During what period of time was the cemetery in use?
The first confirmed burial in the BC Penitentiary cemetery was on June 1, 1914 — this was a Chinese inmate known simply as “Gim” (1948). Gim’s grave is the first burial for which a headstone remains today. However there were likely at least four burials at or near the site in late 1912 and 1913. The death certificate of prisoner Herman Wilson (1629), who died on October 29, 1912, lists his place of burial as “BC Penitentiary Cemetery”. And when prisoner Joseph Smith (1433) — Wilson’s accomplice in an October 1912 escape attempt — was executed at the penitentiary on January 31, 1913, the British Columbian reported Smith was buried “in a far corner of the penitentiary grounds” (this is confirmed on Smith’s death certificate, which lists his place of burial as “BC Penitentiary”). The death certificate of Johnny Peter (880), who died the same day Joseph Smith was executed and was buried the next day, lists Peters’ place of burial as “BC Penitentiary cemetery”. Finally, the New Westminst
