Comments on: Jack Webster and BC Penitentiary

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 13:45:06 +0000

I remember Jack well, especially his interview with Bryan Adams when I was a teen. The other thing that sticks out in my mind is his trench coat, remember that scene where he emerges from an alley looking cautiously around and is wearing it? I found this article completely by accident when looking something else up and am glad I did. So, hello from a Victoria native in Arizona, and thank you!

By: sue

sue — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 21:52:21 +0000

In reply to Sue. . . . and before on the North Shore. I can well imagine Jack sharing the details with grandpa in full detail. I met him once (as a teen) on a visit with my grandad on SSI

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 19:50:55 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. My grandfather and Jack were friends … Scots living on Salt Spring tended to bond … (albeit after this event)

By: Angus McIntyre

Angus McIntyre — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 06:26:53 +0000

I attended the open house at the B.C. Penitentiary after it closed. We were able to access almost every area, and after a few hours there was a definite urge to leave. The perimeter walls were extremely high. As we walked through one building a man ahead of us was showing his family a cell he once occupied. An upper tier of cells afforded a view through windows of the Fraser River . . . and unattainable freedom.

By: James

James — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 02:23:30 +0000

I have the dubious honour of knowing the next ” knife to throat” inmate Dwight Lowe as his cuz family were neighbours at Crystal Water Beach @ Holiday farm. Then parents best friends were their next door neighbours Chief of Police Don Winterton and lovely wife Margo. Poor Don got really put on the spot thought when Prince Andrew came to visit his cuz Jacques and Felicity Barbou. He had no passport and the US guards were clueless to the fact he not only did not have one but did not need one. So out of the backyard hot tub in wet shorts and up the the border to smooth that incident over. I believe it was the PM who called after he got a call from Buckingham Palace.
The BCpen incidend ended peacfully and was front page in The Sun the next day. If you remember the Grader that shots werr fired at as the thief drove through the border and down the steep hill to escape it was Dons son Clark who fired them., never a dull moment.

By: Brett Wilkie

Brett Wilkie — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 01:41:26 +0000

Thank you Eve for that look back into our local history, I quite enjoy reading your accounts of past events. I was only 9 years old when this riot occurred but I do have a vague recollection of it. I took a moment to forward your story link to a friend of mine who is coincidentally Jack Webster’s son and he equally enjoyed it. Jack’s son did go on to say that he remembered that weekend like it was yesterday mentioning how shaken his Father was when he finally got home from the ordeal, his fear was that he might be killed during the night if things did not go the way the prisoners had wanted. An interesting side note here is that the the Webster family still has the original handmade shank that the rioters held to the guards throat during the ordeal, the quote from Jack’s son states “the shank is keepsake, albeit a ghoulish one”.

By: Carol; Gordon

Carol; Gordon — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 21:35:49 +0000

How I loved to hear Jack’s Scottish accent – never really knew what the “fuss” was all about. I only listened only for the accent!

By: Willow

Willow — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 18:05:33 +0000

I was pretty young during the Webster years but I do remember that voice. I am 51 now but I think most long term B.C. people will have his voice in their head until the day they die.

By: Brad Williams

Brad Williams — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 17:28:38 +0000

Very interesting story Eve! The prison system has changed and evolved over many years in B.C. Jack was a good man, interesting, entertaining, abrasive and didnt take bull from anybody. Very controversial is the death penalty for horrific crimes, but I for one am glad it is not legal in Canada.

By: Darlene Ruckle

Darlene Ruckle — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 15:22:49 +0000

Thank you for posting this incredible article. I remember Jack Webster when we both lived on Salt Spring island during the 1980s. He was a soft spoken, mild mannered…old fashioned kind of guy. ‘Twas nothing like his radio persona.