[2] The prisoner-writer Roger Caron wrote that MacKenzie, Brian Beaucage and Wayne Ford were the three toughest prisoners at Kingston penitentiary who were all "natural leaders" and were "not to be fucked with" by the other inmates.
[3] The journalist Catherine Forgarty wrote that "...MacKenzie was a clean-cut, muscular guy who was known as a con's con-tough as nails and well respected.
[4] On the evening of 14 April 1971, MacKenzie was in his cell in the 3-B range when he was released by another prisoner who had been handed the keys by Billy Knight, the leader of the uprising.
[5] Knight assigned MacKenzie to the inmate "police force" in charge of keeping order along with Ford and Beaucage.
[9] On 16 April, MacKenzie freed one of the hostages, Terry Decker, as a good faith gesture intended to end the uprising peacefully.
MacKenzie came to form a strong rapport with one of the citizens' committee, Ron Haggart, the crime correspondent of the Toronto Telegram newspaper.
[12] When the soldiers of the Royal Canadian Regiment arrived at Kingston penitentiary, Haggart assured MacKenzie during a phone call that he just spoken with Major Edward Richmond, the commander of the task force, who in turn promised him that the prison would not be stormed as long the lives of the hostages were not in danger.
[14] Martin told Knight: "You have a choice between hanging for capital murder of a prison guard or accepting charges of kidnapping".
: "Barrie MacKenzie, who had no ax to grind with anyone wanted a peaceful solution to the bingo [prison riot] so that people wouldn't die.
He wasn't the type to make fancy speeches or drum up specific grievances; nevertheless, he found himself more and more at the centre stage.
His position was akin to that of a passenger abroad a hijacked airliner who finds both pilots zonked, and being a man of action undertakes the monumental task of trying to land it with instructions from the tower".
[19] In an attempt to persuade the inmates to surrender, MacKenzie gave a speech saying: "I'm not here to tell you guys what to do, but if you decide to pack it all in and let the hostages go, then you have my word that I'll be the last man out, with the last screw [prison guard]".
"[21] The inmates began to prepare a defense by smashed the lightbulbs, armed themselves with their makeshift weapons and placed mattresses against the door.
"[21] MacKenzie stated that it was time to surrender as it was only a matter before the Royal Canadian Regiment stormed the prison, and given that the soldiers had guns while the inmates did not, such a battle could only end with a massive loss of life.
[21] MacKenzie went to meet the citizens committee, saying the mood was very dangerous in the prison as Shepley and Beacuage were on the brink of doing something reckless and that he needed a concession to sell the other inmates on the idea of surrender.
[23] To put a stop to what was threatening to become a massacre, MacKenzie made a decision to release the hostages early on the morning of 18 April 1971.
"[27] MacKenzie said he needed more time as some of the other inmates still did not want to release the hostages, but was told by Haggart: "I can't guarantee what will happen in the next half-hour.
[26] Haggart heard MacKenzie shout to the other inmates at the top of his voice: "you guys have two minutes to make up your fucking minds!
[26] Caron wrote that "Barrie MacKenzie was succeeding through sheer force of personality in bringing the rudderless bingo to an end without massive bloodshed".
A scene of pandemonium ensured as hundreds of prisoners attempted to rush out of the front gate to surrender to be confronted by a squad of soldiers with their bayonets' drawn along with the law professor Desmond Morton of the citizens' committee.
"[27] Haggart wrote that MacKenzie had "an endless flow of paranoid fears and delusions" but that he "brought Kingston Penitentiary under control again when it had gone mad.
[35] The journalist Steve Paikin wrote that MacKenzie "...demonstrated calm leadership in the face of incredibly chaotic circumstances.