Manjusha B. Pawagi

A motion to change a custody order in a family law matter involving a ten-year-old child.

The applicant sought to change the existing joint custody arrangement (with primary residence to the respondent) to sole custody of himself.

The child had been placed in temporary sole custody of the applicant in May 2011 but ran away to her mother's residence in July 2012.

The court found that the respondent had demonstrated an inability to support the child's relationship with the applicant and had engaged in parental alienation despite therapeutic interventions.

The court granted sole custody to the applicant with no access to the respondent, finding this to be in the child's best interests.

A motion brought by the maternal grandmother to be added as a party to a child protection proceeding involving two young children apprehended due to the mother's deteriorating mental health.

The mother and father opposed the motion on the grounds that the grandmother's involvement would negatively impact the mother's mental health and impede reunification efforts.

The court granted the motion, finding that the grandmother had a legal interest in the proceeding, was capable of presenting a viable plan, and that her participation was necessary to enable the court to consider placement with a relative as required by statute.