Sociology PhD student Laura McKendy speaks outside the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre in memory of Justin St Amour

Sociology PhD student Laura McKendy, pictured here in the Citizen, flanked by Community Engaged Sociology graduate Jane Crosby, and former Sociology student Genny Doyle. Laura spoke at a vigil last night outside the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre in memory of Justin St Amour, a man diagnosed with schizophrenia who committed suicide while imprisoned at OCDC last week after being turned away when seeking help at a psychiatric facility. The vigil was organized by MOMS Ottawa, a group of the mothers of prisoners, and the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project. Laura has interviewed 33 former OCDC prisoners for her dissertation research. Also participating in the vigil, along with Aaron Doyle, were other Sociology grad students doing thesis research on the penal system: Marie Coligado, Sarah Fiander, and Kate McKenzie.