Justice M.G. March

A trial concerning access to a two-year-old child, Aleene Bradley, born in December 2016.

The applicant, Janelle Burley, sought to maintain limited access for the respondent, Christopher Bradley, with overnight visits deferred until July 2021 when the child would be approximately 4.5 years old.

The respondent sought substantially increased access, including overnight visits beginning within four months.

The court found that while Bradley had demonstrated past conduct issues including anger management problems and violence toward intimate partners, he posed no threat to the child and was a capable parent.

The court rejected Burley's restrictive access proposal and ordered a graduated access schedule beginning with weekly Saturday and Wednesday visits, progressing to overnight access by June 2020.

The court emphasized the importance of maximizing contact between the child and both parents consistent with the child's best interests.

A motion to change custody and decision-making authority for two children following an initial order granting sole custody to the father.

The parties had agreed to a shared week-about custodial arrangement but disputed final decision-making authority on health and education matters.

The court found that while the mother was a strong advocate for the children's health needs, the father was better positioned to make educational decisions.

The court awarded final decision-making authority on health matters to the mother and on education matters to the father, while maintaining the shared custody arrangement and imposing structured communication protocols.