Families of EMDC victims eye Junos as place to protest jail conditions

The sister of an inmate who died at London'sElgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) last January says she's so frustrated by a lack of action at the troubled jailthat she's ready to ramp things up by organizing aprotest at the Juno Awards.

Lynn Pigeau became anoutspoken critic of EMDCfollowing her brother James' death in January 2018 of an apparent overdose while in custody.

At the time, James Pigeau was awaiting trial for charges of robbery and theft.

Since then, Lynn Pigeauhas protested outside the jail and has met with the jail's advisory board to press for change, but she saidprogress isn't happening fast enough.

Pigeau had also arranged to meet directly with then-minister of community safety and corrections Michael Tibollo, but after that meeting was cancelled, she saidshe'sreceived nofurther overtures from the province.

Now, Pigeau isadopting a new set of tactics to bring the troubled jail directly into public view.

"We're not [at the Junos] to break the law, we're just there to bring awareness to EMDC London," said Pigeau, who also plans to rally at Queen's Park.

"A lot of these people, they pick up causes like that so we're hoping to spark somebody's attention."

Petition for change

To that end, Pigeaualso launched a change.org petition this week,calling on the ministry to commit tobetter protection for guards and a secure wayof separating violent offenders from non-violent offenders.

Pigeau said sitting through the trial of former EMDC guardsStephen Jurkus andLeslie Lonsbarythis winter was "an eye-opener"about the violence facingguards and inmates alike.

"A lot of those guards, they're caught between a rock and a hard place they want to get home to their families at the end of the day also," she said, adding that she believes the jail needs to hire more guards to help existing staff deal with violent inmates.

"We're rallying change for them just as much for inmates."

Despite coming at the issuefrom different perspectives and with different strategies, Janet Laverty, president of the union local that represents guards at EMDC, said she and Pigeauultimately have the same goal.

"There needs to be an investment and there needs to be change happening," said Laverty.

Change for her means better staffing,more training and re-training for guards and clearer sanctions for violent behaviour.

"There's been a lot of talk but there hasn't been a lot of action," she said. "There needs to be an investment and there needs to be an investment rather quickly."