The first time I was old enough to realize what it was, we drove past The Pen and I got a chill. It looked so foreboding. I loved the movie The Grey Fox. Great production. All of the actors were excellent. I got a film school manual on the making of the movie. Became interested because part of it was filmed near me at Fort Steele and my in- laws got to play an older couple driving a wagon down the street. My father- in - law was so tickled. He was a young cowboy before he went off to WWII

Wonderful properties with great history. Billy's story is very interesting. Thank you Jean Claude and Leonardo for this awesome Vlog.

My Great Grandfather was a convict in the end between 1910 and 1914 when it was called New Westminster Pennitentiary. He was there the day of the big escape in 1913.

Entertaining piece JC. They still talk about Billy in the Tulameen area, where he supposedly was in hiding for some time between “jobs.” I remember watching the movie “The Grey Fox” back in the day, and I have long thought that your voice is similar in timbre and cadence to the late, great actor Richard Farnsworth, who portrayed Billy in the movie.

Once again a wonderful video. Had a friend visit the Pen for a few years.

I'll bet if you left your camera 📷 and microphone 🎤 in the solitary confinement overnight you'd be seeing and hearing some supernatural stuff. Great coverage as usual Jean Claude 👍

Good vlog buddy. I was lucky enough to take a walking tour just before it closed. Wish I had taken pictures but I was on crutches at the time. It was much more haunting to see it in person. They had left a lot of the damaged area after the riot and didn't fix anything.

"They call me Ben, here in the pen, where ya takes the guff & ya suffer But I'll be free when I'm 53, and I'll bet I'll be a whole lot tougher" - Stompin Tom Another gooder my friend!.. Wonder how you'd look in striped sunlight? ;-) Thank you for the escapes! Take care and be well.. Your Benevolent buddy🇨🇦

Thanks you my friend

Good video Jean Claude.

So interesting!

Thank You Jean!! as soon as i seen this new post, I was compelled to share this with DownieLive another Vlogger that came upon this "Castle" but there was no mention of Bill Miner or his stay here... I was acquainted with Bill Miner way back with The national film boards Vignette Canada Vignettes - Bill Miner - KZfaq..

I grew up just up the road from the old BC Penn! Us kids used to dare each other to run up to the walls. (We were always told by our parents to stay away).

i knew several ppl who served tim in the pen for things like roberry, paper hanging. there was a former inmate who reformed and became a construction worker. he was interviewed on the news. he was helping remove the pen. i knew him n his girlfriend. i have a real cool pen souvenier. its called spike nail. made in pen by inmates. you can tell it was handmade.when the pen was open for tours,my pals n i lined up to go see it

Very cool.

He was quite the character, there is a great little pub named after him a stone's throw from me here in Port Haney (Maple Ridge) After his escape he made his way back to the States and I believe died in a Georgia prison.

Wow!

This is one cool story, I have a nice part to add about Mr Fox's hand gun!!, My friend was Tom Bongalis from Castle Armory of North Vancouver he actually owned the gun that was in the Grey Fox story and that actual gun was the gun used by actor Richard Farnsworth was used on Camera! , it was the actual gun that was used to rob the trains he said, i actually held that gun, (I held many more interesting items from the Movies as they were in the Movie business of firearms & Rentals and specialist for movies done in Vancouver,) But this one was coolest because of the history the hand gun at the time I held it in 93 Tom just gently handed it to me lol I was shaking Told me don't drop it it's worth 250 to 300k I believe he said lol Wow & I actually was left holding something with such history, ( trust was hard to get from Tom but once he liked you, he took you for the grand tour of the Armory and his amazing colection and movie props & his amazing penthouse suite above the armory) I know my friend Tom is accredited at the end of the movie,and the armory for it's contributions,,Since I moved to Saskatchewan I lost contact with Mr Tom Bongalis ,,,, I talked to his daughter once she told me he had passed a few year's earlier! Tom Bongalis, Sad I will never forget the history & food n drink & the cool Stories he shared with me and The Grey Fox was one of them,lol including the gun used,,....JVC it's amazing content like yours that gets the memories of many of us lil older Vancouverites excited, just think lol if my Father never went to Nick's Spaghetti house in 1965 JVC I wouldn't be here leaving you comments lol that would be sad!I can't believe how Well you put these amazing vlogs together appreciate your awesome content! ..✌ RIP ⚘Tom Bongalis Luv&Peace Friend!⚘

$5 mil for a wonderful performance venue!! But keep the jail cells... lol.

Leonardo us a goof

Another great report. When I was a kid there was a hostage taking and murder in the Pen. It was huge news across the country. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Steinhauser