Exploring an untold history

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This article was published 22/06/2020 (2223 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prison guards typically want to remain incognito and former prisoners usually don’t advertise their incarceration, but both groups have stories to tell.

These stories and the artifacts that illustrate Manitoba’s history of provincial jails for adults and correctional youth facilities are now being collected for a new Corrections Museum.

Peter Korzeniowski, who works at Headingley Correctional Centre, is the curator/historian for the fledgling museum.

“I’ve always been involved with the Police Museum (now at 245 Smith St. in Winnipeg Police headquarters),” he said. “Nobody’s tried anything to establish a Corrections Museum.”

“The history of corrections in Manitoba goes back 150 years. Our history is rich and deep,” Korzeniowski said. “But it’s something that we usually don’t talk about.”

He said the museum will include the history of all the provincial jails past and present. Anyone with a connection to one of the jails is asked to contribute any artifacts or information they have.

“We are looking for artifacts, photos, uniforms, equipment, documents, and of course, oral history.”

“I’ve been collecting artifacts for the past five years,” Korzeniowski said, adding that this includes jail cells from the former Women’s Correction Centre in Portage la Prairie that was open from 1893 to 2012.

He said the recently closed provincial jail in Dauphin was used for 103 years and Brandon has had a provincial jail since 1888.

He said he has collected paperwork from some of these locations and believes that former correctional officers and prison staff or their descendants have more artifacts to contribute.

“There’s lots of hidden gems out there. We’re also open to talking to former inmates.”

Korzeniowski said a societal stigma previously impacted those associated with Manitoba’s correctional system, but believes that has changed and the public display of records, photos and artifacts will help lift this negativity further.

“We want to have pride in the work we do,” he said.

Korzeniowski is one of seven board members for the new museum. They have met regularly over the past two years to get the museum off the ground.

Korzeniowski himself has taken courses through the Association of Manitoba Museums to get a certificate in museums practice. He also volunteers at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and has gathered information while in that role.

He said the Manitoba museums community is very supportive in helping him and the other board members with their project.

“Everyone loves history and wants to help.”

The board is now working to secure a home for the Corrections Museum, likely in Winnipeg.
For more information or to arrange a donation, email correctionsmuseummb@gmail.com