Spring is an essential time for growth, prosperity, and transition. The change of seasons brings about nicer weather, gardens, and friendly faces; a reminder of the importance of connections with the earth and the people whose time we appreciate and value. We have settled into the new season very nicely at Open Circle. Things are …
Dear readers: This obituary is written by Ken Penner, with input from Tai Jackson, in response to a story/obituary written for the Winnipeg Free Press by Danton Unger on Sept 4 about Roger Jackson. Roger was my friend. I’m sorry that’s he’s gone. He had requested that I come to visit him in the Stonewall …
Connecting The call came in at 8:00 in the morning. His first words, after I said hello, “Hank, is it ever good to hear your voice.” Phil (name changed) was calling from the minimum at Stony Mountain. It was the first time we had spoken since the Institution had been closed to volunteers and visitors. …
It is not the kind of statement you would expect from someone who just finished visiting a person in prison. John has been a volunteer with Open Circle for two years and was moving on so he could dedicate more time to other things. He voiced his comment as I spent some time debriefing with …
We settled into our seats at the local coffee shop to catch up on the latest news. James had seen his fair share of rough spots in life. Prison, mental health issues, struggling to hold a full time job. As we talked we were interrupted by someone sitting next to us, “Do you know how …
It is the hidden side of prison. The side that gets little mention in the press. The side that serves a different kind of time. I met her just as she was entering Stony Mountain Institution for the first time. She stood in the entrance to the prison, fear etched on her face. English was not her first language, …
