Book clubs for inmates book clubs for inmates was started in 2009 by carol finlay, a retired anglican priest and english teacher, at collins bay institution, in kingston ontario. Ann walmsley wrote this memoir about the eighteen months she spent cofacilitating book clubs in both these institutions. Ann portrays these inmates graham the biker, frank the gunman, ben and dread the jamaicans, and the robber duo gaston and peter with sensitivity and understanding and. How carol finlay is freeing the minds of prisoners.
There are now bcfi clubs in 34 federal prisons and aboriginal healing lodges, and erics club is in the maximum security wing of the collins. The most interesting aspect of the prison book club is the books themselves and the ones the prisoners. Carol finlay is the founder and director of book clubs for inmates. If you cannot find your inmate, please feel free to create a personal inmate page yourself. Anns curiosity and desire to be of service eventually overcame her anxiety and fear, and she signed on. Carol finlay will be given the correctional services highest volunteer honour, the taylor award. Anns curiosity and desire to be of service eventually overcame her anxiety and fear and she signed on. Our book club is part of a network called book clubs for inmates, founded in 2009 by carol finlay, an anglican priest and former teacher. Prison reading club has inmates ignoring tv, flocking to steinbeck. A few years later, now returned to canada, her friend carol finlay asked her to participate in a book club in a mens medium security prison. Her partner was carol finlay, who has since set up 22 book clubs inside 15 penitentiaries in 7 provinces, and has begun coaching volunteers in new york and california.
Paul bourget volunteer book club facilitator paul bourget paul bourget paul bourget paul bourget in 2012, paul bourget came across an article in a john howard society newsletter about carol finlay and book clubs for inmates. It sets up an interesting tension within her account, but the split focus isnt entirely successful. Book clubs for inmates in may 2018, carol finlay, founder of book clubs for inmates, made an appeal to uwc for books for the grand valley institution for women, a prison in kitchener ontario. A few years later, when a friend asked her to participate in a bold new venture in a mens. Jan 08, 2016 the most interesting aspect of the prison book club is the books themselves and the ones the prisoners. Ann walmsleys friend, carol finlay, was beginning a new initiative setting up a monthly book club in a mens federal prison and asked for anns help. A daring journalist goes behind bars to explore the redemptive power of books with bikers, bank robbers, and gunmen an attack in london left ann walmsley unable to walk alone down the street, and shook her belief in the fundamental goodness of people.
Finlay received an honorary doctorate from stu for her work as an educator and advocate for marginalized people. Kate taylor, the globe and mail, november 22, 2014 in a nondescript lounge with cafeteriastyle tables and a few vending machines, eight men have gathered to discuss a historical novel about a plucky housemaid fighting the plague in 17thcentury england. Intrigued but nervous, ann initially agreed to choose books for the men, but carol pointed out that to know what might work, ann would have to meet the men. On christmas eve carol jean finlay was reunited with her loving husband, richard, in heaven. Free minds book club and writing workshop empowers young inmates to write new chapters in their lives. Mar 26, 2012 book clubs for inmates is now a registered charity, and carol is launching a 10th chapter. Northumberland resident carol finlay named to the order of ontario.
The prison book club by ann walmsley, paperback barnes. Apr 05, 2017 our book club is part of a network called book clubs for inmates, founded in 2009 by carol finlay, an anglican priest and former teacher. Carol finlay is the founder and director of book clubs for inmates i have been going into canadas penitentiaries for the past seven years. In the prison book club, walmsley follows six particularly involved book club members, asking them to keep journals and participated in candid oneonone conversations.
She started the first book club for inmates in collins bay institution in 2009. She begins the book by recounting how she was traumatized by a violent mugging in london eight years before her friend carol finlay, who created and championed the book club program, asked her to be a part of it. In august 2009, 18 members of a book club gathered to di. Carol finlay along with other volunteers have established eight reading clubs at various federal penitentiaries in ontario. Finlay said the inmates that are book club members have a much better attitude around their. In 2012, paul bourget came across an article in a john howard society newsletter about carol finlay and book clubs for inmates. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover carols connections and jobs at similar companies. For indigenous women, prisons are the adult version of.
It was a personal as well as professional journey for ann walmsley. She begins the book by recounting how she was traumatized by a violent mugging in london eight years before her friend carol finlay, who created and championed the book club program, asked her to. Salina public library has a few books about books in prisons that may be worth your time reading. The founder of the charity book clubs for inmates leads literary discussions with convicted criminals sidney loney updated march. She is also an anglican priest and former high school and university professor. He soon reached out to carol about the possibility of opening a book club at the mens federal institution outside his home city of winnipeg.
The prison book club follows six of the book club members, who kept journals at walmsleys request and participated in candid oneonone conversations. The attack shook her belief in the fundamental goodness of people and left her so shaken she was unable to walk down the street alone for some time. The prison book club by ann walmsley reading guidebook club. The prison book club is an eyeopening look at inmates and the penal system, and the. I admired the work she was doing but wasnt sure i could take part. The founder of the charity book clubs for inmates leads literary discussions with convicted criminals. Was it to promote the book clubs in prisons that her friend and colleague, carol finlay, had pioneered in canada, was it a lifelong love of books, or was it to.
She is the founder and executive director of book clubs for inmates, book discussions are taking place in. Apr 12, 2016 her partner was carol finlay, who has since set up 22 book clubs inside 15 penitentiaries in 7 provinces, and has begun coaching volunteers in new york and california. In 2008, she founded the book club for inmates which puts books in the hands of prisoners who, in small groups facilitated by volunteers, discuss the. The group, a nonreligious charity, sends volunteers into the. Housing about 650 inmates including sex offenders, murderers and drug dealers, its the largest federal penitentiary in canada. The reverend carol finlay the governor general of canada. Carol finlay was ordained in the anglican church of canada in 1992. Carol finlay, an anglican priest, and the organizer of the popular book club for inmates that is now in a total of eight ontario located prisons with. Book clubs for inmates bcfi began in 2008, when carol finlay visited collins bay institution, a mediumsecurity penitentiary in kingston, ontario. The reason a canadian named carol finlay started up book clubs in prisons was not just to give prisoners a welcome distraction and goal to read the books, but to broaden and stimulate their minds through discussion about the book, and see if it could also expand their empathy. Reading books in prison canadian mennonite magazine. Prison book club founder wins volunteer award the kingston. Guest speaker october 30, 2019 rotary club of toronto. Intrigued but nervous, ann initially agreed to choose books for the men, but carol pointed out that to know what might work, ann would have to.
Mar 16, 2020 ann walmsleys friend, carol finlay, was beginning a new initiative setting up a monthly book club in a mens federal prison and asked for anns help. Reading good books, fiction or nonfiction like memoirs, is about seeing things through another persons eyes. This is a huge issue for female inmates, often resulting in or exacerbating mental illness. The reverend doctor carol finlay is an anglican priest and founder and director of book clubs for inmates. A few years later, now returned to canada, her friend, carol finlay, asked her to participate in a book club in a mens medium security prison. The prison book club is a compelling read, especially for those of us who belong to book clubs. She has been involved in book clubs her whole adult life, and finds the prison book clubs and the discussions in them to be the most interesting ones of all. While living in london, ann walmsley was brutally mugged just outside her own home. Carol finlay founded book clubs for inmates, an organization that comprises 29 clubs and a postsecondary education scholarship program in mens and. Carol finlay, an anglican priest, and the organizer of the popular book club for inmates that is now. Jackie introduced noted broadcaster, writer and speaker eric freisen of kingston, who spoke on book clubs for inmates and his personal experiences as a volunteer during the 11 years this organization has existed since it was founded by carol finlay. By the end of this month, shell have 17 book clubs operating. Carol finlay obituary severna park, md the capital gazette. Bcfi founder carol finlay receives meritorious service medal 060718.
Jan 01, 2016 in the prison book club, walmsley follows six particularly involved book club members, asking them to keep journals and participated in candid oneonone conversations. Nov 23, 2014 this is the book club at warkworth institution, a federal mediumsecurity prison about two hours east of toronto. Executive director and founder of book clubs for inmates, carol finlay, joins the morning show to talk about what its like. A few years later, now returned to canada, her friend, carol finlay, asked her t. Need encouraging, margaret atwood supports, 10,000 dollar. Ann portrays these inmatesgraham the biker, frank the gunman, ben and dread the jamaicans, and the robber duo gaston and peterwith sensitivity and understanding and.
I thought i would do prayers with the guys in segregation, finlay says, recalling how she discovered that nobody in prison needed any more religion. How carol finlay is freeing the minds of prisoners chatelaine. Left traumatized by a brutal mugging, it was a big step for her to go into prisons and read with men who potentially could have been her attackers. The prison book club came about after an indecent in london. The idea began in 2009 when executive director carol finlay, a retired anglican priest and english teacher, began a club at the collins bay institution, near kingston. Reverend carol finlay, the indefatigable founder of book clubs for inmates, had organized a reading of charles dickens a christmas carol for the inmates of collins bay institution institution being correctional services canadaspeak for prison in kingston, ontario. The book club at warkworth is one of 17 in 14 federal prisons run by a toronto organization called book clubs for inmates. Carol finlay ireland professional profile linkedin.
Carol finlay, a former english teacher and an anglican minister, started her first book club in the collins bay institution in 2009. Carol finlay then approached her friend, author ann walmsley, to advise on book selection. Graham the biker, frank the gunman, ben and dread the drug dealers, and the robber duo gaston and peter come to life as the author reconciles her knowledge of their crimes with the individuals. How i found life and freedom on death row by anthony ray hinton, which is the true story of a black man from alabama wrongfully convicted of murder, who is sent to death row. Join facebook to connect with carol finlay and others you may know. Prison reading club has inmates ignoring tv, flocking to. How carol finlay is freeing the minds of prisoners fab in her 60s. Book clubs for inmates is now a registered charity, and carol is launching a 10th chapter. The idea began in 2009 when executive director carol finlay. As a victim of a violent mugging, author and ptsd sufferer ann walmsley, confronts her fear of criminals, volunteering to assist in establishing book clubs in mens prisons as. On november 21, kate taylor introduced globe and mail readers to a different kind of book club. Carol finlay visited collins bay institution, a mediumsecurity penitentiary in kingston, ontario.
As a victim of a violent mugging, author and ptsd sufferer ann walmsley, confronts her fear of criminals, volunteering to assist in establishing book clubs in mens prisons as part of a pilot project for inmate rehabilitation. She slipped away quietly after suffering with alzheimers disease for several years. The prison book club by ann walmsley overdrive rakuten. Executive director and founder of book clubs for inmates, carol finlay, joins the morning show to talk about what its like holding literary discussions inside prison walls with. In england in 2002, at the age of 46, i had survived a violent mugging. Book clubs for inmates was started in 2009 by carol finlay, a retired anglican priest and english teacher, at collins bay institution, in kingston ontario. While on death row, the author used his time to create a book club for death row inmates. The attack shook her belief in the fundamental goodness of people and left her with ptsd. Today, book clubs for inmates bcfi, a registered charity, runs 26 book clubs in institutions across canada, with more than 70 volunteers. Inmate search arrest locator prisons, jails, ice detainees. Walmsley is initially recruited by the unstoppable carol finlay, a retired teacher and anglican minister with a passionate belief in prison book clubs she calls them circles of civil discourse. Sep 22, 2015 the prison book club follows six of the book club members, who kept journals at walmsleys request and participated in candid oneonone conversations.
In a previous blog, althea, a reader in british columbia, sent me a story about book clubs for inmates. Ann walmsley, eileen barrett, post hypnotic press inc amazon. Nov 21, 2014 the idea began in 2009 when executive director carol finlay, a retired anglican priest and english teacher, began a club at the collins bay institution, near kingston. The group, a nonreligious charity, sends volunteers into the institutions to lead monthly discussions and gets private donors to cover the cost of the books. The prison book club by ann walmsley by ann walmsley by ann walmsley by ann walmsley. At first the inmates saw everything in black and white, but soon the discussions evolved. The board of directors of book clubs for inmates is delighted to announce that founder, carol finlay, received a meritorious service medal blue medal in photograph on friday july 6, 2018. Id like to help find you some good books readers digest. She is also an anglican priest and former high school and. And woven throughout is the determined and compassionate carol finlay, working tirelessly to expand her program across canada and into the. The prison book club is an eyeopening look at inmates and the penal system, and the possibilities of redemption. View carol finlays profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. The prison book club audiobook ann walmsley audible. Six years ago, when my friend carol finlay invited me to join a book club she had started in a canadian mens prison, everything about it screamed bad idea.
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