. The agricultural component was phased out over the years, in favour of treatment programs. In the latter years of the jails operations, it housed mainly sex offenders and drug addicts in the 354 beds, and offered various treatment programs in an attempt to combat recidivism. These treatment programs included anger management, substance abuse, and relapse prevention.

The Rideau Correctional & Treatment Centre closed in 2004 as part of the Ontario governments Infrastructure Renewal Program, and the inmate population was transferred to the new super jail in Lindsay. The program also brought about the closure of almost twenty other provincial jails, including the Millbrook Correctional Centre, which I also explored recently.

Our exploration begins with a long walk across the farmer's field, which was once maintained by the inmate population. We continue through dense vegetation and thick brush under the hot summer sun. Ninja and I, clothing covered in thistles and thorns, eventually make our way down a steep embankment, and then back up the other side of the crevice, pushing aside grasses and weeds that are taller than ourselves. We are overjoyed to come across what inmates here would surely have loved to encounter: A hole in the fence.

And so here we are, breaking into prison..."

-jerm IX

Comments

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10 years ago

The foregoing being of academic value only as the site is now completely demolished.

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10 years ago

Ah ... I understand the source of the confusion. This is Canada Post not respecting the political boundries (as usual). The postal code (K0G 1N0) is, indeed Merrickville Wolford, but the site is actually within the boundries of the City of Ottawa. To add to the confusion, the phone number lsited is on the 269 exchange, which is the Bell CO situated in Merrickville.

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10 years ago

This site is on the extreme western boundry of the amalgamated City of Ottawa. The township of Montague continues west from this point all the way to Smiths Falls. The township of Merrickville Wolford is almost entirely south of the Rideau River (with the exception of less than 1 sq KM which is within the limits of the village proper). I am in a good position to be certain of this fact :)

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10 years ago

The house has been 50 percent demolished for over a month now. Work crews are usually there every day working on what's left of the other buildings. This location is actually in Ottawa (but not by much).

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11 years ago

Well its almost gone... we went in one building and the house that is on the property it was a giant skating rink.

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11 years ago

I visited here last weekend and made a small video. The place is in pretty rough shape for being abandoned for only 8 years. Check out the video at http://vimeo.com/42982017