Collins Bay Inmate Dies of Suspected Drug Overdose Amid Growing Prison Safety Concerns
A 35-year-old inmate at Collins Bay Institution has died from what officials believe was a drug overdose, raising renewed concern about the flow of illicit substances—especially fentanyl—into Canadian prisons.
You can read the full original news report here:
👉 Collins Bay inmate dead of apparent drug overdose
The inmate, identified as Shane Elliott Gammie, was found unresponsive in his cell early Saturday morning in the medium-security unit. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m., according to the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers.
Who Was Shane Elliott Gammie?
Gammie had been serving a five-year, nine-month, and 15-day sentence since June 2015 for several offences, including:
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Break and enter
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Use of a firearm
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Possession of drugs for trafficking
Correctional Service Canada (CSC) confirmed that his family had been notified of his passing but did not publicly disclose details regarding the cause of death due to Privacy Act restrictions.
Officers Describe a Traumatic Emergency Response
Although CSC withheld specifics, Rob Finucan—Ontario regional president for the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers—said frontline staff reported that the death appeared to be due to a suspected drug overdose.
Two officers discovered Gammie unresponsive during their routine walk-through. Additional staff rushed to the cell and immediately began a series of life-saving interventions.
Finucan described the scene as extremely traumatic, noting that Gammie was vomiting while officers attempted CPR:
“Several officers responded and they performed first aid CPR on him… It was quite traumatic because he was vomiting while they were doing CPR on him, but he obviously didn’t make it.”
Officers administered naloxone, performed CPR, and used a defibrillator while waiting for paramedics. Despite their efforts, Gammie could not be revived.
Drug Overdose Crisis Inside Collins Bay Institution
Finucan emphasized that overdoses remain a “huge problem” inside the prison. Collins Bay saw a significant spike in overdose incidents earlier that year, with 11 overdose deaths between mid-April and early May, many involving fentanyl-laced drugs.
Illicit substances enter the prison through multiple channels, including:
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Drones dropping contraband
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Packages thrown over prison walls
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Visitors smuggling drugs
Previously, correctional officers were assigned to elevated posts to monitor drone activity, but those positions were eliminated due to budget cuts. Finucan is pushing for those posts to be reinstated until new anti-drone technology—such as radar systems—arrives, which may take six to nine months.
CSC spokesperson Isabelle Robitaille said the service continues to rely on staff vigilance, approved detection tools, and evolving technologies to prevent contraband entry, though specific security details are not shared publicly for safety reasons.
Importance of CPR in Overdose Emergencies
This tragic incident highlights an important public health message:
Immediate CPR can dramatically increase the chance of survival during an overdose or sudden cardiac arrest.
Correctional officers used every intervention available—including CPR and naloxone—in their attempt to save Gammie. Similar quick action by trained individuals can make life-saving differences in everyday emergencies.
Want to learn CPR and be prepared to act?
Consider enrolling in a certified CPR course at Calgary First Aid:
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CPR and AED training equips you with the confidence and skills needed to respond effectively when every second counts.
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