Last month, Sol Mamakwa visited the Thunder Bay District Jail and was shocked to see overcrowded cells with beds crammed next to toilets. The facility, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, was supposed to close once the new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex opened in November. However, recent information revealed that the existing facilities will remain in operation to address overcrowding issues in the city’s correctional system.
The new $1.2-billion Correctional Complex on Highway 61 will offer 345 beds, while the district jail has 149 beds and the correctional centre has 203 beds. Anthony Rojik, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 737, welcomed the decision to keep the current facilities open as a positive step in addressing capacity challenges. Concerns about staffing levels across all three buildings were raised by Shawn Bradshaw, president of OPSEU Local 708, representing the correctional centre.
Northern Ontario’s jails have been grappling with severe overcrowding issues, with the Thunder Bay District Jail operating at 120% capacity and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre at 107% between January and June 2025. Mamakwa emphasized that merely increasing the number of jail cells is not a solution to the challenges faced by staff and inmates.
The tragic death of Mamakwa’s 27-year-old nephew, Kevin Mamakwa, in the Thunder Bay District Jail on June 2, 2020, highlighted the dire conditions within the facility. Sol Mamakwa has been a vocal advocate for shutting down the jail due to the ongoing deplorable conditions. An inquest into Kevin Mamakwa’s death, scheduled for this week in Thunder Bay, has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Saddam Khussain, from the ministry of the solicitor general, stated that the Thunder Bay Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre will continue operating post the new correctional complex’s opening, with plans for infrastructure repairs and upgrades at the existing facilities.
Advocates in northwestern Ontario have long criticized the conditions at Thunder Bay’s correctional facilities, especially at the district jail. Lindsay Martin, the executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario, highlighted various health risks and inhumane living conditions in the outdated facilities. Martin questioned the financial rationale behind keeping these buildings open, suggesting that resources should be allocated to community support for a more sustainable solution.
Sol Mamakwa emphasized the over-representation of Indigenous individuals in correctional settings, particularly in Thunder Bay, which serves as a central hub for numerous surrounding First Nations. He called for increased cultural and mental health support within the system. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation echoed concerns about the punitive nature of the justice system and emphasized the need for more treatment beds rather than jail beds.
Fiddler also highlighted challenges in accessing justice, pointing out the reliance on fly-in courts held in makeshift community spaces for many First Nations. He stressed the need for a broader conversation on addressing underlying issues contributing to the high number of Indigenous inmates. Mamakwa reiterated the importance of treating all inmates as individuals, emphasizing a humane approach to justice for everyone.