Despite all the drama Bridgepoint Health (and the Don Jail) went through between Doors Open and now, they broke ground right on schedule just this past Monday and put the wheels in motion to build the new Bridgepoint Hospital with the adjacent old Don Jail being repurposed as a research and administration facility.
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A little over two months ago, the Night at the Big House rave—which was to be held at the Old Don Jail—was cancelled at the eleventh hour. It was supposed to be the first of many functions held at the jail whose proceeds would benefit the Bridgepoint Foundation, but due to licensing issues between Bridgepoint (jail's owner) and the Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC; jail's leaseholder), the rave and all future happenings were put on hold. On Monday, Slingshot—the company hired by Bridgepoint to manage the venue space—bitterly announced no events would be forthcoming. Is anyone else somewhat relieved?
The "Night In The Big House @ THE DON JAIL," scheduled for tonight, was to be the rave of the season. But a note posted to the Facebook event page on Thursday morning called it off: "As of 10am on Thursday, June 04, 2009 the Ontario Realty Corporation, an arm of the provincial government and the agency that controls the Old Don Jail has cancelled our event on Friday, June 5, 2009 and ALL other events for the Old Don Jail in the near future."
At 9 a.m. on Saturday—one full hour before the notorious Don Jail opened its heavy, ominous doors to the public for the first time in thirty years—hundreds of curious visitors were already camped out at the back entrance, chomping at the bit to get inside. Thanks to the gracious folks from Bridgepoint Health, the jail’s new owners and landlords, Torontoist was able to sneak in early to see what has got to be this year’s most riveting Doors Open venue.

Newsstand: November 27, 2009