Burwash Industrial Farm

Photo by Kal Biro - September 9, 2006

Plaque Location

The District of Sudbury
The Township of Burwash
In a picnic area 4 km south of Estaire on Highway 69 south of Sudbury

Plaque Text

Burwash Industrial Farm was established in 1914 based on the revolutionary premise that low-risk inmates would benefit form the exercise and skills learned while working outdoors at self-supporting institutions Burwash Industrial Farm accommodated between 180 and 820 minimum and medium security offenders with sentences of three months to two years less a day. Over time, it grew it to occupy 14,100 ha owned and 40,800 ha leased, housing three permanent camp sites, several temporary ones, and a town of prison staff families with a population of 600 to 1,000 people. Prison inmates provided labour to build the entire community and ran an extensive mixed farm, a tailor shop, and a prosperous logging operation. Burwash Industrial Farm was one of the largest reform institutions in 20th century Ontario. It closed in 1975 because of changes in correctional practices.