I was posted to Edmonton detention barracks for 90 days in 83. Was convicted on a summary trial, and was not guilty of any of the charges, but MP who was in charge of interviews and questioning didn't like me too much as he knew I knew he was guilty of the same things being thrown at me and I told him so during questioning at the MP shack, so his stenographer stopped taking notes and he told me I could leave the room. Then during my trial he tells the Colonel I stormed out of the questioning room. Also the detention barracks had my name on the arrival board 1 week prior to my trial, so there was no chance of beating it, even though I showed at the trial I was no where near Alberta at the time of the incident(s). So you don't have to do anything to be sent to Edmonton.
The 1st 2 weeks we were assigned to "a" wing, only a cig after each meal, no talking, no work parties, clean inside the prison only. Then on to "b" wing and get a extra smoke before bed and stay up 1 hour later. Can go out on day trips with work party. I worked in the kitchen, so the 6 of us had our own dorm room (cell for 6). We used to bring the kitchen radio up at night and when the French guards were on shift, one old ***** would come in at night and yell at us, "You B wing, you no radio" and take it back to the kitchen, we would take it back the next day again.
A couple of guys were in and out of the black cell regularly when I was there, they made it a game or a joke with the guards. 3 days on bread and water and 23 hours locked in.
One guy, who liked to cause trouble tried tattooing guys on their hands to show jail tats. Him and 2 guys helping went around with india ink and a pencil with a pin in it.
You were allowed 3 strikes and then off to the black cell. I had 4 strikes on me and the Sgt told me to report to his office later in the day, I knew I was off to the black cell so I just didn't go and I guess he forgot about me as it never came up again, lucky me.
One guy was sentenced there for 2 yrs less a day, he was the longest sentence when I was there. If you were over 90 days sentence, then after "b" wing was "c" wing, large dorm and those guys just hung around all day, nothing to do for them.
Staring at the "eyes" on the post at the guard station to ask to use the washroom, sometimes they made you stand quite a while before asking you what you wanted, and once you stood there, you couldn't just walk away if they ignored you.
Brushing your teeth while someone took a crap behind you with no stall around the toilet was great.
A master corporal from boot camp (Cornwallis) came in there when I was there, I remember him from Cornwallis, he used to get drunk and come in the barracks at night and be an *** to all the recruits, thought he was a tough guy, but turns out he wasn't so tough in Edmonton, knocked him down a peg or two.
Any questions ask me,
I got out of Edmonton in 61 days due to the points system, serve 2/3rds of your sentence if perfect score, I messed up for 1 extra day.
When back a few years ago to see detention barracks and that side of the base is all gone now, didn't know where the new prison went to.