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For those of us who think the Ontario Reformatory was a good place, Caron had a lot of stories to tell that would change our minds.

He was just 16-years-old when he came to ���߲ݴ�ýfrom Cornwall, Ont. because the judge hoped the reformatory would help him learn to be a better person. Caron used to say that all he learned there was how to become a better criminal.

Rob Lindsay, who wrote and directed the documentary “Go-Boy! Memories of a Life Behind Bars,” and then produced the “Go-Boy!” podcast, said Caron was a boy among men there who spent his days just trying to survive.

“Caron claimed to have escaped jail more times than anyone else in Canada,” said Lindsay. “He escaped from the Ontario Reformatory in Guelph.”

Prisoners would shout “go boy, go,” in support when someone took off running, which Caron must have heard a lot.

In Guelph, he grew up quickly but always pushed the limits. He was victim to corporal punishment and various experiments, which are detailed in his book, and he spent a lot of time in solitary confinement.

“They thought it would curb his anger, but all it really did was make things worse,” said Lindsay. “He had enough of all that and escaped from ���߲ݴ�ýand went on a crime spree in Toronto.”

He was caught, thrown in jail, then broke out again, continuing the same cycle. He spent about 24 years of his life in prisons all over the country, when he wasn’t escaping from them.

At some point he decided to teach himself how to write, and after journalling for years went on to publish four books. Caron received the 1978 Governor General’s Award for non-fiction for his book “Go-Boy!” that was based on his experiences. It is currently out of print.

Lindsay said he read “Go-Boy!” when he was young and was enthralled by the story. It had violence, crime, jailbreak and all the excitement a teenager craved. He hopes it will be printed again in the future.

Lindsay grew up in Kingston, where Caron served time after he ran from Guelph. As a 14- or 15-year-old boy, Lindsay had it all mapped out how Caron could escape and come over to his nearby house for snacks.

He met Caron later, when he was in a nursing home, and Caron loved his plan but said it was about 30 years too late. Although he stayed out of trouble for some time and was busy with his writing and speaking engagements, he did revisit some old ways.

“He ended up with Parkinson’s; they attributed it to all the fights and beatings throughout the years,” said Lindsay. “He was self-medicating and robbed a Zellers store of all things and got arrested again.”

He spent his later years back in Cornwall in a nursing home and died a day before his 74th birthday, on April 11, 2012.

Lindsay said Caron never read his own first book. He didn’t need to because he remembered everything in his nightmares.

“It is so scary, it’s incredible,” said Caron in a recording used in the podcast.

To learn all about it, listen to the “Go-Boy!” podcast now on or wherever you stream podcasts. The eight episodes will be released one per week and started on April 8.

You can also learn more about Caron and the “Go-Boy!” documentary made by Lindsay at the ���߲ݴ�ýCivic Museum’s exhibition, guest curated by P. Brian Skerrett, which has been extended until July 13.