Bordeaux Prison

Bordeaux Prison stretches across multiple connected buildings arranged in a star shape, with a central tower dominating the site at 800 Gouin Boulevard West. The facility was designed to hold male inmates serving shorter sentences and people awaiting trial, with capacity for around 1500 people.

The facility opened in 1912 as a replacement for the older Pied-du-Courant Prison, marking a shift toward modern detention practices in Quebec. This new institution embodied updated ideas about how to manage and organize incarcerated populations.

The chapel at the top of the central tower reflects how religious practice shaped life inside Quebec's detention facilities during the early 20th century. This space shows the spiritual dimension that was considered part of rehabilitation for those held here.

The prison is located in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville neighborhood of Montreal and is accessible by public transit. Visiting is restricted and requires advance arrangements made through family members or legal representatives.

Between 1912 and 1960, the facility carried out executions by hanging, including the case of Marguerite Pitre, the last woman executed in Canada. This period reflects a darker chapter in Canadian legal history that ended with changing attitudes toward capital punishment.