Julia O’Byrne

The Children's Aid Society of Toronto brought a status review application seeking extended society care for two children (aged 7 and 5) due to a prolonged history of family violence perpetrated by the father against the mother, the mother's inability to protect the children from this exposure, and the parents' consistent dishonesty and lack of insight regarding the impact of the violence.

The parents sought custody or supervision.

The court found a continuing necessity for a protection order, concluding that the risks of physical and emotional harm to the children remained unacceptably high.

The court granted the society's request for extended society care, emphasizing the children's need for permanency and stability.

Access for the mother and father was ordered to be strictly supervised and limited, with the children designated as access holders.

The maternal grandfather was granted more generous access as an access holder.

In a status review application, the Children's Aid Society of Toronto sought extended society care for a child (N.G.-L.), while the father (W.L.), supported by the mother (N.G.), sought custody with a supervision order.

The court found intervention necessary due to the mother's long-standing substance abuse issues, the parents' past dishonesty, and minimization of risks.

However, considering the child's best interests, the father's commitment, his capacity to parent with support, and the positive influence of a friend (T.G.), the court determined that a supervision order placing the child in the father's care, following a six-week interim society care transition, was the least disruptive and most appropriate alternative.

The order included strict supervision terms for the father and clear boundaries for the mother's access, which is to be supervised solely by the society.