Re: Blair Grenier
ORB File No: 7913
Hearing held on: Friday, October 10, 2025
Place of hearing: North Bay Regional Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. M. Labrosse
Members: Dr. P. Prendergast (by Zoom) Dr. G. Nexhipi Hon. E. Kruzick Ms. D. Smith
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Blair Grenier Counsel: Mr. J. Primeau
The Person in charge of Hospital: Representative: Mr. R. Holden Counsel: Mr. P. Trenker (by Zoom)
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Mazurski
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated November 13, 2025)
Introduction
[1]. On June 14, 2021, Blair Grenier was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on charges of uttering threats x 2 and criminal harassment, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”). He is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“the Board”) dated November 5, 2024, ordering his detention at the Forensic Programs of the North Bay Regional Health Centre – North Bay Site (“NBRHC”) with privileges up to and including residence in the community within the catchment area of the hospital in accommodation approved by the person in charge.
[2]. On Friday, October 10, 2025, the Board convened an in-person hearing to conduct the annual review of Mr. Grenier’s disposition pursuant to section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Grenier was present at the hearing and represented by Counsel, Mr. J. Primeau. Counsel for the Hospital attended the hearing virtually by video conferencing.
Issues to be Determined
[3]. The issues to be determined at the hearing were whether Mr. Grenier continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public as defined in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code and, if so, to determine the necessary and appropriate disposition taking into account the factors set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Positions of the Parties
[4]. At the commencement of the hearing the parties were requested to provide their initial, without prejudice, positions. Counsel for all the parties conceded the issue of significant threat.
[5]. Counsel for the Hospital stated that the position of the Hospital was that Mr. Grenier continued to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition was a continuation of the current Detention Order without change.
[6]. Counsel for the Attorney General joined the hospital in that recommendation. Counsel for Mr. Grenier expressed that, after hearing the evidence, on behalf of his client, he would likely agree with the position of the hospital.
Findings
[7]. For the Reasons that follow, the Board finds that Mr. Grenier continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order without change.
Index Offence(s)
[8]. The circumstances of the index offence are taken from last year’s Reasons for Disposition as follows:
January 2020 Offences
The accused and the victim are distant cousins. They have a strange relationship due to the ongoing issues with the accused mental health. He has false delusions about her and has obsessive behaviour towards her. The accused has been charged several times in relation to the victim and has displayed no regard for the consequences as he continues to harass her.
On the 16th of July 2019, the accused was placed on probation for a period of eighteen-months by Justice P.R. Bradley at the Ontario Court of Justice in the City of North Bay. The accused was to abide by several conditions, specifically the conditions back to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour,” as well as “do not contact or communicate in any way, either directly or indirectly, by any physical, electronic or other means with Anya Pinsent.”
Count #1, #2 & #3 – Criminal Harassment, Threats & Breach of Probation:
On the 14th of January 2020, at approximately 5:55 p.m., the accused sent a Facebook Messenger message to the victim. The accused wrote “Hi Anya you little whore I will hunt you down for putting me in North Bay jail I will get my revenge you little whore,” “Anya you will die a long and painful death.” As a result of contacting the victim, the accused is in breach of his probation. The victim screen captured the messages, blocked him on Facebook, and called police. The victim knew this to be the accused as she knows the male in the profile photo to the be the accused, as well, the profile name was that of the accused. The victim subsequently called police.
Constable Beard attended and began an investigation. Constable Beard obtained a written statement from the victim who, due to the accused past history of mental instability, fears for her safety. Constable Beard learned that this has been an ongoing issue between her and the accused where the accused has been charged in the past. As a result of the statement, reasonable grounds were formed to arrest the accused for one count each of Criminal Harassment, Threats, and Breach of Probation.
The victim knows the accused to be transient, however, last knew him to be residing at the Crisis Centre in the City of North Bay. Constable Beard contacted the Crisis Centre with attempts to locate the accused and received information that he left town on a bus courtesy of the Crisis Centre on the 31st of December 2019. Constable Beard confirmed this information by contacting the bus station who had record of him leaving town and no record of him returning via bus.
Due to the circumstances and unknown whereabouts of the accused, a warrant is being sought for his arrest for Criminal Harassment, Threatening and Breach of Probation.
Upon execution of the warrant, an assessment of the accused mental health is also being requested.
October 2020 Offences
Count 1 - Utter Threats
On the 21st of October,2020, the witness was conducting psychiatric assessment on the accused. During that assessment the accused referred to the victim, naming are her and calling her the devil, threatening that if you were to stay in Ontario, he would kill her. The accused has been charged on three separate occasions for uttering threats against the victim and also one separate occasion for harassment against the victim. The witness believes that the accused is unstable, non-compliant with his medication and has the ability to follow through with these threats. As a result the accused was charged with one count of Uttering Threats.
On the 2nd of October 2020, the victim was notified of what the accused had said. She provided a written statement voicing her concern for her safety and believes the accused will not leave her alone if he is in the community. He is fixated on finding her and continuously threatening to kill her.
Count 2 - Fail to Comply with Probation Order
As a result of the aforementioned charge the accused failed to keep the peace and be of good behaviour and will be charged with one account of Fail to Comply with Probation Order.
On the 27th of October 2020, Constable Udeschini of the North Bay Police Service attend the North Bay District Jail and spoke with the accused. He was advised that he was under arrest and going to be charged with Uttering Threats and Fail to Comply with Probation Order. He was provided his Rights to Counsel and Caution to which he understood and did not request a lawyer at this time.
Background Information Regarding the Accused
[9]. Mr. Grenier is currently 49 years of age. He was born in Brantford Ontario. Born prematurely, he remained in hospital for about a year due to postpartum complications associated with his premature birth. He reports that, as a child until the age of 10, he was frequently hospitalized.
[10]. His parents divorced when he was 10 and he lived with his father until he was in grade 7 when he began living with his mother where he remained until he was 19.
[11]. Mr. Grenier reports that he was suspended from school several times. He left school in grade 11 without obtaining his full school credits. Years later, Mr. Grenier did eventually obtain high school equivalency.
[12]. Mr. Grenier worked in a number of occupations for lengthy periods of time but had to leave these jobs due to his mental illness.
[13]. Prior to his NCR finding Mr. Grenier was living a transient lifestyle living in shelters in Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sudbury, North Bay, London and St. Catharines, Ontario. His last known permanent address in the community was in London, Ontario in 2015.
Legal History
[14]. Mr. Grenier has a legal history which includes the following record:
2016 03 04 London, Ontario Criminal Harassment Sec 264 CC
2016 04 13 London, Ontario Failure to Appear Sec 145 (5) CC Failure to Attend Sec 145 (2) (A) CC Failure to Comply with Recognizance Sec 145 (3) CC
2019 07 16 North Bay, Ontario Criminal Harassment Sec 264 (2) B
2019 12 31 North Bay, Ontario Uttering Threats Sec. 265.1(1) (A) CC Failure to Comply with Probation Order Sec. 733.1(1) CC
2020 01 14 London, Ontario Mischief under $5000 Sec. 434 (4) CC
Psychiatric History
[15]. Mr. Grenier’s first hospitalization with respect to mental health was in June 2002 when he was admitted involuntarily after experiencing auditory hallucinations directing him to assault police and lure them into shooting him. He reported hearing the voice of Britney Spears along with other commanding auditory hallucinations.
[16]. In 2011 Mr. Grenier was admitted to hospital due to auditory hallucinations with thought insertion and thought withdrawal. Prior to admission he had been non-adherent to psychiatric medication and was smoking about 6 g of cannabis a day. His diagnoses were paranoid schizophrenia and cannabis dependence disorder. During this hospitalization he stabilized after recommencing psychiatric medication. He discharged himself contrary to medical advice.
[17]. In 2013 Mr. Grenier was admitted to hospital after he called police stating that he wanted to go to jail. He stated that he wanted to rape a girl. He reported hearing voices and that the voices wanted him to do things. On admission to hospital, he presented as tired, angry, irritable depressed and suicidal. He also reported homicidal thoughts commanded by auditory hallucinations.
[18]. Mr. Grenier had further admissions to hospital in 2015 x 2, 2016, 2017 x 2, 2018, 2019 x 2, and 2020 several times.
Current Diagnoses
[19]. Mr. Grenier’s current diagnoses are set out in the Hospital Report as follows:
Schizophrenia Cannabis Use Disorder, in sustained remission in a controlled setting, and Alcohol Use Disorder, in sustained remission in a controlled setting.
Evidence
[20]. The Hospital Report. dated August 30, 2025, was made an exhibit in these proceedings. Dr. Kolawole, who co-authored the report, testified and adopted its contents. The Hospital Report will therefore be referred to, albeit briefly.
[21]. Dr. Kolawole testified that, since January 2025, he has been Mr. Grenier's psychiatrist. During this reporting year, and since 2024, Mr. Grenier has been living at Maplewood House, in North Bay, a transition home staffed by the hospital. While he has been progressing, he continues to require support and oversight for his mental illness.
[22]. Maplewood is supported by staff from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and is monitored via security cameras by hospital personnel. Mr. Grenier has complied with all the protocols including a nightly call to Osprey Lodge.
[23]. Dr. Kolawole testified that Mr. Grenier started this reporting year residing at Osprey Lodge and since his move is doing well living in Maplewood with the support the transition placement team offers him. Dr. Kolawole testified that the hospital team, in concert with Mr. Grenier, is considering Mr. Grenier’s continued transition to more independent housing. The timing of that transition depends on Mr. Grenier’s progress at Maplewood House and the availability of housing that is best suited to meet and manage his needs.
[24]. The hospital team is considering the possibility of a bachelor or 1 bedroom apartment in the community and where Mr. Grenier would have continued support for his needs.
[25]. In his testimony, Dr. Kolawole reported that Mr. Grenier is able to self-administer his medication. Given Mr. Grenier’s substance use history, Dr. Kolawole also reported that, with being in a controlled environment, Mr. Grenier has had no substance use issues.
[26]. Mr. Grenier works well with the staff and appears to be content in his current environment. All in all, Mr. Grenier is doing well given the current structure and the support he has had under the supervision of the ORB.
[27]. Dr. Kolawole testified that the hospital team is considering engaging the involvement of the Community Assertive Community Treatment Team (“ACTT”) as soon as the hospital identifies a transition placement for Mr. Grenier. Once ACTT involvement with Mr. Grenier, Dr. Kolawole testified that the hospital will continue to follow Mr. Grenier along with the forensic outreach team, staffed by hospital.
[28]. Dr. Kolawole opined that the ACTT team, a client-centered mental health community service, would be a good steppingstone for Mr. Grenier until he could eventually withdraw from hospital services. Dr. Kolawole stated that the ACTT team, also has a psychiatrist associated with programs and rehabilitation services from which Mr. Grenier would benefit.
[29]. In response to a question from Mr. Grenier, counsel stated that the hospital team was working with Mr. Grenier and introducing Mr. Grenier to options for his continued transition. In reviewing Mr. Grenier’s history, Dr. Kolawole stated that coming under the ORB has been the best thing for Mr. Grenier and that he is now faring well in the community. Previously he had had over 30 hospital admissions throughout the country, and he had suffered a great deal until he came under the Board.
[30]. Dr. Kolawole testified that Mr. Grenier has made good progress and doing better in taking his medication. Mr. Grenier has a long history of substance abuse however there is no evidence of use in his supervised environment. One treatment area that would be beneficial to Mr. Grenier would be additional psycho-education in substance use given his substance use history.
[31]. Dr. Kolawole opined that making a further transition to less supervised management of his needs will put Mr. Grenier in a tricky period and the hospital team will need to put a plan in place to assure Mr. Grenier’s success in that further transition.
[32]. When asked about Mr. Grenier’s risk as referred to in the June 22, 2022, assessment, Dr. Kolawole opined that his risks remain the same. Mr. Grenier’s risk for violence is strongly linked to three factors: his psychiatric illness, substance abuse and anti-social attitudes. Mr. Grenier's risk remains the same. Dr. Kolawole hoped that with the current treatment plan and the staff monitoring his behaviour, that in the next reporting year Mr. Grenier will be doing better.
[33]. When Dr. Kolawole was asked about the timing of Mr. Grenier’s transition into the community, he replied that it won’t happen without preparation and stated that in making the transition, Mr. Grenier will need to be closely monitored.
[34]. The Hospital Report sets out that given Mr. Grenier’s history of a transient lifestyle and his limited insight into his substance use issues he is likely to relapse into substance use and become non-compliant with prescribed medication. In response to a question from the panel about Mr. Grenier’s adherence to taking his medication, Dr. Kolawole stated that Mr. Grenier’s symptoms are now minimal and that may be because he has been better in engaging with staff and fellow residents.
[35]. In response to whether the hospital team could introduce the support of the ACTT program while Mr. Grenier is residing in Maplewood, Dr. Kolawole stated that the ACTT program will only be explored by the hospital team once Mr. Grenier is in a position to transition. Dr. Kolawole also stated that ACTT has a psychiatrist with whom the Hospital would be able to coordinate once that is in place.
[36]. No further evidence was called.
Final Submissions
[37]. Counsel for all parties made no further submissions and maintained their original positions. On behalf of his client, Mr. Primeau added that his client is anxious to start looking at the next step and his transition into the community. Mr. Grenier’s counsel added that his client definitely needs to engage in substance-use counselling to improve his insight into his condition.
Analysis
Significant Threat
[38]. Significant threat was conceded by counsel for all parries in the joint submission. Nevertheless, on the evidence of Dr. Kolawole and the contents of the Hospital Report, the Board independently and unanimously finds that Mr. Grenier continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. The evidence supports that he continues to suffer from a long-standing and major mental illness, schizophrenia as well as alcohol and substance use disorder. The index offence is serious and linked to Mr. Grenier’s mental health and substance use disorder.
[39]. While Mr. Grenier is doing better under the care of the hospital team and in his transition to Maplewood House in this reporting year, Mr. Grenier continues to require close monitoring and supervision. The panel relies on the evidence of Dr. Kolawole that Mr. Grenier’s insight is such that he does not fully appreciate the adverse effect of alcohol and substance use on his mental health. If not in a controlled setting Mr. Grenier’s use of alcohol and substances could lead to his decompensation and his threat to the safety of the public.
Disposition
[40]. The Board commends Mr. Grenier for the progress he has made while residing at Maplewood House. On behalf of the Board, the Alt. Chair congratulated Mr. Grenier and wished him well in the forthcoming year.
[41]. After carefully considering the evidence, the Board finds that the joint submission of counsel for a Detention Disposition is necessary and appropriate on the facts and in the circumstances. Managing Mr. Grenier’s risk requires close monitoring and supervision. The hospital needs to respond quickly to any signs of decompensation in order to protect the safety of the public.
[42]. The Board is satisfied that in this current residence, a Detention Disposition is necessary and appropriate so that the hospital is able to safely manage Mr. Grenier’s risk to the safety of the public.
[43]. In coming to our conclusion, the Board bears in mind Mr. Grenier’s mental condition, his reintegration into society and his other needs.
DATED this 13th day of November 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Emile Kruzick Legal Member
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board