I knew this would happen upon my return to Montreal. A lack of material. However, a few new things have cropped up. Last week, I started a Prison Visit program called Building Bridges. It’s organized by Concordia University’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy and it’s been very interesting thus far. We’re a group of about 12 students visiting the medium-security prison Leclerc Prison in Laval, Quebec.

I must admit I was preparing myself for something much more daunting. The prison is surrounded by two fences with barbed wire on the top. It sits next to two other prisons, low and high security. There’s a hockey rink, tennis courts, a large inner courtyard, austere (but not overtly so) cement walls and floors. It was actually quite beautiful driving up: a big pink sun sinking in the skyline and streaking over the prison grounds.

We were buzzed through several different gates and into a waiting room. Once we were all scanned through (drug tests and all), we headed into the prison chaplain. We were greeted by a few different inmates, who shook our hands pleasantly. Conversation was easy and started right away; we did a series of ice-breaking experiments and lining up topics of conversation for the following weeks. Everyone was very nice; a few rugged looking guys (it’s an all male prison), one or two younger guys.

While in the prison, I didn’t actually process what these people might have been through or committed to be in their situation. It was only after, as we were leaving, that one of the organizers mentioned that homicide is one of the top crimes committed by inmates in the prison. It was hard to reconcile the fact that I might have talked to someone who took another human being’s life. While I was and am fully equipped to respect whoever I meet in our visits, I can’t believe that such normal people could have done something so atrocious. On the other hand, there is no stereotype of the typical murderer.

Also, it becomes obvious, quickly, that falling off the "good" wagon is easy; breaking cultural and social norms that guide our lives is not difficult. It was a bit disconcerting to think of how quickly a series of events might land you in such a bad spot (whether they were inevitable or self-induced). I guess, in summary, our existence is incredibly fragile – not just our mortality, but our standing amongst other human beings.

This is a good article. A little out of date: Escaping Prison.

On a more positive note, I’ve started a 12 week internship at CBC Radio in Montreal. If anyone has any interesting local stories (Montreal) on the go, or any nice leaks or leads, let me know!

And, last but not least, please continue donating to the Women of Kireka. We’ve made over $1000 so far!