World Prisons
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Family communication toolkit

Contacting Main Cellblock

A step-by-step guide for families using the Canadaprison system. Everything below is aggregated from public sources; the prison's own official channels are linked where available.

Data is aggregated from public sources and may be incomplete or out of date. Always verify with primary sources before acting on any figure. See data sources.

Send mail to Canada

Address block. Copy and paste into your envelope or shipping label.

Inmate Full Name & FPS Number
Main Cellblock
Canada

Country-wide mail rules

  • · Letters only; no laminated photos, no polaroids, no stickers.
  • · Books direct from publishers/retailers are usually accepted; check the institution first.
  • · Cash not accepted by post — use a money order to the inmate trust account.

Send money (CAD ($))

Phone calls

  • · Inmate-initiated only; calls are pre-paid via an inmate phone account.
  • · All non-legal calls recorded.

Visiting

Book a visit: CSC visitor application — V-1 form

Country-wide visiting rules

  • · Photo ID required.
  • · Visit types: open contact, closed (non-contact), and private family visits (PFV) up to 72 hours for eligible inmates.
  • · Dress code per institution; no white, no all-blue/khaki.

First-visit checklist

  • Photo ID
  • Approved-visitor letter from CSC
  • Coins for lockers/vending
  • No phone, no electronics in the visit area

Legal aid

Helpful to know

  • · Indigenous inmates may be transferred to a Healing Lodge (Section 81) — family visits there follow community protocols.

Important

This toolkit aggregates publicly available guidance. Rules vary by facility and change over time — always confirm with the prison's official contact channels before sending mail, money, or attempting a visit.