Ontario Review Board
Re: Jeremy Gollain
ORB File No: 8790
Hearing held on: Thursday, August 28, 2025
Place of Hearing: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. M. Labrosse
Members: Dr. S. Lessard
Dr. R. Cormier
Mr. A. Herscovitch
Ms. K. Brisson
Parties Appearing: Accused: Jeremy Gollain Counsel: Mr. R. McGowan Person in charge of hospital: Representative : Dr. A. Sandhu Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. J. Wright
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated October 16, 2025)
Introduction
On May 23, 2025, Mr. Jeremy Gollain, was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”)on charges of mischief to religious property (x3), mischief over $5000, and possession of instruments for the purpose of break and enter, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. At the time of the finding of NCR, the Honourable Court declined to make a disposition and referred the matter to the Ontario Review Board.
On August 28, 2025, the Ontario Review Board convened a hearing at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, hereinafter referred to the hospital, to conduct Mr. Gollain’s initial hearing pursuant to s. 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Mr. Gollain was present for his hearing and was represented by counsel, Mr. R. McGowan. Mr. Gollain’s mother, Janice Sutton, and Mr. Gollain’s CMHA worker, John Becvar, were both in attendance.
The following documents were entered as Exhibits for the hearing:
Information
Charge Sheets(x3)
Criminal Record
Section 21 Report dated March 13, 2025
NCR Report dated May 16, 2025
Transcript of NCR hearing dated May 23, 2025
Hospital Report dated August 15, 2025
The issues for this hearing are whether Mr. Gollain represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, to make the necessary and appropriate disposition for the coming year.
At the outset of the hearing, the Board canvassed the parties’ preliminary positions for the hearing and were presented with a joint position that Mr. Gollain represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, and that a conditional discharge, as recommended by the hospital, is the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage the risk. The parties each maintained their initial positions at the conclusion of the evidence.
For the reasons set out below, the Board finds that Mr. Gollain meets the threshold of significant threat to the safety of the public which can be managed in the coming year with a conditional discharge that will contain conditions as listed in the Analysis and Conclusion section of these Reasons.
Index Offence
- The circumstances of the index offences are summarized in the hospital report as follows:
“July 15th, 2024
On or about July 15, 2024, the accused, Jeremy GOLLAIN, attended at St. Martin De Porres Church, located at the City of Ottawa, during nighttime hours. He is captured on surveillance recordings, throwing rocks at church windows, breaking six large stained-glass windows. The estimate to repair is $94,717. (1 count mischief related to religious property, 1 count mischief over / 24-188415).
August 8th, 2024
On August 8, 2024, in the city of Ottawa, at approximately 7:30am, police were called to 3891 Old Richmond Road, St Martin De Porres Church, for mischief that caused damages to their property. Police were made aware by the staff on scene that this is an ongoing issue as this was the second occurrence of smashed windows. Police noted 6 large windows boarded up, 3 on the south side and 3 on the north side of the church. Police attended and noted smashed statues, a damaged glass door, and a rock thrown through a window near the office door. Through investigative work, police obtained suspect video and descriptors and continued proactive patrols in the area as several incidents were reported at that address. The Father, Titus EGBUEH lives in the building so police want to ensure his safety. The description of the subject is approximately 6 feet tall, white male, small build, medium length brown hair. On this date at 1:30am police observed the suspect willfully attending the address, throwing a rock through the main office window, then attend the north side of the building to smash two angelic statues. As well as one of two glass panes on the West facing door. The suspect then leaves the property to shortly return with a baseball bat and knock over an angelic statue at the office entrance.
August 15th, 2024
On or about August 15, 2024, the accused, attended at St. Martin De Porres Church, located at the City of Ottawa, during nighttime hours. He was captured on church surveillance recordings having removed three large pieces of plywood that had been covering windows broken on July 15, 2024. He moved one piece near the church shed and two pieces remain missing. These were each approximately 8' x 3' x 1/2" in size. (1 count mischief related to religious property, 1 count mischief, 1 count theft under).
Later, on August 15, 2024, during daytime hours, the accused returned to the church property, looking at it and appeared to be taking photos of it. This is also captured on surveillance recordings. Witness Barry NICHOLLS recognized him having seen him walking around the church in the recent past and was aware of the mischiefs. NICHOLLS and witness Trevor SCHLIEVERT spoke with the accused. The conversation caused them concern that the accused was the person who had caused the July 15th damage. The accused left on foot and walked home. SCHLIEVERT followed and saw the accused enter his home address. SCHILVERT then provided the address to church staff to provide police. (24-223781). This address is confirmed by police to be the accused's home address. The accused harbours hate and bias toward the Catholic church and United Church. He has demonstrated a pattern of similar offending with these charges and the numerous similar related files on which he is subject and/or charged on, in relation to this church and a nearby United Church. He has publicly expressed his disdain and anger, on social media, open source, and has left Satanic literature in the United church, (OPS file 24-296138). The totality of the accused's pattern of criminally offending and non-criminal occurrences, have caused staff and patrons of both church communities fear and discomfort; and financial loss to the churches for repairs.
August 17th, 2024
On August 17, 2024, police were made aware that a staff member of the church had an interaction with a possible subject as the male in question was approximately 6 feet, white male, small build with medium brown hair and was clean shaven. The subject made comments to the staff on how beautiful the glass windows were and that he believed whoever was damaging the windows would not be returning. The subject was confirmed to reside at 22 Edgebrook Road, in the city of Ottawa. Police queried the address and learned that Jeremy GOLLAIN (M 1999-07-22) resides there, and his MTO picture matches the video and description of the suspect male.
On August 17, 2024, at approximately 10:45pm, police were conducting proactive patrols at that location when they observed a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, small build with medium brown hair, clean shaven, standing on a ladder that was along the west side of the church, directly beside boarded up glass windows. The male was observed manipulating tools with his hands. There were nails on the ground under the ladder and a screwdriver on an upper rung. The male confirmed his identity as GOLLAIN and was placed under arrest for Trespass at Night, Mischief to Property and Possession of Break-In Instruments at 10:46pm. GOLLAIN was then transported to cells, provided a lawyer call and lodged for show cause.
October 20th, 2024
On October 20, 2024, the accused Jeremy GOLLAIN entered the lobby of the Bell's Corners United Church located at 3955 Old Richmond Road. Upon entering, the accused pulled the LGBTQIA+ Pride Flag off from the post on which it was secured and exited by the main entrance. The actions of GOLLAIN were captured on surveillance video where he can then be seen walking away from the church with the flag in is possession. Police believe this to be a hate motivated crime as GOLLAIN singled out the Pride Flag. GOLLAIN provided an inculpatory statement to police and admitted to police that the acts of violence against the church will continue to occur despite charges.
November 1st, 2024
On November 1, 2024, police attended the Bell's Corners United Church located at 3955 Old Richmond Rd in the City of Ottawa, in relation to mischief causing property damage investigation. The accused Jeremy GOLLAIN was observed on cctv cameras at 2045 hours in the evening walking past the rear of the church side door making an attempt to enter into it by pulling on the door which was locked. GOLLAIN then proceeds to the front area of the church where he is observed on cctv camera stopping at the main glass window and removing a long what appears to be a leash from his jacket that contained a metal piece on the end. GOLLAIN then swings it several times breaking the window for several minutes and at which point a vehicle appears to enter the parking lot causing him to flee north from the scene. The accused GOLLAIN caused significant damages to the church.
November 28th, 2024
On Thursday November 28th, 2024, at approximately 1402hrs in the City of Ottawa, witness observed accused GOLLAIN Jeremy(1999-07-22M) cause mischief to property by throwing rock through a window of the church located at 3891 Richmond Rd (St Martin Church). Witness had confronted the accused and held accused until police arrival. Upon arrival Cst NAZIRI observe the damages to the property namely, two windows at the front of the church. There was a rock laying near the broken window, which was possibly used to cause the damage. Further to that, Cst NAZIRI confirmed the accused was now in custody. Cst NAZIRI confirmed the identity of the accused to be GOLLIAN Jeremy (1999-07-22M). It was learned that accused had previously been charged for mischief to this exact property on August 18, 2024 (24 222298) and released on condition not to attend this address. Subsequently, accused GOLLIAN Jeremy (1999-07-22M) was charged with Mischief to property not exceeding $5000-Criminal Code Section 430(4) and Fail to comply with release order-Criminal Code Section 145(5)(a).”
Background History
Mr. Gollain’s personal, legal and psychiatric history is set out in detail in the hospital report. Briefly summarized, Mr. Gollain is 26 years of age and was born in Ottawa. He has a younger brother and a younger sister.
Mr. Gollain’s parents separated in 2018. His parents, although separated, have dedicated themselves to supervising him and helping him since he moved back to Ontario from British Columbia in April 2024.
Mr. Gollain completed his Bachelor of Environmental Engineering at Carleton in 2023.
Following graduation, he returned to the Fraser Valley in British Columbia to work as a housekeeper until late 2023, when he quit to pursue agroforestry and mushroom picking. He stopped working in April 2024, when his mother insisted that he move back to Ontario due to concerns about Mr. Gollain’s mental health.
Since December 2024, Mr. Gollain has been financially supported through Ontario Works and receives some financial assistance from his parents.
Criminal History
- Mr. Gollain has no prior criminal history.
Psychiatric History
Mr. Gollain has been known to psychiatry at the Ottawa Hospital (TOH) over the past year through the On Track: First Episode Psychosis Program, Family Health Team at Melrose Avenue, and admission to the TOH, civic campus in December. His previous diagnoses include depression, schizophrenia, and psychosis.
Mr. Gollain has occasionally had depressive episodes with low mood and energy since he was fifteen years old. His last depressive episode was in 2020 in his third year of university, and he was seen by a psychologist in Kanata through a Federal Program.
In April 2024, Mr. Gollain was seen by his family physician, Dr. Eric Wooltorton, and described hearing voices in his head for over two years. His parents noted symptom changes beginning in late 2023 and Dr. Wooltorton noted concerns of psychosis due to Mr. Gollain’s delusions of reference, daily auditory hallucinations, thinking disturbances, disorganizations, disruptive, bizarre, and paranoid thoughts and behaviours. Mr. Gollain was noted to be more irritable and angrier, and increasingly frustrated. He was referred to the On Track: First Episode Psychosis Program.
Mr. Gollain was seen by psychiatrist Dr. Sarah Siu-Lai Chan at the On Track Program in June 2024. Dr. Chan noted that Mr. Gollain’s symptoms included increased religiosity, auditory hallucinations, and that he appeared to be internally preoccupied. Mr. Gollain self-reported that he had been hearing voices for one and a half years. Dr. Chan provisionally diagnosed Mr. Gollain with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder. He was prescribed Rexulti (brexpiprazole), an atypical antipsychotic; however, he did not adhere to the medication consistently. Mr. Gollain did not agree with his diagnosis of schizophrenia nor accept treatment recommendations consistently. He did not see his psychiatrist after June 2024 until January 2025.
Throughout July to November of 2024, Dr. Wooltorton noted Mr. Gollain’s further disruptive behaviours, including planting trees and berries in the neighborhood and upsetting people in Churches, ongoing experiences of hearing voices, and odd beliefs. Mr. Gollain was noted to decline in November, with escalating patterns of mischief, new voices, and views of self as a Satanist. Mr. Gollain continued to decline psychiatric care or adhere to his medications consistently throughout these months.
On December 24, 2024, Mr. Gollain voluntarily presented to The Ottawa Hospital, civic campus Emergency Department accompanied by his mother due to concerns of persecutory and paranoid delusions leading to a suicide attempt overnight. He described increasing worries that he was about to be persecuted by other inmates from jail and jeopardize his family’s safety. He was admitted involuntarily on a Form 1 followed by a Form 3 and started on Abilify 10 mg with Quetiapine 25-50 mg as needed for anxiety and sleep. He was discharged on December 31, 2024, on Rexulti 2mg. His family physician noted at follow-up in January 2025 that Mr. Gollain continued to lack insight and judgement into his condition but was agreeable to taking his medications with parental monitoring.
In March 2025, Mr. Gollain continued to follow up with the first episode psychosis program. He noted that he was feeling “slowed down,” on the higher dose of his antipsychotic medication. He had lessened intensity of “ideas that are internally driven,” and continued to be more organized in his speech. His mother also provided collateral that she noted an improved organization of his speech. He was identified to have schizophrenia and a partial improvement in his symptoms of psychosis. In early April of 2025, Dr. Chan noted a continuation of Mr. Gollain’s positive trajectory and identified that his active psychosis was “resolved.”
Current Diagnoses
- Mr. Gollain’s current diagnoses include:
Schizophrenia, 1st episode, currently in full remission
Cannabis Use Disorder, in early remission
Evidence at the Hearing
The hospital’s evidence was presented through its report dated August 15, 2025, and through the oral testimony of Dr. A. Sandhu, who is Mr. Gollain’s attending psychiatrist with the Forensic Program at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. This evidence is summarized below.
Following the NCR finding on May 23, 2025, Dr. Sandhu met with Mr. Gollain on several occasions as well as with Mr. Gollain’s parents and his CMHA worker, Mr. John Becvar.
Mr. Gollain has demonstrated stability over this period and is not currently endorsing any delusional beliefs or otherwise exhibiting any psychotic symptoms.
Mr. Gollain is attending psychosocial rehabilitation groups at the hospital on a weekly basis, including the 10:00 O’clock Club, Health Lifestyles and Creative Connections. He has also voluntarily provided a urine drug screen which was negative for cannabis and confirmed that he is taking his oral antipsychotic medication (Brexpiprazole).
Mr. Gollain has been involved with the On Track Program at the Ottawa Hospital where he meets with a psychiatrist, Dr. Chan, in addition to his family physician, Dr. Wooltorton. It is Dr. Sandhu’s intention to reach out to the On Track Program once an ORB disposition is made.
In response to questions posed to him by counsel for the Attorney General, Mr. Wright, Dr. Sandhu responded as follows:
(a) Mr. Gollain is currently optimally treated with the dose of oral antipsychotic medication that he is taking. Dr. Sandhu has no plans to change the medication, nor are there any considerations given to switching to a long-acting injectable at this time. Should Mr. Gollain develop any problems with his medication or problems with adherence to his medication, that could be considered in the future to address compliance issues.
(b) Mr. Gollain is currently capable of consenting to treatment and able to make decisions regarding his treatment. He is currently symptom-free and has demonstrated a good response to medication.
(c) In the opinion of Dr. Sandhu, if Mr. Gollain was to have any recurrence of psychotic symptoms it is likely that these will be caught relatively quickly. There would be opportunity to use the provisions of the Mental Health Act to further assess and/or admit Mr. Gollain to hospital if needed.
(d) Mr. Gollain has previously decompensated quickly with a rapid onset of psychosis. Robust oversight will be needed to ensure a quick response to any decompensation.
(e) With respect to the treatment plan, Dr. Sandhu is looking for continued stability, and engagement in prosocial/productive activities in the community, either through employment or further education. Mr. Gollain has a university degree. Though he is working through some negative symptoms of his illness, there is an expectation that he should be able to engage in meaningful activity over the course of the next year.
Counsel for Mr. Gollain, Mr. McGowan, had no questions for Dr. Sandhu.
In response to questions posed to him by members of the panel, Dr. Sandhu responded as follows:
(a) Mr. Gollain has insight into the contributory effect of cannabis on the decompensation of his mental illness. According to Dr. Sandhu he can associate the worsening of his mental condition with cannabis use. Mr. Gollain maintains that he has not used cannabis since December of 2024, and he appears committed to continuing to abstain. Mr. Gollain’s parents have said that they are not concerned that he will use cannabis at home.
(b) Mr. Gollain appears to appreciate that he will decompensate if he stops taking medications. This has been discussed with both him and his family, with emphasis on his propensity to decompensate rapidly.
(c) Dr. Sandhu believes that Mr. Gollain’s parents are well informed of their son’s condition and that they are very positive supports for him in his rehabilitation. Mr. Gollain also has his CMHA worker, Mr. Becvar, who will continue to support him over the course of the next year.
(d) Dr. Sandhu was asked to articulate the foundation for significant threat to the safety of the public to which he responded that Mr. Gollain had experienced a protracted period of fluctuating symptoms of psychosis, both at the time of the index offences, and prior to that when he was living in British Columbia. He had had contacts with the mental health system but was inadequately treated and using cannabis. He was non-compliant with treatment after leaving hospital. All of this led to specific referential ideas about religious institutions and religious buildings which led to him offending by causing significant damage to religious buildings and artifacts which caused psychological harm to the parishioners. A pastor at one of the churches where Mr. Gollain caused damage by destroying a large stained-glass window, was caught inside and feared for his physical safety at that time.
(e) Dr. Sandhu confirmed that Mr. Gollain has no history of violence other than the index offences.
(f) Dr. Sandhu confirmed that Mr. Gollain met with his On Track psychiatrist, Dr. Chan, on August 22nd and that he is waiting for a decision before reaching out to the On Track team.
(g) Dr. Sandhu confirmed that Mr. Gollain continues to live with his father in Bells Corners and his mother lives close by, such that he spends considerable time with both parents.
- No other evidence was presented.
Submissions of the Parties
The Board was presented with a joint submission of all parties that Mr. Gollain meets the threshold for significant threat to the safety of the public but that due to his stability and engagement in treatment, as well as his insight, that risk can be managed by way of a conditional discharge, including weekly reporting and abstention from substance use and submitting to random urine drug screens.
Counsel for the Attorney General, Mr. Wright, stated that the Attorney General was not seeking specific prohibitions against Mr. Gollain attending at the locations where he perpetrated the index offences, due to the randomness of those locations and the fact that it would be difficult to enforce such a prohibition due to the multiple locations involved.
Counsel for Mr. Gollain, Mr. McGowan, stated his agreement with the hospital’s recommendation, and that it is a fair and logical result. He added that Mr. Gollain has demonstrated significant improvement since he first met with him.
Analysis and Conclusion
Having considered all of the evidence tendered at the hearing, and the joint submission of the parties, the Board does find that Mr. Gollain poses a significant threat to the safety of the public as defined in s 672.5401 of the Criminal Code of Canada, and as further defined in Winko v. British Columbia (Forensic Psychiatric Institute), 1999 CanLII 694 (SCC), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 625.
According to R. v. Winko, a ‘significant threat to the safety of the public’ means a real risk of physical or psychological harm to members of the public that is serious in the sense of going beyond the merely trivial or annoying. The conduct giving rise to the harm must be criminal in nature. Evidence to determine whether an individual is a significant threat to the safety of the public can include the past and expected course of the NCR accused’s treatment, if any, the present state of the NCR accused’s medical condition, the NCR accused’s own plans for the future, the support services existing for the NCR accused in the community, as well as other items.
The Panel carefully considered whether the evidence establishes that Mr. Gollain meets the threshold of significant threat to the safety of the public. We agreed unanimously that the threshold is met, but not by much. The index offences did constitute a psychological threat brought out by extensive damage caused to several religious buildings and to artifacts which are meaningful to their parishioners. This no doubt caused psychological harm but also caused an individual who was inside one of the buildings to fear for his physical safety. It is noted that Mr. Gollain otherwise has no history of violence.
Mr. Gollain has demonstrated an ability to engage in mental health treatment, including with the Forensic Services treatment team and the On Track program. The hospital will consolidate those services such that Mr. Gollain will have quite frequent oversight within both hospitals, in addition to the support of his CMHA worker.
Though Mr. Gollain has recently been compliant with treatment, he does have a history of non-adherence to medication and has previously decompensated rapidly when not adequately treated.
In Dr. Sandhu’s opinion, any signs of decompensation would likely be noticed rapidly and would give the hospital an opportunity to invoke the provisions of the Mental Health Act, if needed, for further assessment or admission to hospital. The fact that Mr. Gollain is involved with On Track would also provide easier admission at TOH, if needed.
Mr. Gollain is a young, educated man who has demonstrated good insight into his illness since being found NCR. He appears to understand the need for treatment and the importance of abstaining from cannabis which was contributory to the index offences and has been linked to the worsening of his psychotic symptoms. He also has strong professional and personal supports.
The Panel accepts the joint submission that a conditional discharge is the least onerous and least restrictive disposition which shall include the following conditions:
To report to the person in charge of the hospital or their designate not less than once per week;
To abstain from the use of alcohol and drugs or any other intoxicants and to submit to random urine drug screens;
To notify, in writing, the hospital and the ORB 24 hours in advance of any change of existing address or telephone number;
To participate in the rehabilitation program created for him by the person in charge of the hospital or their designate.
We accept the submission of the Attorney General that a prohibition on attending the locations where the index offences were committed is not necessary given that they were somewhat random, and that Mr. Gollain is not demonstrating any intent to return to these places as he is no longer endorsing those delusions.
In reaching these conclusions, we have considered the four factors set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code, namely the protection of the public, which is the paramount consideration, the mental condition of the accused, his reintegration into society and his other needs.
DATED this 16th day of October 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. M. Labrosse Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board