#matsqui

"Matsqui," The Province (Vancouver). February 27, 1969. Page 4. ---- Eugene Albert Richard Dale, 33, was jailed 12 months Wednesday for escaping from the Matsqui drug centre.

Dale was one of two inmates who escaped from the medium security jail Monday night. He was recaptured Tuesday in Vancouver.

He was serving 15 years for car theft, armed robbery, breaking, entering and theft, and possession of burglary tools.

"17 Inmates Punished," Vancouver Sun. June 30, 1967. Page 11. --- Women inmates of Matsqui Penitentiary who ended a sit-in with a window-smashing rampage have lost some privileges as a result.

A statement by the Canadian Penitentiary Service on the two-day incident which began June 11 said 17 women who took part in the sit-in and the riot were punished by the staff disciplinary board.

A board of inquiry found that grievances claimed by the inmates were of a minor nature and could have been dealt with through the normal grievance procedure available to convicts.

"Matsqui Jail Workers Support Strike Action," Vancouver Sun. November 27, 1969. Page 7. ---- Matsqui penitentiary workers Wednesday night voted to support a strike as a last resort in their drawn-out contract talks with the federal government.

Bob McPherson, secretary of the Matsqui local of the National Association of Penitentiary Workers said the vote was taken at the request of the national office.

He said the vote was 81 in favor of supporting a strike and 13 opposed. An estimated 250 workers are employed at the Matsqui institution.

They have been without contract since October 18 and the latest Treasury Board offer on a new contract was for wage increases over two years of two per cent and two per cent.

McPherson said the members were advised they do not have the right to strike and would be liable to fines and suspension if they did but voted to support a strike anyway.

He said the wording of the motion was that a strike would be supported if all else failed.

"In other words, we are willing to listen to what the arbitrator has to say," said McPherson.

"We don't want to strike this is the last thing we want to happen and we would do it only at direction from the national office."

The vote follows demonstrations by wives of penitentiary employees during the Harrison Liberal conference. At that time, Consumer Affairs Minister Ron Basford came out of the Harrison hotel to talk to the women and promised consideration of the wives' demands for better wages for their husbands.

"The fellows felt it was poor policy when the women have to get out and demonstrate," McPherson said.

He said that the New Westminster penitentiary employees earlier took a similar vote to support a strike.

If a strike were called, he said, another vote would have to be held before employees would leave their posts.

"We feel our negotiators have been given a bad time by the Treasury Board," he said. "They have not bargained in good faith."

In addition to the contract problems, McPherson said, there have also been problems on overtime payments and shift differential payments.

He said that shift differential payments as high as $40 a man had been due for more than a month but had only just arrived.

"17 Matsqui pen women punished for jail riot," The Province (Vancouver). June 30, 1967. Page 45. --- Seventeen women inmates at Matsqui Penitentiary have been punished by a staff disciplinary board for their part in a June 12 riot at the jail. Officials would not disclose what punishment was meted out.

A board of inquiry set up to investigate the riot found that none of the inmates had made any attempt to take their grievances to the jail officials.

Trouble started at the federal jail for drug addicts when the inmates refused to return to their rooms June 11.

Prison officers persuaded five to return after a promise of talks.

Violence flared June 12 as twelve women smashed windows and damaged furniture. They were subdued by staff.

Nobody was hurt in the riot and damage was estimated at less than $425.

"Drug centre security 'won't be tightened'," The Province (Vancouver). February 26, 1969. Page 13. ---- Special to The Province MATSQUI - Despite four or five escapes from the Matsqui drug centre since it opened about three years ago, security arrangements are not likely to be increased, Warden John Moloney said Tuesday -after one of two men who escaped Monday was caught in Vancouver.

Latest to escape were Frank Joseph Little, 50, serving an indeterminate sentence as a habitual criminal, and Eugene Albert Richard Dale, 33, serving 15 years for car theft, armed robbery, breaking, entering and theft, and possession of burglary tools.

They were missing at the 9 p.m. count Monday.

"We fully accept in a medium-security institution that you will have a certain number of escapes," said Warden Moloney.

"However, we feel at the same time there are some advantages in trying to conduct a training program commensurate with reduced security."

“LANGLEY ALARMED BY SMALLPOX CASE,” The Province (Vancouver). March 27, 1932. Page 21.   ---- Vaccination Clinics to Be Opened Contacts Quarantined. ---- LANGLEY PRAIRIE, March 26. - The municipal council at a special meeting on Saturday ordered Dr. B. B. Marr, municipal health officer, to open vaccination clinics in all districts of Langley following discovery of a case of virulent type smallpox in the municipality near the boundary of Matsqui. 

Several contacts in Langley have been placed under quarantine. Dr. Marr reported to the council that the woman who suffered the attack of smallpox had not visited Vancouver, but two weeks ago was in Ferndale.