Charles Ernest DesRosiers (1912 - 1969)

Warden of British Columbia Penitentiary from 1965 - 1969

Born in St. Victor, Saskatchewan on August 6, 1912 to parents Ernest J. DesRosiers and Alice M. Houle, Charles Ernest DesRosiers was educated at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Alberta, where he completed post-graduate studies in psychology. DesRosiers joined the Penitentiary Service in 1936, and was in England studying the British penal system at the outbreak of World War II. He returned to Canada and enlisted in the Saskatoon Light Infantry, and spent the remainder of the war overseas. He retired from the military with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

DesRosiers returned to penitentiary work in 1951 as Head Keeper at Stony Mountain Penitentiary, and was promoted to warden there in 1957. He served as warden at Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick, and at Joyce Institution near Kingston, before being posted to New Westminster. DesRosiers became warden of the BC Penitentiary on August 1, 1965, and held the position until 1969 when his term was cut unexpectedly short by a fatal heart attack. He died on May 12, 1969 at the age of 56, survived by his wife, Margaret Marie DesRosiers and four children. He is buried in Ocean View Burial Park in New Westminster.

Sources

  1. "Prison Warden Dies", The Columbian, May 13, 1969, p. 1.
  2. BC Vital Event Death Registration, Call Number 1969-09-007442, Roll B13296
  3. "DesRosiers Rites Set", The Columbian, May 14, 1969, p.2.


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