Ontario Review Board
Re: Elizabeth Petroniuk
ORB File No: 4935
Hearing held on: Friday, September 26, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. M.D. Segal Members: Dr. B. Sheppard Dr. M. Kalia Ms. M. Labrosse Mr. S. Doherty
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Elizabeth Petroniuk Counsel: Ms. L. McCullough
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. D. Blumenkrans
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. C. Coughlan
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated October 28, 2025)
Introduction
On October 24, 2007, Elizabeth Petroniuk, age 60, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on a charge of assault, contrary to the Criminal Code.
Ms. Petroniuk, who is on a Detention Order with privileges up to and including living in the community in supervised housing, appeared before the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) on September 26, 2025, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (the “hospital”) for her annual hearing.
In preliminary positions the hospital, supported by Crown counsel, requested that the current Disposition remain in place. Ms. L. McCullough, patient’s counsel, wished to hear the evidence before committing. The Hospital Report dated September 8, 2025, was Exhibit 1.
Diagnosis
- Schizophrenia
Index Offence
- The index offences are taken from last year’s Reasons for Disposition, as follows:
“The victim, Ms. Petroniuk’s mother, described abuse beginning about January 1st, 2007, when she returned home from church, and her daughter started to beat her up. Ms. Petroniuk hit her on the leg, shoulder, and face with closed fists, and pinched her arm, and would stop, then continue to beat her while calling her a bad mother. The abuse continued every other day after that, and sometimes every day.
On January 30, 2007, Ms. Petroniuk, her mother, and her brother were all together when her brother told her that if she hit their mother one more time, police would put her in jail. Ms. Petroniuk promptly walked up behind her mother and tried to punch her in the face. Her brother prevented the assault from occurring and telephoned Ms. Petroniuk’s doctor, who notified police. Police arrived and arrested Ms. Petroniuk.
At the time, Ms. Petroniuk was experiencing serious symptoms of psychosis, and she indicated that “Omo”, a spirit entity residing within her, was responsible for her aggressive behaviour toward her mother.”
Background
Ms. Petroniuk worked as a secretary and at a daycare but could not after the onset of her psychiatric disorder in 2000. Ms. Petroniuk became preoccupied, and still is, that there is an entity inside her controlling her thoughts and fighting with God. Ms. Petroniuk had a stormy relationship with her mother with whom she lived with for several years. The mother also suffered from schizophrenia. Ms. Petroniuk had several admissions and emergency room visits in the years preceding the index offence.
In January 2017, following several years in hospital, Ms. Petroniuk was discharged to Margaret Housing, St. Clare Multi-faith Housing in Toronto. That did not work out and Ms. Petroniuk was back in hospital for several more years until her discharge to LOFT Community Services on May 15 of 2023. The Hospital Report details ongoing delusions including a fixation with religious matters, sexual matters and childbirth as well as reference to the non-existent controlling entity.
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. Kravtsenyuk, the patient’s outpatient psychiatrist since August of 2023, testified. Dr. Kravtsenyuk noted two major developments in the last reporting year. On January 15, 2025, Ms. Petroniuk successfully transitioned to LOFT’s St. Anne’s Place where Ms. Petroniuk occupies her own apartment. Ms. Petroniuk continues to hold strong beliefs, suffers from ongoing delusions, but is relatively stable. Ms. Petroniuk’s mental illness is ultra-treatment resistant. She receives antipsychotic medication in oral and long-acting form and no changes to medication are contemplated. ECT was tried in past but stopped due to absconding. The use of clozapine has been considered but is not workable.
Ms. Petroniuk gets along well with the team and those within her residence. She can be kind and social. Ms. Petroniuk’s mental health may be moderated somewhat by her age. Ms. Petroniuk has lots of independence but is reluctant to leave her home, travel, come to hospital or participate in recreational activities. It was gratifying to see her at the hearing. She fears that the entity will attack her. Apart from the housing staff and the forensic team, there are no outside supports. She meets with her case manager once a week and psychiatrist once a month.
Ms. Petroniuk has no insight.
Without substantial oversight, Ms. Petroniuk would fall away from treatment and medication, leading to an intensification of psychotic symptoms and would be a serious risk to the safety of the public.
Ms. Petroniuk occasionally spoke at the hearing and addressed the Board more fully at the conclusion of the hospital’s evidence. Ms. Petroniuk denied having a mental disorder, spoke about religious themes, being pregnant with several children, communicating with her deceased mother, and the influence of that powerful entity that was intent on doing her harm.
In final submissions Ms. McCullough acknowledged that Ms. Petroniuk required the supervision she was now receiving.
Analysis
- Ms. Petroniuk suffers from ultra-resistant schizophrenia. At the time of the index offence, and during her lengthy stay in hospital, violent incidents occurred. In recent years, Ms. Petroniuk has managed to move to independent housing, but benefits from substantial supports at her residence and from the forensic team. This past year she obtained her own apartment through LOFT. While originally apprehensive about the move, it went well. Ms. Petroniuk continues to have delusions and hallucinations. Her strong views are in accord with her own reality. Without significant oversight and the administration of antipsychotics, there would be a serious risk to public safety. Despite her preoccupations and her somewhat isolative existence, there are enduring features to Ms. Petroniuk who can be quite kind and considerate. The current Disposition is the least onerous and least restrictive Disposition and balances Ms. Petroniuk’s considerable needs and the protection of the public. We wish Ms. Petroniuk well in the upcoming year.
DATED this 28th day of October, 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. M.D. Segal Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board