Ontario Review Board
Re: Blake Watters
ORB File No: 8556
Hearing held on: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Place of Hearing: Brockville Mental Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. P. Capelle
Members: Dr. R. Kunjukrishnan
Dr. W. Loza
Ms. M. den Haan
Ms. R. MacIntyre
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Blake Watters
Counsel: Ms. F. Beaubien
Person in charge of Hospital: Representative: Dr. A. Adiele
Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. C. Breault
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated October 14, 2025)
Introduction
1On May 2nd, 2024, the accused, Blake Watters, was found not criminally responsible (NCR) on account of mental disorder on charges of Criminal harassment (x5) and Failure to comply with release order, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (the Criminal Code). Mr. Watters is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated October 2nd, 2024, which detains him at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Brockville Mental Health Centre, with privileges up to and including to live in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge.
2On September 2nd, 2025, a panel of the Ontario Review Board convened at the Brockville Mental Health Centre, hereinafter referred to as the Hospital or the BMHC, to conduct Mr. Watters’ annual review hearing. Mr. Watters attended the hearing and was represented by his counsel, Ms. Florence Beaubien. Also in attendance was victim Helen Wong and Ms Wong’s husband, Shane Waldron.
Preliminary Matters
3Ms. Helen Wong read her own Victim Impact Statement as well as that of Ashley Dorrington-Vladers’. These speak to the unsettling impact that the accused’s actions have caused as well as the lasting ramifications.
Without Prejudice Position of the Parties
4Dr. Adiele stated that the Hospital was recommending a continuation of the current detention disposition, with no changes. That position was supported by Ms. Breault on behalf of the Attorney-General.
5Ms. Beaubien, on behalf of Mr. Watters, indicated that an absolute discharge was being sought. In the alternative, if a significant risk to public safety is determined to be present a conditional discharge is sought.
6At the conclusion of the evidentiary portion of the hearing, both the Hospital and the Attorney-General maintained their initial positions. Ms. Beaubien then conceded the ongoing presence of significant risk and then specified that a conditional discharge, mirroring the terms and conditions of the existing detention disposition was requested.
Index Offences
7The circumstances of the index offences are set out in the Hospital Report and can be summarized as follows:
"June 2 to 19, 2022: According to the Crown Brief Synopsis, Mr. Watters had been harassing his neighbours for two years, which escalated in June 2022. Mr. Watters and the victims, Helen Wong and her husband, Shane Waldron, lived directly beside each other. On June 2, 2022, Mr. Watters yelled at Helen at her front door that she was a terrorist and performing witchcraft, which was captured on video.
On the same day, Mr. Watters yelled at another victim, Ashley Dorrington-Vladars, who was removing items from her vehicle. Mr. Watters and Ashley lived across from each other. He accused her of being a witch and asked to have a conversation about witchcraft. Ashley ignored him and locked her vehicle, which made a “beep” noise. At this point, Mr. Watters began yelling “beep beep” at her. Ashley told the police officers that Mr. Watters had made comments to other neighbours that he believed the beeping noises were used to torment him.
On June 7, 2022, Mr. Watters yelled profanities at Shane as Shane was driving out of his driveway. Mr. Watters then threw a piece of wood under Shane’s car, causing Shane to swerve around it.
On June 9, 2022, Mr. Watters yelled profanities at Ashley and accused her of being a witch. Ashley was with her daughter at this time. On June 19, 2022, Mr. Watters followed Ashley to her daughter’s school. Ashley was picking up her daughter. On the same day, he also went to Helen’s property and started to mow Helen’s front lawn while yelling at her. He continued this despite Helen asking him to stop multiple times.
On June 16, 2022, Mr. Watters yelled profanities at Shane and his son. He then pointed a stapler at them and made a clicking noise.
On June 19, 2022, Mr. Watters yelled profanities at Ashley’s friend who was exiting the driveway. Her friend had a young child in the vehicle. He continued to ask questions about Ashley to this friend.
In addition to the above incidents, Mr. Watters yelled at the victims and other neighbours in the immediate area of his residence numerous times. Due to the overwhelming number of daily interactions, the neighbours had stopped reporting each interaction. According to the police officer statement, Helen reported that Mr. Watters had all his windows sealed shut and had a sign that he worshipped Satan. In addition, she stated that Mr. Watters had accused her of trying to get information about him from his cat. He had told her that he saw halos above the heads of her family members.
On June 30, 2022, Ottawa police received a call regarding a male at 337 Hinton Avenue South holding a rifle. When police arrived on the scene, Mr. Watters was casually holding a rifle with the barrel pointing up. Mr. Watters said it was a BB gun and there was no issue, but did put the gun down on the ground. He then raised his arms and walked toward one of the officers and cooperated with being handcuffed. Mr. Watters had a weapons prohibition at the time.
March 11, 2023:
According to the Crown Brief Synopsis, Mr. Watters was released on July 15, 2022 with conditions not to communicate with Helen Wong and to be at his residence only with his surety. On March 11, 2023, Mr. Watters started to knock on the window of his residence to get Helen’s attention while she was walking on her driveway to enter her vehicle. When Helen turned to look, Mr. Watters shouted through his window and gestured at a bottle of Drano chemical drain cleaner. Helen could not hear clearly what he was saying as the window was closed.
March 13, 2023:
According to the Crown Brief Synopsis, on March 13, 2023, Mr. Watters yelled at Helen through his open window. He said, “Get rid of your shit because you are going to prison.”"
Current Diagnoses
8Delusional Disorder
Cannabis Use Disorder
Evidence at the Hearing
9The Board admitted into evidence the Hospital Report dated August 8th, 2025, as Exhibit 1. That document provides a great deal of information concerning Mr. Watters’ personal history, mental health history as well as his course in Hospital prior to and subsequent to the index offences. As the Hospital Report was made an Exhibit, it is unnecessary to reproduce the information contained therein in these Reasons. The Hospital’s evidence was presented by Dr. Adiele, Mr. Watters’ treating psychiatrist.
10Subsequent to the May 2024 NCR finding there were no available beds at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (ROMHC). Mr. Watters was therefore allowed to remain in the community of Ottawa pending bed availability. However, as the ROMHC became increasingly concerned by his lack of cooperation the BMHC was contacted and it was determined that it had a bed available. Mr. Watters was therefore admitted to the BMHC on June 23rd, 2025. pursuant to a Form 49. Since then, Mr. Watters continues to refuse all forms of prescribed medication, stating these are unnecessary. There have also been a number of behavioural incidents as set out in the Hospital Report. The first and most notable incident is referenced at page 26 of the Hospital Report and reproduced below for ease of reference:
The first major behavioral incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 3rd, around 4:00 AM. Blake Watters approached the nursing station demanding to speak with the "person in charge/ wanting staff to look up the phone number for the Ontario Attorney General. When told this service was not available at that hour, his agitation escalated dramatically.
What followed was a lengthy confrontation that required security presence and lasted 20-30 minutes. He made accusations about forced medication, threatened legal action, demanded staff names, and expressed his desire to call police about being "held here against his will." The conversation was repetitive and filled with paranoid content about being drugged through food and fears about other patients attacking him.
During this incident his behavior became increasingly erratic. Security cameras captured him pacing the hallways, going to different bathrooms, and at one point pouring water on the hallway floor before wiping it up with his foot. He positioned himself at his bedroom door, stopping to engage staff every time they entered the B4 South hallway. This incident resulted in his first documented AIS lV (Aggressive Incident Scale, Level 1 Verbal aggression).
11Dr. Adiele opined that Mr. Watters is both delusional and paranoid. He speaks of his food being tampered with, when it is not. Further, Mr. Watters causes stress to co-patients because of his erratic behaviour.
12Dr. Adiele referenced the risk assessment contained at pages 31 through 36 of the Hospital Report as substantiating why Mr. Watters continues to present the same degree of significant risk to public safety as he did at the time of the index offences and the finding of NCR. Mr. Watters does not believe he was found NCR, rather, that the court process was staged. Dr. Adiele added that absent psychotropic treatment the apprehensions contained in the Victim Impact Statements, read at the start of this hearing, will continue to fester and worsen. Dr. Adiele reiterated that the biggest concern at present is Mr. Watters’ psychotropic medication non-compliance. Mr. Watters regards that the medication he is prescribed as only a sleep aid.
13Responding to questions by Ms. Breault, Dr. Adiele advised that his patient is treatment resisting rather than treatment resistant. Absent treatment, it is premature for Mr. Watters to be considered for community privileges. Dr. Adiele emphasized that psychotropic treatment is intended to address Mr. Watters’ primary delusional beliefs. He added that Mr. Watters requires psychotropic treatment and gradual reintegration prior to consideration of community living. It is, therefore, premature to determine what type of community accommodation may be appropriate for him. His high level of risk requires the introduction of psychotropic medications which will take the edge off and better enable him to engage in psychotherapy when appropriate to do so.
14In the event Mr. Watters were to receive an absolute discharge, he would likely return to live with his uncles. Dr. Adiele added that there are limited community services available to him. Further, the Doctor is unaware of any psychiatric follow-up in place. If returned to that environment a similar scenario would play out that would again endanger the victims of the index offences.
15Following this hearing, Dr. Adiele intends to assess Mr. Watters’ treatment capacity. This determination will rely on accumulated evidence. After the patient is provided an opportunity to ask about treatment and treatment options, Dr. Adiele is prepared to give Mr. Watters, as he would other patients, 8 to 10 weeks to voluntarily accept psychotropic treatment. The treatment team has already provided Mr. Watters with leaflets, vis-à-vis the medications being considered, so he has some knowledge of what is envisioned. Mr. Watters’ belief that he will be discharged absent treatment is incorrect. Mr. Watters will be further assessed once transferred from the Hospital’s Assessment Unit and provided with the opportunity to engage in programming once stabilized on psychotropic medications. Mr. Watters is currently on a wait list to be transferred. However, this will not occur if psychotropic treatment has not been initiated. A formal risk assessment will be conducted in advance of Mr. Watters’ next Review Board Hearing.
16Asked if Mr. Watters would consent to treatment were he to receive an absolute discharge, Dr. Adiele responded that his patient would not. At present, Mr. Watters’ insight vis-à-vis his illness and the need for treatment, is very poor. He does not believe he has a mental disorder and has his own interpretation for what occurred with his neighbours at the time of the index offences.
17Responding to questions from the Panel, Dr. Adiele agreed that in last year’s Hospital Report there was a mention of Cannabis Use Disorder which seems to have disappeared from the most recent version. Doctor Adiele added that Mr. Watters’ principal difficulty is his Delusional Disorder.
18Dr. Adiele advised that he has yet to meet with Mr. Watters’ two uncles. The Doctor added that he does not believe they would support the Hospital’s perspective vis-à-vis the treatment of their nephew. In support of this perspective, the Doctor introduced an outpatient progress note dated June 23rd, 2025 (Exhibit 2), authored by ROMHC forensic psychiatrist Dr. Strike on the same day that Mr. Watters was admitted to the BMHC. It states that Mr. Watters’ Uncle Patrick intends to sue the victims of the index offences. Dr. Adiele added that the contents of this document confirm Mr. Watters’ belief that the judicial system is corrupt. Dr. Adiele confirmed that to date he has not met with Patrick Watters, the patient’s uncle. Dr. Adiele did not know if Mr. Watters’ family were aware of today’s hearing.
19Another panel member inquired if Mr. Watters participates in programming. Dr. Adiele advised that Mr. Watters does not. This is because Mr. Watters believes such programs are intended for him to be used as a research guinea pig. Dr. Adiele added that if Mr. Watters was allowed to participate at this juncture, he would likely be obstructive, expelled and unable to participate again until he reapplies and is readmitted.
Evidence of Mr. Watters
20Mr. Watters stated that he wishes to do more than watch TV and play board games. While he is partaking in recreational programming, this opportunity is limited. Mr. Watters advised that his two uncles, who are both retired, come to visit every week and provide him with food and reading materials.
21When asked about his current treatment plan, Mr. Watters advised that Dr. Adiele is both argumentative and combative with him. To date, they have only had eight sessions. Mr. Watters does not understand why the Hospital wants to give him a low dose antipsychotic pill every evening. Dr. Adiele believes he is delusional.
22Mr. Watters was asked if he recalled being treated with an antipsychotic in 2017. He responded that police brought him to Hospital, and it was only suggested that he receive an antipsychotic at that time.
23Asked why Dr. Adiele wishes to treat him, Mr. Watters responded that it is his job and his knowledge of weird past history from medical books.
24Mr. Watters is perplexed why his hospital admission occurred some 18 months after he was declared NCR. He does not wish to take pills as he believes in natural health. At present, his uncles are looking after his house. He complained that his neighbours now have security cameras directed at his house. He had a rifle because his neighbours always had garbage outside their residence, as there were rats and garbage pick-up only occurs every two weeks. He has a garden and this was the only way to deal with the rats as they were nesting in his garden and in his shed.
25In closing, Mr. Watters stated that he was not found NCR at the conclusion of his trial.
Closing Observations
26Dr. Adiele advised that he had nothing to add. Ms. Breault submitted that Mr. Watters continues to represent a significant risk to his neighbours as a result of his aggressive behaviour and refusal to take psychotropic medication. Ms. Beaubien submitted that her client was surprised to be taken to Hospital as he presumed he was living in the community with no further charges. She added that Mr. Watters is open to attending programming and has already done so.
Analysis and Decision
(a) Significant Threat
27Ongoing significant threat to the safety of the public cannot be speculative. It must entail a real risk of serious physical or psychological harm arising from conduct that is both serious and criminal in nature.
28In determining whether Blake Watters continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public the Board has carefully analyzed the evidence as it relates to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Winko, 1999 CanLII 694 (SCC), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 625.
29The Board unanimously finds that Blake Watters continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public. In arriving at this determination, the Board considered the joint position of the parties and accepted the uncontroverted evidence of Dr. Adiele that Blake Watters continues to represent a significant risk to public safety. The Doctor’s Risk Assessment at pages 31-36 supports this finding as does Mr. Watters’ testimony that he kept a rifle in his home to shoot at rats because his neighbours always had garbage outside their residence.
30As at the date of this hearing Mr. Watters continues to refuse all psychotropic medications believing that these are prescribed as a sleep aid rather than to address symptoms of his mental illness. The panel was swayed by Dr. Adiele’s opinion that because of Mr. Watters’ absence of insight and treatment refusal, he represents the same degree of risk that he did at the time of the index offences and of the NCR finding. Given the foregoing, it is clear that Mr. Watters would not consent to treatment if granted an absolute discharge at this time. Mr. Watters’ testimony that he had a rifle in his home to shoot rats because his neighbours always had garbage outside, reinforces the elevated risk he continues to pose to the victims of the index offences as well as to the community at large.
(b) Disposition
31Flowing from the Board’s finding that Blake Watters continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public it must shape a Disposition for the year ahead. Its paramount consideration in doing so must be the safety of the public while also considering Mr. Watters’ needs pursuant to s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
32The necessary and appropriate disposition for Blake Watters provides him as much freedom as possible without subjecting the community to a real risk of dangerous behaviour.
33The evidence is that Mr. Watters continues to suffer from a cannabis use disorder which though unmentioned on page 1 of the August 8th Hospital Report, should be referenced in the preparation of his next Hospital Report.
34Dr. Adiele’s uncontroverted testimony was that until Mr. Watters is treated with psychotropic medication and can then meaningfully engage in programming, it is unlikely that he will be accorded the privilege of community living. If these steps are achieved, it will nevertheless remain essential to approve Mr. Watters’ housing as well as ensuring his expeditious return to Hospital for stabilization and treatment. These safeguards can only be guaranteed pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Detention Disposition.
Conclusion
35Therefore, the Board unanimously determines that the necessary and appropriate Disposition required to manage the threat Blake Watters poses to the safety of the public, while still meeting his needs, is a Detention Disposition.
36In making this Disposition, the Board considered the joint position and submissions of the parties and the evidence of Dr. Adiele and is satisfied that this determination is both necessary and appropriate. The Board reviewed the provisions of s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code and also considered the need to protect the public from dangerous persons, Mr. Watters’ mental condition, his reintegration into society and other needs.
DATED this 14th day of October, 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. P. Capelle Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board