Ontario Review Board
Re: Kalis Talis
ORB File No: 8516
Hearing held on: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Place of Hearing: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus
Pursuant to: Section 672.81 (1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Ms. S. Clapp Members: Dr. M. Attia Dr. T. Stirpe Mr. E. Siebenmorgen Ms. R. Chopra
Parties Appearing: Accused: Kalis Talis Counsel: Mr. M. A. Reynolds
The Person in Charge of hospital: Counsel: Mr. S. O’Brien
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. C. Gzik
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION (Dated July 7, 2025)
Introduction
1On March 14, 2024, Kalis Talis, now 32 years old, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on charges of mischief – interference with lawful use of property, killing or injuring an animal, failing to comply with a release order (x2), and failing to comply with probation, all contrary to the Criminal Code. On May 27, 2024, the Ontario Review Board (“ORB” or “the Board”) issued its initial Disposition, pursuant to which he is ordered detained at the Forensic Psychiatry Program of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus (“SJHCH” or “the Hospital”), subject to various conditions and privileges, up to and including accompanied entry into the community of Hamilton. He is subject to various conditions, including that he have no contact or communication with the victims of the mischief offence.
2On Thursday, May 29, 2025, a panel of the Board convened in person at the Hospital to review Mr. Talis’ Disposition and to make a new Disposition. Mr. Talis was present and represented by his counsel, Mr. Reynolds. The issues to be decided at the hearing were whether Mr. Talis continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public as set out in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code, and if so, what is the necessary and appropriate Disposition, taking into account the four factors set out in section 672.54 of the Code.
3The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report dated April 22, 2025 and the oral evidence of Dr. A. Li, a psychiatry resident working with Mr. Talis under the supervision of Dr. J. Ferencz, Mr. Talis’ attending psychiatrist. The panel also marked, as an Exhibit, an e-mail dated December 14, 2023 which included details of a 2023 robbery charge (discussed later in these Reasons).
Positions of the Parties
4At the start of the hearing, the parties were asked for their initial, without prejudice, positions. Counsel for the Hospital, supported by counsel for the Attorney General and by counsel for Mr. Talis, took the position that Mr. Talis continued to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a continuation of the Detention Order with the same conditions as those in the existing Disposition, and with the addition of a full range of privileges into the community of Southern Ontario, including living in the community in approved accommodation, with a minimum reporting frequency of four times per month. The parties maintained their positions at the conclusion of the evidence. The panel was thus presented with a joint position.
Findings
5For the following Reasons, the panel accepted the joint recommendation and found, independently, that Mr. Talis represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. We further found that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order with the additional privileges jointly recommended by the parties.
Index Offences
6An agreed statement of facts, filed with the court that made the NCR finding, was provided to the Board for the initial hearing.1 The statement was reproduced in the Reasons for Disposition, dated June 26, 2024, and reads as follows:
Mischief
On Tuesday July 18, 2023, police were dispatched to a call for service. The complainant, Rolda HARRIOTT advised that her neighbour had just thrown an iron Sheppard's hook in her backyard where her grandchildren were playing. Police attended her address at 14216 Argyll Road, in the town of Halton Hills. HARRIOTTT advised that at 1300 she was watching her grandchildren, playing in the backyard. Two minutes after calling the children inside she observed a large item being thrown over the fence from 5 Lauchlin Court. She advised that the iron rod landed on the trampoline where the children had just been playing and thought it may have damaged the trampoline. She advised that she went towards the fence and spoke to Kalis Talis. She asked him why he threw that and TALIS advised her that it was because he did not like the kids, and that they annoy him. HARRIOTT advised that TALIS uttered the following: "no one wants you here, you black people are useless and you need to go back home." HARRHOTT advised that TALIS then stated that the iron rod was garbage just like them. She advised at that point she went inside and called 9111.
Police attended and TALIS was arrested and held for bail.
On the 21st of July, 2023 at the Town of Milton, in the Ontario Court of Justice, TALIS was released on a Release Order issued by Justice of the Peace, Mark CURTIS after charges of Mischief and Obstruct Police. As a part of the conditions of the Release Order, TALIS was to reside with his surety at 5 Lauchlin Crescent in Georgetown each and every night remain inside the building at 5 Lauchlin Crescent, Georgetown (and to not be out of doors on the property) except while under the direct and continuous supervision of his surety.
Animal Cruelty
On the evening of Saturday October 14th, 2023 at approximately 7:30pm, Sheila CHU last observed her 2 year old Goldendoodle dog sitting under her piano on the main floor of her residence at 5 Lauchlin Crescent in Georgetown. Shortly thereafter, CHU departed the residence to run an errand at the local Walmart. Upon returning home, CHU reported that she found it odd that her dog did not greet her at the door when she re-entered the residence. CHU searched the residence looking for the dog but was unable to locate it. CHU confirmed that while she was out, TALIS was home alone and had access to the main floor of the residence as she forgot to lock the door leading from TALIS' basement apartment which leads to the main floor of her residence. CHU confronted TALIS regarding the whereabouts and well-being of the dog at which point TALIS laid face down on the floor and became very quiet and would not answer the questions. CHU later informed Police that TALIS had been having delusions about the dog eating him and that he had been hearing voices that he believed to be coming from the dog.
TALIS was previously charged in 2022 for severely injuring the same dog.
At 1:37 am, now October 15th, 2023. CHU sent TALIS' psychiatrist DR. KANTOR an email outlining that TALIS had killed her dog and was "violent and dangerous". A worker for the Accessible Community Treatment team, Mike FORESTER, attended the residence to provide medication and conduct a check in on TALIS. While providing the medication, .FORESTER observed a huge cut on TALIS' index finger that looked very fresh. When asked about the cut, TALIS shrugged it off and said he was letting it heal. TALIS barely responded to FORESTERs questions, looked floc [sic – flat?] with no emotions and had a blank facial expression for most of their interaction. TALIS eyes appeared to be black and he looked disassociated from the conversation. FORESTER observed a blood spot on one of the stones in the backyard and blood stains on the back stairs to go down to the basement entrance. Consequently, he reported this to police around 11: 55am.
At approximately 1:04pm, Police attended the residence and located TALIS as he exited the rear of the residence. TALIS was found with a bloody cut to his right index finger which contained golden hairs that appeared consistent with a dog. Large amounts of blood were located on TALIS clothing and footwear and throughout the backyard of 5 Lauchlin Crescent. A trail of blood was observed leading down the driveway, northbound on Lauchlin Crescent and continued westbound on Argyll Road. A neighbouring security camera caught Mr. Kalis crossing over the road and heading northbound on Lauchlin Crescent towards Argyll Road. The path in which TALIS is observed walking, matched up with the trail of blood that Police followed ,from the residence, northbound on Lauchlin Crescent before the trail led westbound on Argyll Road.
TALIS was taken to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for a psychiatric assessment where a hold letter was issued to the Hospital to notify Halton Police once TALIS was scheduled to be discharged. While at the Hospital and under caution, TALIS confessed to transporting the deceased canine to the area of Ninth Line in Halton Hills and disposing of the dog on the westbound side of Ninth Line just east on Number 10 Sideroad.
Police attended the residence and took photos & samples from the scene. K9 was called in to assist with the search for the dog or any other evidence associated with the offence, with negative results.
On-November 14th, 2023 Halton Regional Police were contacted by staff at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, advising that TALIS was being released from the hospital. Police attended Oakville Trafalgar Hospital, where at 15:05 hours, Talis was placed under arrest for Failing to Comply release order times 2, fail to comply probation, killing or injuring animals, obstruct use of property, resist peace officer, robbery, and assault peace officer. TALIS advised he understood the reason for his arrest, along with his rights to counsel and caution. TALIS was transported to central lock-up where he was lodged and held for bail.
Court Orders
At the lime of these offences, Mr. Talis was bound by three court orders as follows:
On the 19th of April 2023 at the Town of Milton in the Ontario Court of Justice, TALIS entered into a Probation Order after failing to comply with an undertaking, signed by Justice JA CRAWFORD. As a part of the conditions of the Probation Order, TALIS was to not possess, visit, or be in the care/control of any live or deceased domestic or wild animals. The probation period began April 19, 2023 and is active until April 18, 2024.
On the 1st of May 2023 at the City of Kitchener, in the Ontario Court of Justice, TAUS was released on a Release Order by Her Worship, A. MAGOULAS, after charges of Robbery and Wounding and Assault Peace Officer. The Release Order had conditions to reside with surety at 5 Lauchlin Crescent in Georgetown and remain in his residence 24 hours a day-7 days a week except for medical emergencies involving himself or when in the presence of his surety.
The other Release Order, as previously mentioned, had conditions to reside with surety at 5 Lauchlin Crescent in Georgetown and remain in his residence 24 hours a day- 7 days a week except for medical emergencies involving himself or when in the presence of his surety. All three of these Court Orders were in effect on Saturday October 14th, 2023.
Background Information
7Mr. Talis’ personal history is summarized in last year’s Reasons for Disposition and is captured in greater detail in the Hospital Report. As the Hospital Report is in evidence at the hearing, the information need not be reviewed in detail for the purpose of these Reasons. Portions that provide helpful context for the issues at this hearing are highlighted below.
8Mr. Talis (birth name Jonathan Chu) is the elder of two sons born to Ms. Sheila Chu and Mr. Jason Wang. His mother reportedly lives in Georgetown (where the index offences occurred) and his father lives in the State of New Jersey. The younger brother reportedly lives in the State of Missouri. For reasons that remained unknown at the time of the hearing, Mr. Talis has undergone several legal name changes.
9Mr. Talis was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. His family travelled to and from China on a regular basis to visit his grandparents when he was young, and he became more proficient in the Chinese language than in the English language. He began playing piano at four years of age and was a gifted musician. His parents separated when he was seven years of age and his mother moved to Kansas with the children while his father moved to Washington, DC. Ms. Chu described Mr. Talis as different as he did not have much interest in engaging with other children or developing friendships. However, she noted that he was a highly intelligent child and his brain “works faster,” although this was not always evident in his actions or behaviour.
10Ms. Chu reported that when Mr. Talis was in high school, he was unmotivated and “lazy,” opting to lay on the couch instead of making friends and engaging in social activities. He had failed some classes, so Ms. Chu sent him to live with his father, who was at the time in Connecticut, for a year. His school grades had improved. After returning to Kansas, he was observed to be “vicious” towards his brother, as he bullied him to the point where Ms. Chu sent his brother to reside with their father. Ms. Chu advised that Mr. Talis began skipping classes at school, although it is understood that he completed high school on time.
11Mr. Talis completed two years of a Bachelor of Music program at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, following which he and his mother moved to Toronto in 2013. He transferred to Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo but had to restart the degree program as he was unable to transfer his credits. It is reported that two years into the program, Mr. Talis began experiencing interpersonal and behavioural issues with his peers and the administration. He complained about the program, and in the fall of 2015, began to talk about a conspiracy, stating the faculty was against him. He got into a conflict with the administrator over booking piano rooms and was involved in interpersonal conflicts with his peers. Health records indicated he was accused of stealing a backpack from a study room and threatening to harm a roommate. The University required Mr. Talis to undergo a psychoeducational assessment for risk management and accommodation needs.
12Health records report that the assessment, completed in 2016, found that Mr. Talis met criteria for autism spectrum disorder with secondary diagnoses of narcissistic and antisocial personality traits. Recommendations were made to address social and behavioural issues and to meet accommodation needs. Specifically, he was to enter into a behavioural contract with the University, outlining expectations and acceptable and unacceptable behaviours, engage in treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and anger management, and undergo ongoing counselling, all as a condition of returning to school. However, upon Mr. Talis’ return to school in September 2016, police were called, and he was escorted off campus. His mother reportedly did not know why this happened. The Hospital Report indicates that Mr. Talis did not resume academic studies thereafter.
13Mr. Talis does not have a significant employment history. He reported having worked in a fast-food restaurant for a few months. He is financially supported by Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits.
Substance Use History
14According to health records, Mr. Talis experimented with ecstasy and cocaine when younger and used cannabis heavily for a few years until he was 21 years old. He self-reported that he continued to use cannabis up until approximately one year prior to his NCR assessment but quit since then due to the cost. He reported infrequent alcohol use. He has never engaged with addictions counselling, detoxification services, or residential treatment.
Legal History
15Mr. Tallis has a limited legal history prior to the index offences. He was found guilty on a charge of failure to comply with a release order on April 19, 2023, and was granted a conditional discharge and placed on probation for a period of 12 months.
16During his psychological interview for his NCR assessment, Mr. Talis self-reported an incident in 2023 that resulted in a charge of robbery, which was reduced to assault. At the beginning of the hearing, Ms. Gzik for the Attorney General confirmed that this was a robbery charge, with Mr. Talis having pled guilty to assault. She obtained further information during the hearing and advised the panel that the conviction was on December 14, 2023, that the incident occurred while he was on a form of release with his mother as surety. In response to a question from the panel, Ms. Gzik advised that her information indicated that the incident involved the punching of a police officer in the face, resulting in no injuries other than some facial redness. Mr. Talis was credited with having served 50 days in presentence custody. The court made an order pursuant to s. 110 of the Criminal Code.2
Psychiatric History
17Mr. Talis has a considerable psychiatric history, extending from 2016 to October of 2023 when he was hospitalized following the latest index offences before being taken into police custody. His inpatient and outpatient course, which is detailed at pp. 9-16 of the Hospital Report, is highly relevant but cannot be properly summarized in these Reasons. As the Hospital Report is in evidence, it has been reviewed and considered by the panel. Some aspects are highlighted below, with the first three hospital admissions (all in 2016) reviewed more fully.
18Beginning in May 2016 Mr. Talis' mother noted a significant change in his behavioural functioning. He appeared depressed and indicated that his mind was "cloudy" and would stay awake all night and sleep during the day. He was also observed to be talking to himself. His first hospitalization with respect to mental health related issues was in September 2016 when he was placed on a Form 1 under the Mental Health Act. Over the course of the admission, he was observed to be thought disordered and appeared to be responding to internal stimuli. He refused to acknowledge that he suffered from a serious mental illness but did agree to take medication. He was discharged against medical advice.
19In November 2016, Mr. Talis was transported by police to the emergency room of Etobicoke General Hospital. It was alleged that he had assaulted his mother and told her he was leaving for China. At the airport he displayed bizarre behaviour and attempted to board a plane without a passport. He was placed on Form 1 and was observed to be responding to internal stimuli.
20In December 2016 Mr. Talis was brought to hospital by his mother, who reported that he was talking nonsense and believed he was being monitored by somebody in the building opposite his. She also noted that he had been aggressive towards her on a couple of occasions and had discontinued his prescribed medication after being previously discharged from hospital. He was admitted on a Form 1, found incapable of consenting to psychiatric treatment and started on a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication with his mother’s consent as his substitute decision-maker (SDM). He displayed a lack of insight into his mental illness and the reasons for his hospital admission. A Community Treatment Order (CTO) was initiated prior to his discharge from hospital. The discharge diagnosis was schizophrenic spectrum disorder.
21Mr. Talis was followed pursuant to his CTO until July of 2017. His mother did not want him to continue on the CTO at the time of its renewal, and it was allowed to lapse. He was placed on a new CTO at the end of July of 2018, following another hospital admission prompted by his mother’s 9-1-1 call. She was concerned as he was collecting knives and a chainsaw. Mr. Talis was assessed by the Halton Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT), who observed several tools laying around the house. Upon MCRRT interaction, Mr. Talis was agitated and endorsed having command hallucinations telling him to cut down the tree in the backyard, and hearing the voice of God and the devil, and received messages from the computer.
22Mr. Talis was followed by two outpatient psychiatrists from August of 2018 until February of 2020 pursuant to his CTO. There were several incidents of non-compliance with appointments for his long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication, resulting in two apprehensions (pursuant to Form 47 under the Mental Health Act) and brief hospital admissions in 2018 and 2019. Despite being (mainly) adherent to his prescribed medication, he continued to display psychotic symptoms including disorganization, auditory hallucinations, irritability, and delusional thinking. While the CTO was renewed in February of 2020, the file was closed as neither Mr. Talis nor his mother contacted the clinic further. It was noted that his mother stated a desire to have him meet a private psychiatrist.
23Another CTO was issued following an almost four-month involuntary admission commencing May 25, 2021. Ms. Chu called 9-1-1 with concerns regarding agitation, delusional content, and erratic behaviour, as Mr. Talis had placed their cat in a bag and drove it to another neighbourhood. It was reported by police that he presented with rambling speech, disorganization, tangentiality, and inappropriate laughter. He was also noted to have removed the smoke detector in his home, covered all the mirrors and removed the bedroom door. When questioned about the cat, Mr. Talis showed no remorse about his behaviour, stating he did not like that the cat was brushing up on his leg. He showed significant improvement during his admission with the initiation of clozapine, and on discharge was again followed by the North Halton Mental Health Clinic. Mr. Talis did not like the medication, did not believe he had a mental illness, and on review by the Consent and Capacity Board (CCB), his CTO was overturned. He stopped taking his medication and by December of 2021, his mental state again decompensated.
24On January 8, 2022, Mr. Talis was again admitted to hospital following a call to emergency services by his mother. Upon assessment, he became combative with nursing staff, throwing himself onto the floor and refusing to respond to requests to cooperate. He required chemical restraint and became more settled. Following assessment, he was deemed incapable of consenting to psychiatric treatment and was maintained as an involuntary patient, with his mother as SDM. Mr. Talis was restarted on medications. He disclosed to the psychiatrist that he had killed four family pets in the context of his worsening psychosis. His medication was changed to Amisulpride, and again, a CTO was initiated at his discharge from hospital.
25Another, brief, assessment at the emergency department occurred on March 5-6, 2022. This time, Mr. Talis was transported to the emergency room by police, after he called 911 with concerns that his mother was going to harm him. According to health records, MCRRT attended his home, and he informed them that his mother got a new puppy which he hates and believes is provoking him and making him angry. He reported to MCRRT that the dog was trying to anger him, so he grabbed him “in a headlock,” then entered the room where his mother was and punched her in the chest. The note of this visit reports that Mr. Talis’ mother expressed concerns that her son would severely injure the puppy, that the puppy helped her son in releasing anger, and that her son had been abusive towards their cat and had killed another cat due to his anger. A report to the Humane Society was made. After Mr. Talis stayed overnight, a call was placed to his mother, who repeatedly denied concerns about her safety and that of her puppy at the home, demanding that Mr. Talis be discharged from hospital.
26Mr. Talis was accepted to the Summit Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) in June 2022 and began to be followed by his outpatient psychiatrist Dr. David Kantor. Due to Mr. Talis’ mother’s comments indicating that she was not convinced that her son had a mental illness that was causing his symptoms, it was opined that she was not capable to make consent decisions regarding his CTO, and Mr. Talis’ father agreed to act as SDM. He provided consent for the renewal of the CTO.
27Mr. Talis was not seen by the ACTT for several months in 2023, reportedly due to various legal issues that he was then experiencing. He was reassessed by Dr. Kantor in June 2023. Mr. Talis presented with “absurd ideation” and thought disorder, but his mother confirmed that he was compliant with his medication. As his CTO was up for renewal, it was felt that changes to his medication should be made, as the effectiveness of his current regime was questionable. Mr. Talis continued to state he did not suffer from a psychiatric illness or require medication, and he was placed on a Form 1 in September 2023 to facilitate the initiation of a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication. However, no medication changes were made in hospital, and upon discharge and reassessment, it was decided to add another oral antipsychotic to his medication regimen, to be observed by ACTT staff.
Evidence at the Hearing
28As expressed in the Clinical Risk Summary at p. 40 of the Hospital Report, Mr. Talis has made several gains over the course of his first full reporting year at the Hospital, particularly with the reduction of psychotic symptoms, compliance with treatment, adherence to rules and expectations on the unit and during accompanied privileges, the absence of aggressive incidents, abstinence from substance use as evidenced by negative drug screens, and by maintaining frequent contact with his parents. His mother has visited in person and contact with his father, who lives in the United States, has been by telephone.
29After arriving on the Waterfall 3 unit in June of 2024, Mr. Talis admitted to auditory hallucinations, stating that he experienced these daily but intermittently and explained that there were “different levels of voices”, including one of his “grandpa’s voice” which tells him to do things, as well as other voices which tell him to “kill animals”. He was also noted to be guarded in his answers to questions. He continued to occasionally demonstrate preoccupations around one of the index offences (the killing of the dog), for example asking if dogs will be euthanized if they urinate on the floor but has assured his treatment team that he does not have aggressive thoughts or urges to harm animals. Examples of demonstrated symptoms, including disorganized and tangential thought and observed responses to internal stimuli, are found in the “Notable Incidents” portion of the Hospital Report, at pp. 34-36.
30Dr. Li, who first met Mr. Talis in April of 2025 and has met with him several times in the intervening period up to the time of the hearing, testified to supplement the information in the Hospital Report. She said that Mr. Talis has had a very good year overall, noting in particular his cooperative manner with staff, his consistently negative drug screens, and his use of the full envelope of his privileges with no issues. She confirmed in response to a later question that Mr. Talis is at his privilege ceiling.
31The Hospital Report notes that earlier in the year, at a time when Mr. Talis was still capable, his long-acting antipsychotic medication was changed to paliperidone from clopixol. Mr. Talis’ mental state was noted to have deteriorated on August 1, 2024 and oral paliperidone was added. By the end of August, he was calmer, less disorganized and was noted to express fewer delusional ideas. Dr. Li elaborated on the medication changes. She noted that in October of 2024, Mr. Talis was found incapable of making treatment decisions and his father became his SDM. His father advised that Mr. Talis had been at his best while on clopixol and it was accordingly restarted. The treatment team noticed improvement in the psychotic symptoms, including that Mr. Talis spoke of his index offence in a less bizarre way.
32Dr. Li reported that the clopixol dose was increased in March, and Mr. Talis’ mental status improved further. Most recently, on May 13, 2025, the dose was increased to 350 mg, which is the highest dose that he has ever been given, and the treatment team has so far seen even greater improvement. Dr. Li also noted that Mr. Talis has been started on quetiapine, another antipsychotic medication. Since March, Mr. Talis has not been seen responding to internal stimuli.
33Dr. Li said that she last spoke with Mr. Talis about the dog concerned in one of the index offences approximately two weeks before the hearing. He continues to perseverate about the dog, stating that it bit him the first time that he met it. However, as noted above, Dr. Li stated that he has spoken about the dog in a less bizarre way more recently. Dr. Li added that Mr. Talis has also expressed remorse about the dog’s death.
34Dr. Li commented on Mr. Talis’ good participation over the year in unit activities, notably as part of the unit’s musical band. She noted that Mr. Talis is a very good piano player and participates in karaoke during community outings.
35Asked what she would like to see for Mr. Talis during the year ahead, Dr. Li said that she would like to see the treatment team supporting him in community passes with his mother. She lives in the Halton region and accordingly the treatment team has recommended that the geographical area for passes and community living be widened to include Southern Ontario. Dr. Li updated the panel by advising that Mr. Talis’ mother’s approved person application had been unanimously approved by the treatment team and as of the hearing date, the application was awaiting the required final signatures. In response to a panel member’s question concerning the mother’s earlier-reported limited insight, Dr. Li acknowledged that this was indeed the case as she seemed to have very limited insight when her son first came into the system. By the end of the “approved person” process, however, she had done very well in her understanding of Mr. Talis’ illness and has “much improved” insight into his illness and the need for treatment.
36Dr. Li expressed the opinion that with the expected continued improvement in Mr. Talis’ condition, it is reasonably foreseeable that he would be ready for community living within the year. She would like to be able to at least initiate the housing waitlist process for him. In response to a question, Dr. Li advised that there are ongoing conversations with Mr. Talis and his mother regarding the resolution of his living situation. The team will be considering the mother’s residence as one option.
37Dr. Li addressed the issue of Mr. Talis’ risk, stating her opinion that he represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. In explaining her opinion, she pointed out his serious illness, along with his very limited insight into that illness. Mr. Talis does not believe that he has a mental illness or symptoms of a mental condition. If he were to become noncompliant with his medication, decompensation would occur in a matter of weeks or months. Indeed, as he receives his injection every two weeks, she would expect to see decompensation within a few weeks if he were to stop accepting it. Dr. Li opined that mental status decompensation would likely be accompanied by aggression directed to either people or animals.
38Counsel for the Attorney General, noting Mr. Talis’ various changes of name, asked Dr. Li how the Hospital could ensure that they had all the relevant medical records for him. Dr. Li expressed the hope that with continued mental status improvement on his part, the treatment team can better understand the name changes and collect all relevant records. Dr. Li added that Mr. Talis reports having a passport in the name of “Kalis Talis”. She stated that the team is currently of the opinion that his name choice is itself likely a function of his mental state.
39In response to a request from counsel for the Attorney General for an update as to the situation involving the therapy dogs who visit the Hospital, Dr. Li stated that after the initial occasion when he was asked to stay in his room during a dog’s unit visit, over time, Mr. Talis has been able to remain on the unit during these visits. He sees the therapy dog and goes about his business without touching the dog. He has also encountered people walking their dogs during his community outings, and there have been no issues. According to Mr. Talis, his issue was only in relation to the particular dog that he killed.
40A panel member, noting that Mr. Talis verbalized no particular goals other than to be released, asked whether there were opportunities in the Hospital to help him further develop his music skills. Referring to this as a “fantastic” suggestion, Dr. Li stated that the treatment team will continue to support him with his music. Also, with a view to the development of concrete goals, the team would investigate opportunities for him to perform.
41Another panel member asked Dr. Li about the previous trial on clozapine that Mr. Talis had experienced in 2021. Dr. Li stated that Mr. Talis told her that he did not have a mental illness and so dd not need to take it, and also that the clozapine was in a liquid preparation and he did not like its taste, so he did not take it consistently. Dr. Li said that this is a medication option that the team would want to re-approach with him.
42Dr. Li was also asked about previous diagnoses of personality traits in Mr. Talis’ case. She replied that the Hospital does not yet have access to the previous assessments that gave rise to the earlier diagnoses. In particular, the team would like to see the assessment that identified narcissistic and antisocial personality traits. Those characteristics or traits have not yet been observed in Mr. Talis.
43Noting that most references in the Hospital Report to the exploration of Mr. Talis’ insight into the index offences have concerned themselves with the killing of the dog, a panel member asked Dr. Li whether there has been consideration or exploration of the mischief offence involving the throwing of an object into a back yard where children had been playing. Dr. Li responded that at this time, Mr. Talis does not like to discuss the offences. She acknowledged that the treatment team has not yet engaged in specific discussion with him about that incident.
44No further evidence was led following Dr. Li’s testimony.
Analysis and Conclusions
45The panel accepted the parties’ joint submission and found, independently, that Mr. Talis represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. He suffers from a major mental disorder, currently diagnosed as schizophrenia, and has almost no insight into his illness. For years, while his mother and professionals in the community sought to provide treatment for his illness, Mr. Talis rejected the proposition that he even has a mental illness, much less that he requires medication to control it. Even with medication adherence that has been maintained with the support and structure provided within the Hospital, he continues to experience residual delusions.
46The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that absent a Disposition from the Board, Mr. Talis would rapidly discontinue treatment, as he has in the past, and would inevitably experience a decompensation of his mental state.
47Mr. Talis’ history discloses both physically assaultive behaviour, including when psychiatrically unwell, and a very concerning pattern of animal cruelty that by his own admission involved the killing of at least one cat belonging to his mother, an earlier incident of harm to her dog, and ultimately, while subject to probation, bail terms, and the supervision of ACT team staff, the killing of the dog. His first index offence illustrates the potential for harm that exists when he acts under the influence of active symptoms. It is indeed fortunate that the children who were playing on the trampoline in their own yard had entered their home when Mr. Talis flung the metal shepherd’s hook over the fence and into their yard.
48The panel need not consider whether an animal can constitute, in law, a member of the “public” as that term is used in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code. This issue was not the subject of submissions. The panel is left in no doubt that the killing by another of an animal that is a valued house pet and companion, such as a cat or dog, can itself cause serious psychological harm to that pet’s owner or other members of the household.
49In any event, whether through direct assaults upon others or through acts of killing and/or cruelty to animals, the panel is amply satisfied that there is a real and substantial likelihood that Mr. Talis would commit a criminal act that is likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm.
50As an aside, and although this question was not raised at the hearing, the panel was left with a concern, from a clinical perspective, whether Mr. Talis’ longstanding animal-directed aggression may also be understood as a proxy for broader difficulties in impulse control, empathy, and response to internal stimuli. The panel would leave to the treatment team the need to investigate and address such matters prior to any transition to unsupervised settings.
51Turning to the matter of Disposition, the panel agrees with the parties’ joint submission that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order with the expanded privileges recommended by all parties, up to and including community living in approved accommodation. No party suggested a Conditional Discharge Disposition, and in any event the panel finds that such a Disposition cannot reasonably manage Mr. Talis’ risk to the public. It is clear that the Hospital requires the ability to approve his eventual community accommodation to ensure that it is appropriate.
52While it was suggested that Mr. Talis’ mother’s home may be one potential option, the panel had some concerns about this at this early juncture. Mr. Talis’ history since 2016, when by all accounts he was living with his mother, suggests that this may be problematic. Despite a succession of Community Treatment Orders, neither Mr. Talis’ mother nor the professional supports that were in place could prevent the index offences. There is no evidence, in any event, that Mr. Talis’ mother would even agree to her son’s return under the current circumstances. As suggested by counsel for the Hospital in his closing submissions, it may well be that the most appropriate accommodation, at least at the start, is a supervised living setting.
53A consideration of Mr. Talis’ psychiatric history, extensively reviewed in these Reasons, compels the conclusion that in the absence of the development on his part of a significant degree of insight into his illness, need for medication, and his violence risk, consideration of a Conditional Discharge during these early days under the Board’s jurisdiction is simply premature.
54The panel accepts Dr. Li’s evidence that it is reasonably foreseeable that Mr. Talis could be ready to move into some form of community accommodation in the next reporting period, and even if he is not, the prospect of living in the community may be a motivating factor for Mr. Talis’ participation in recommended therapeutic programming. It also carries the benefit of allowing the treatment team to help Mr. Talis apply to housing program wait lists.
55In approaching this matter, the panel has considered the evidence through the lens of the factors in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
DATED this 7th day of July 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Eric Siebenmorgen Legal Member
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board
(a) an offence, other than an offence referred to in any of paragraphs 109(1)(a) to (c.1), in the commission of which violence against a person was used, threatened or attempted, or (b) an offence that involves, or the subject-matter of which is, a firearm, a cross-bow, a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device, a firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or an explosive substance and, at the time of the offence, the person was not prohibited by any order made under this Act or any other Act of Parliament from possessing any such thing, the court that sentences the person or directs that the person be discharged, as the case may be, shall, in addition to any other punishment that may be imposed for that offence or any other condition prescribed in the order of discharge, consider whether it is desirable, in the interests of the safety of the person or of any other person, to make an order prohibiting the person from possessing any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, or all such things, and if the court decides that it is so desirable, the court shall so order.
Footnotes
- Such agreed statements, when available, are very helpful to the Board. Their use is to be encouraged.
- Subsection 110 (1) of the Criminal Code provides as follows: 110 (1) Where a person is convicted, or discharged under section 730, of