Initial travel to Burwash was by rail and eventually by road that connected the south to Sudbury, 25 miles to the north. This road was the precursor to Highway 69. The Burwash lands were logged and farmed to support the Correctional Centre. Tree planting was a part of the forestry plan in the early years. Farming produced internationally renowned cattle. The Burwash townsite was self-sufficient with its own power station as well as a water pump house and sewage treatment plant.

Old Road  (photograph ©2003 Mrs. Morrison)

Mill (photograph ©2003 Mrs. Morrison)

The Power House (photograph ©2003 Mrs. Morrison)

Burwash (photograph ©2003 Mrs. Morrison)

The following is a summary originally reported by the Northern Life (Sudbury), Wed. July 25, 1990. May 20, 1911 to September 1914: - concept of a prison farm located in the Sudbury area is born. September 1914: - public commitment by the Ontario Government to locate a prison at Burwash; - correctional facilities at three camps: Main Camp; Spruce Camp; and Camp Bison; - included agricultural programs such as hay production and vegetable gardening, a trade school and a sawmill. Industrial Farm c.1950 (photograph ©2003 Mrs. Morrison)

Camp Bison (2003) photograph ©2003 Ken McCausland

1974: July 10, 1974: Ontario Minister of Correctional Services, Richard T. Potter, announces that the Burwash Correctional Centre would close by March 1975. 1974: September 10, 1974: closure began. 1975: January 13, 1975: Ministry of Correctional Services takes responsibility of the Centre; photograph ©2003 Andy Fyon

1976: - additional buildings and equipment removed by Ministry of Correctional Services; December 21, 1976: Ontario Government announced its intention to sell the Centre. 1977: A steering Committee was established by the Ontario Government to recommend possible uses for the remaining complex and the 35,000 acres of land. In October 1977, the Federal Government purchased 35,000 acres of the Burwash lands. It was rumored that a maximum security penitentiary would be built. photograph ©2003 Ken McCausland photograph ©2003 Ken McCausland 1978: More then 50 proposals were submitted to address possible uses of the Burwash lands. The proposals were considered by the Steering Committee and the consultant, M.M. Dillon Ltd.  Camp Bison buildings and 180 acres of land were sold to the Federal Government for $1.8 million. 1979: In July, the land was leased to the Regional Municipality of Sudbury for a goat farming operation to produce mohair.  On November 29, 1979, a User Committee of Burwash was established by the Ministry of Government Services.  On November 30, 1979, the Federal Government cut the utility services to Camp Bison. 1980: February 16, 1980: The User Committee of Burwash issues a public Request for Proposal seeking uses for Burwash. At the same time, the Ministry of Environment received approval to study vegetation near Camp Spruce. In June, the User Committee for Burwash concluded the best use for the Burwash centre was a prison farm.

1981:  - a plan to produce cedar shingles, sponsored by the Burwash Native People's Project, presented to the Ontario Government; - 29 single family houses were removed under contract at a price of $400 per house; - the Mohair goat project was terminated. photograph ©2003 Ken McCausland photograph ©2003 Ken McCausland 1982: - lease for the Burwash Native People's Project was developed effective December 1. 1983: - in July, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications advised that large deposits of gravel occurred on the Burwash land. 1985: - in April, the Sudbury Citizens' Movement proposed to develop Burwash into a community co-op; - July: a Country and Western Jamboree was held on the property; - July 24, the Federal Government offered to sell Camp Bison back to the Ontario Government; Ontario declined; - Ontario Government inter-ministerial committee was established to review proposals regarding the use of Burwash. 1987: - Federal Government sold Camp Bison to citizen John Kostivik. 1990: - a waste management proposal to dispose of toxic waste was submitted but never implemented; - a composting proposal was submitted but never implemented; - the Federal Department of National Defence successfully bid on 8,000 acres of the Burwash land to be used for military training. photograph ©2003 Andy Fyon

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