Challenges Faced at Thunder Bay Jail Inquest

WARNING: This story references thought of suicide.

Jeffrey Bell shared with an Ontario inquest that he and other correctional officers at the Thunder Bay Jail “are constantly fighting the age of our building and the hiring practices of our employer.”

Bell testified on Monday and Tuesday morning before a coroner’s jury looking into the June 2, 2020, death of Kevin Mamakwa, a member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation and the nephew of Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa.

Bell, who has been employed for eight years, was present the night when the 27-year-old was found dead in his cell.

He mentioned that he checked Mamakwa’s cell block around midnight and then went to the break room. Just two minutes later, he said he heard shouting.

The jury at the inquest also viewed video footage showing several correctional officers responding to Mamakwa’s cell block and discovering his body. His cellmate, Jamie Da Costa, is seen being led out of the cell while Bell and other officers perform CPR on Mamakwa.

Inquests are required under the provincial Coroners Act when someone dies while in custody. The five-member jury is tasked with determining factors such as medical causes of death and how someone passed away – whether by natural causes, accident, homicide, suicide or undetermined. They can also suggest recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths.

Jurors cannot assign legal responsibility or blame anyone involved.

The Thunder Bay Jail was built in 1926 and has an operational capacity of 134 inmates. (Sarah Law/CBC)

Earlier during the Mamakwa inquest which started on June 1, jurors listened to an audio recording from Da Costa saying it took between 10 to 20 minutes for correctional officers to respond to his calls for help after he found Mamakwa’s body upon returning from the washroom. The video shown seems to indicate a response within a few minutes.

In that audio recording, Da Costa described how he and Mamakwa were quarantined together during COVID-19. They were both going through drug withdrawal, and Mamakwa told Da Costa that he couldn’t access his prescription for suboxone in jail, which is used for treating opioid use disorder.

Da Costa stated that Mamakwa felt sick and was sleep deprived; his mood fluctuated significantly.

The jury earlier read a letter discovered in Mamakwa’s pocket after his passing which referenced thoughts about ending his life.

I’ve had multiple since then, but you never forget the first one.- Jeffrey Bell, correctional officer, on major incidents at the Thunder Bay Jail

Bell also discussed staffing issues along with limited breaks given to correctional officers during night shifts back in 2020.

“You knew you weren’t getting a break so you just kind of ate when you could.”

Now correctional officers receive four breaks throughout a 12-hour shift according to Bell. However, conditions remain “chronically” understaffed and overcrowded – with sometimes four or five inmates sharing one cell as noted by him.

“There are days when I’m putting people in cells where I actually feel like a bad human being because I don’t care what crime you committed – I wouldn’t want to be treated that way,” referring to conditions within the century-old building.

Mamakwa’s death marked Bell’s first major incident since joining the jail staff.

“I’ve had multiple since then but you never forget your first one.”

‘Throwing Band-aids on bullet holes’

A spokesperson from Ontario’s Ministry of Solicitor General informed that as of Friday “the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre had an operational capacity of 194 while Thunder Bay Jail’s capacity remained at 134.”

Bell indicated there often are more than 200 inmates present at any time.

While COVID-19 brought many difficulties, Bell mentioned “in some ways it was a break” due to fewer inmates being housed at their facility during that period.

The Thunder Bay Jail is shown June 5 at 285 Mac Dougall St. (Sarah Law/CBC)

A new facility intended to help address overcrowding issues is currently under construction-The Thunder Bay Correctional Complex located on Highway 61-which is set to open next year. The current jail along with its associated center will continue operating for now though.

Bell expressed worries regarding ongoing operations without any changes made at Thunder Bay Jail stating “For inmates to be treated as human beings you’re going to have to empty that building; you’ll need millions spent gutting it out entirely.”

“It isn’t designed nor set up properly for what we are doing now. We are just throwing Band-aids on bullet holes trying desperately keeping afloat this ship that’s already submerged.”

Recruitment struggles

<p On May14 , the Ontario government announced plans targeting over700 positions aiming towards hiringmorecorrectionalstaff includingofficers, nurses, andcriticalsupportworkersby2026.

Recruitment efforts initiated concerning Thunder Bay Correctional Complexasmentionedinareleasefromprovince.

The462-bed Thunder Bay Correctional Complexshownunderconstructionon Jan27 ,2026, isexpectedtoopennextyear.(Marc Doucette/CBC)

Accordingto Bell , Thunder Bay Jailiscurrentlyhiring ,“butissuesregardingpropertrainingandretentionpersist.”

“Youcanhire alldaylong, butwhennewpeoplearriveandseewhatourjobentails, they burnoutwithinmonthsandleave,”hesaidtotheinquest.

Increasingstaffhasledtoheavierworkloadsaccordingto Bell.

“From2018when Istartedmycareer untiltodayin2026, everyoneinthebuildinghasbeenonsurvivalmodetryingtogetalltaskscompleted.”

<Bell stands among13 witnesseswho’ve testifiedsofar.

<P Asoftuesdayafternoon, jurywaslisteningfromapanelfourwitnessesaboutprogressmadeatthe Thunder Bay Correctional Complexaswellascurrentplansfor Thunder Bay Jail.<P Inquestproceedingsarestreamedin Englishonlinewith Oji-Cree translation. They’reexpectedtowrapupbyendofthisweek.<P Ifyouoranyoneyouknowisstruggling, h ere’swhere togethelp:

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