A great time...behind bars?
Activities
Check out our Crime and Punishment jail tour, which leaves the lobby daily at 7pm and learn a little about the hostel's criminal past. Looking for some spooky stories? The HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel is the most haunted building in Ottawa. We offer daily Ghosts and Gallows Tours in partnership with Haunted Walks of Ottawa. The tours run every night from the ticket booth on Sparks Street. Tickets are available at the front desk of the hostel.
More of the outdoor type? Why not join OHOC (Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club) on one of their trips. Most of their trips depart from the hostel, but all the information is available at the front desk. On Saturday's they offer, cycling during the summer and snowshoeing in winter. On Sundays, hiking during the spring, summer and fall, canoeing in the summer and skiing in the winter. For more information on transportation, costs, borrowing gear and experience level check out their website at www.ohoc.ca.
The Ottawa Jail Hostel also runs evening programs during the month such as: movie, trivia and hockey nights. Why not join us for one of these events and find out why we are the best hostel in Ottawa.
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...And always keep an eye out for event postings in the hostel's front lobby, or in the dining hall!
Programs
To learn more about, or to book, one of our programs, please email: ottawa.groups@hihostels.ca, or call: 1-866-299-147
To learn about our group rates, please visit our Groups page for details.
Cubs Sleepover:
We have put together the following program especially for Cub Packs that combine educational elements and fun times in our unique Jail setting. The program includes the following components:
- Mug shot and finger printing: Each cub will be fingerprinted, and get an "I've done time at the HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel" mug shot ? these items will be presented to them as a certificate at the end of the program.
- What did prisoners eat? Cubs will learn what kinds of food prisoners ate when the building operated as a prison, as well as help to prepare, and taste, samples.
- Hangman tournament: In honour of hosting the last public hanging in Canada, we will hold a hangman tournament with some basic jail and cub-related words ? nothing too difficult, but that is still a challenge for the kids to figure out.
- Ghost stories: Told either in solitary confinement or the hostel's back courtyard (weather permitting), the cubs will hear (and tell) a few simple ghost stories ? these stories will not relate to our regular tour and are fun and enjoyable for younger aged children.
- Jail Olympics (weather permitting): Outdoor fun and games for the kids to participate in (such as races, relays, etc.) ? held either in the back courtyard or the parking lot.
- Carleton County Gaol Heritage Centre Activity Book: This booklet contains word games, colouring pages, puzzles and other paper-based activities the cubs can do at the hostel or at home.
- Mug-up late evening before bedtime.
- Additional Option: Each cub is provided a special edition "Smooth Criminal" t-shirt.
Please note: The actual number and types of activities being offered will be finalized and agreed upon once we have a reasonable estimate as to the final number of participants; some activities may be dictated by the weather at the time of arrival.
Birthday Behind Bars
Throw a birthday celebration your little crook'll never forget by tossing them in jail with their favourite accomplices! The HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel provides a new and novel approach to celebrating your child's birthday this year: LOCK-EM UP! That's right...you can personally sentence your son or daughter, and all their partners' in crime, to a fun-filled and spooky night in our historic ? and HAUNTED ? jail.
- One night in an authentic jail cell
- Party invitations (electronic or paper)
- Cake and decorations (getaway file not included)
- Personalized mug-shot & fingerprinting for each delinquent
- Choice of 3 activities:
- Carleton County Gaol Scavenger Hunt
- Carleton County Gaol Hangman Tournament
- It's Gruel Time: What Inmates Ate
- Chain Gang Ghost Stories
- Carleton County Gaol Heritage Centre visit
- One parking spot for your getaway vehicle
Price (per person):
$33.44 with accommodation, 6 crook minimum (taxes extra)
$15.75 without accommodation, 10 crook minimum, (taxes extra)
The Birthday Behind Bars includes:
The following add-ons are also available:
- Getaway loot bags
- Haunted Walks Jail Tour (cost varies with number of participants)
- Séance/Ghost Investigation