Re: Ryan Barnard
ORB File No: 7408
Hearing held on: February 4, 2026
Place of hearing: Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care 401 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein Members: Dr. S. Bouskill Dr. L. Lightfoot Ms. C. Murray Mr. A. Mete
Parties Appearing: Accused: Ryan Barnard Counsel: Mr. W. Glover
The Person in charge of Hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Zamprogna
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. K. Dalrymple
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated February 24, 2026)
Introduction
On September 14, 2018, Mr. Ryan Barnard was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on charges of mischief – not exceeding $5000, assault (x2), assaulting a peace officer, and mischief over $5000, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (the “Criminal Code”).
On February 4, 2026, a panel of the Ontario Review Board (“Board” or “panel”) convened to review Mr. Barnard’s current Disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. At the time of the hearing, Mr. Barnard was subject to a Detention Disposition with privileges up to and including living in the community in the Province of Ontario in supervised accommodation approved by the person in charge.
Mr. Barnard was present at the hearing. He was represented by counsel, Mr. William Glover, throughout the proceedings. This hearing was adjourned from November 4, 2025, to permit Mr. Barnard an opportunity to obtain counsel.
A Hospital Report dated August 27, 2025, was entered as Exhibit 1. An Update to the Hospital Report dated January 29, 2026, was entered as Exhibit 2.
The issues to be determined are whether Mr. Barnard continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, the necessary and appropriate Disposition to manage that risk having regard to the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
For the reasons set out below and based on the evidence and opinions before us, the Board found that Mr. Barnard continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. The Board finds that a continuation of the Detention Disposition at the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care (“Southwest” or “the hospital”), with changes as agreed by the parties and set out in our formal Disposition, is the necessary and appropriate Order having regard to the safety of the public, which is the paramount concern, and also having regard to Mr. Barnard’s mental health, reintegration into society, and his other needs.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses
- Schizophrenia; Substance Use Disorder; Social Anxiety Disorder; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Tourette Disorder; and Central Auditory Processing Disorder by history
Position of the Parties
- At the commencement of the hearing, the parties were canvassed for their without prejudice positions. The hospital, represented by Ms. J. Zamprogna, took the position that Mr. Barnard continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a continuation of the Detention Order with the following changes:
- Change the geographical area of 2(e) from “Elgin and Middlesex” to “Southwestern Ontario”;
- Substitute “person or delegate” in 2(f) in place of “designate or an approved person”;
- Substitute the entirety of 2(g) to read, “passes for up to 72 hours into the community of Southwestern Ontario accompanied by a person approved by the person-in-charge and with indirectly supervised time to travel upon first obtaining the approval of his itinerary by the person-in-charge”
- Add a term to read, “passes for up to 7 days up to 4 times per year into the community of Southwestern Ontario accompanied by a person approved by the person-in-charge and with indirectly supervised time to travel upon first obtaining the approval of his itinerary by the person-in-charge”; and
- Change 2(h) to specify that the residential treatment program is for substance use.
Counsel for the Attorney General, Ms. Dalrymple, supported the hospital’s position.
Mr. Glover, Counsel for Mr. Barnard, conceded the issue of significant threat and supported the hospital’s recommendations. The parties acknowledged that there is a joint recommendation with respect to the issues at this hearing.
Index Offence
- The Hospital Report contains a detailed description of the index offences. The offences were briefly summarized in last year’s Reasons for Disposition and are extracted as follows:
“The index offences occurred on three different dates.
The first incident, on March 14, 2018, involved Mr. Barnard smashing a television at the CMHA offices, giving rise to the first index offence of mischief under $5000. He was also charged with a breach of probation but that charge was later withdrawn. He was released following his arrest for the March 14th incident.
On April 10, 2018, Mr. Barnard became involved in an argument with his brother. The second index offence (assault) arose from him spitting on his brother. When police responded to the call about the dispute, Mr. Barnard threw a small rock or very hard piece of dirt at the police cruiser, giving rise the third index offence of mischief over $5000. He then, in the course of his arrest, spat upon one of the arresting officers, leading to the fourth index offence of assault peace officer. He was again released following his arrest on these charges.
On April 24, 2018, Mr. Barnard was charged for spitting on a security officer at a hospital where he was sleeping in the lobby. This was the fifth index offence on which he was found not criminally responsible.”
Background and History
The Hospital Report contains extensive information regarding Mr. Barnard’s background and history, the entirety of which need not be repeated here in detail because the Hospital Report was entered as an Exhibit. In brief, Mr. Barnard is a 32-year-old single man born in Sarnia, Ontario. As a child, the Children’s Aid Society was involved in his care. Mr. Barnard became a ward of the Crown, and he spent four years at Huron House Boys Home in Bright’s Grove, Ontario.
Mr. Barnard has a lengthy criminal history commencing in 2015, which includes convictions for assault with a weapon (x2), assault, assault peace officer, possession of Schedule 1 substance, possession of Schedule 2 substance, mischief over $5000, resist peace officer, and several convictions for failing to comply with a probation order or recognizance.
Mr. Barnard has an extensive history of psychiatric admissions to hospitals. His first admission occurred at Bluewater Health in 2009 when he was diagnosed with “rule out psychotic disorder”. He went on to have several other psychiatric admissions to hospitals often exhibiting self-injurious behaviour, paranoia, mania or hypomania, facial grimacing, pressure of speech, grandiosity, and endorsing unusual thoughts among other symptoms. He had admissions pursuant to Form 1 and Form 3 of the Mental Health Act. The Canadian Mental Health Association (“CMHA”) was often noted to be involved in his care in the community. Non-compliance with psychiatric medications and substance use were noted in past admissions. He received various diagnoses including treatment refractory schizophrenia, cannabis dependency, stimulant abuse, and mixed personality traits.
Mr. Barnard admits to having a history of daily cannabis use. He also has a history of using crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, OxyContin, and Xanax.
Mr. Barnard is supported by the Ontario Disability Support Program.
Mr. Barnard’s mother is an Approved Person.
Course Since Last Disposition
The Hospital Report and Updated Hospital Report provide information regarding Mr. Barnard’s course in hospital since his last Disposition. This information is briefly set out below.
Mr. Barnard was designated Alternate Level of Care (“ALC”) in March 2025 due to his clinical stability as he awaited housing. He was matched with Walker Place, a group home in Exeter, in the spring of 2025. He was placed on a leave of absence from hospital and moved into Walker Place on June 16, 2025.
On June 20, 2025, the forensic Outreach team met with Mr. Barnard. He demonstrated a good level of mental stability. He adjusted positively to living in the group home, participated in community activities, and was able to identify and communicate minor concerns regarding his environment such as the lack of an available electrical outlet. On July 4, 2025, Mr. Barnard again met with the forensic Outreach team at which time he was reminded of strategies to help him remember his appointments. Throughout the month of July 2025, Mr. Barnard became unhappy living at Walker Place. His prescription for Mounjaro was discontinued because the cost was no longer covered. After discontinuation of Mounjaro, Mr. Barnard reported he was hungry, his meal sizes were too small, and he did not have enough milk. It is noteworthy that, at times, Mr. Barnard has obsessive behaviour toward drinking milk, similar to his obsession with consumption of soda pop. During the last week of July 2025, Mr. Barnard told his Outreach team that he was hearing more voices and presented as more disorganized. On July 31, 2025, Mr. Barnard’s urine tested positive for methamphetamine.
On August 1, 2025, Mr. Barnard returned to hospital from Walker Place as a result of his use of methamphetamine. Mr. Barnard stated that he was regularly offered illicit substances when living at Walker Place. He stated that if he was to return to Walker Place, he would use substances again to come back to hospital. Upon return to hospital, Mr. Barnard quickly resumed his previous routine of attending CMHA programs daily in St. Thomas.
The Update to the Hospital Report notes that although the treatment team was hoping Mr. Barnard would receive a placement at a group home in St. Thomas to help maintain his established routine, a Port Bruce group home placement became available. Mr. Barnard wished to take this placement since he knew other people in that home. Mr. Barnard was placed on a leave of absence to the Port Bruce group home on December 1, 2025. Mr. Barnard has regular meetings with the forensic Outreach team, and he has consistently expressed a strong preference for remaining in the community at the Port Bruce group home. As of the date of this hearing, Mr. Barnard continues to live at the Port Bruce group home. He has been able to clearly identify his wants and needs and reported that they are being met in Port Bruce.
The Hospital Report notes that Mr. Barnard has insight into the index offences. He admits that he was “not thinking right because of the drugs.” He has fair insight into his diagnosis of schizophrenia. He continues to have partial insight into his need for medications. When at Walker Place, Mr. Barnard required prompting to ask for his medications, which was atypical for him when in hospital where he tends to obsessively seek out his medications. Mr. Barnard is able to identify substance use as a factor in his historical violent behaviours. However, when under stress over the year in review, he intentionally took substances at Walker Place to force a return to hospital, despite know the risk of violence when engaging in substance use.
Oral Evidence at the Hearing
Dr. Jason Quinn, Mr. Barnard’s attending psychiatrist for the majority of this reporting period and signatory of the Hospital Report and Update to the Hospital Report, provided oral evidence at the hearing.
Dr. Quinn testified that Mr. Barnard continues to hear critical auditory hallucinations, but he ignores the voices. He stated that Mr. Barnard has partial insight into his diagnosis of schizophrenia. Mr. Barnard’s symptoms worsened at Walker Place likely due to medication non-adherence, substance use and stress. Mr. Barnard’s coping skills, especially in the context of stress, are underdeveloped. The treatment team has reduced stressors by taking steps such as scheduling Mr. Barnard’s access to soda pop.
Dr. Quinn stated that Mr. Barnard remains vulnerable to relapse of his symptoms.
Mr. Barnard’s medications are optimized at this point. However, Dr. Quinn made it clear that Mr. Barnard will continue to require adjustments to the dose of clozapine because his pattern of cigarette smoking affects therapeutic clozapine blood levels.
Dr. Quinn stated that substance use increases Mr. Barnard’s risk of violence. Mr. Barnard continues to present a moderate risk of violent reoffending over the next reporting year if managed with a Detention Order and living in the community. Should he be managed under a less restrictive Disposition, his risk of violence would increase to high. Without supervision to manage the things he wants, such as pop and food, Mr. Barnard experiences stress. This stress leads him to associate with antisocial peers who provide him with access to the things he wants, which increases his risk to public safety. Ultimately, he would regress to the use of violence to meet his needs if not supervised.
Dr. Quinn testified that a Detention Order is required because these are early days at the Port Bruce home. Decompensation is difficult to recognize because Mr. Barnard engages in impression management and usually states he is doing well even when observably unwell. Additionally, the hospital needs to retain the ability to approve Mr. Barnard’s housing to manage his risk to the public.
Dr. Quinn confirmed that Mr. Barnard is able to remain at the Port Bruce group home long term.
Analysis and Conclusions
Having heard and considered the entirety of the evidence as well as the joint submissions from the parties, the Board independently finds that Mr. Barnard remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.
Mr. Barnard has a history of complex mental illness. This year he endorsed positive symptoms of schizophrenia in July 2025 when living at Walker Place despite receiving treatment.
Mr. Barnard’s insight into his mental illness, need for treatment and substance use issues remains underdeveloped. He used substances at Walker Place with an intent of forcing his return to hospital, despite knowing his risk to the public increases when he uses substances.
Mr. Barnard required prompting to maintain compliance with his medications while living at Walker Place, which was an unusual occurrence in the hospital setting. He will continue to require medication supervision over the next reporting period.
The stress of Mr. Barnard’s placement at Walker Place clearly affected his ability to maintain mental stability. He complained of hearing voices by late July 2025, which was coincidental with his substance use. He had short-lived success at Walker Place before his behaviours, including substance use, required his return to hospital.
Absent supervision of the treatment team, Mr. Barnard would likely fall away from his structured routine, which would lead to increased stress and inappropriate behaviours to manage stress, such as substance use and discontinuation of his medications. Stress, substance use, and medication non-adherence would contribute to compromising his already fragile mental status. In such a condition, he would likely react with aggression similar to aggression he displayed at the time of the index offence.
In light of the Board’s finding of significant threat, it is charged with shaping a Disposition for the coming year.
The Board relies on Dr. Quinn’s opinion, set out on page 108 of the Hospital Report and re-iterated in his oral evidence, and extracted as follows:
“Overall, Mr. Barnard presents a moderate risk of violent reoffending over the next reporting year if managed with a detention order with the provision for community living. Should he be managed under a less restrictive disposition, his risk of violence would increase to high.”
Mr. Barnard requires a Detention Disposition to manage his risk to the safety of the public. A Detention Disposition will ensure necessary monitoring, supervision and support to manage his risk. Though Mr. Barnard has made some gains in insight this year, his insight into substance use is lacking, which was evident this year when he was engaged in substance use to force a return to hospital.
A Conditional Discharge is not appropriate in the circumstances. The hospital requires the ability to approve Mr. Barnard’s housing to minimize stressors and increase the likelihood of a successful transition to the community. Appropriate structure, supervision, and support in housing are necessary to manage his risk.
Upon consideration of all the evidence, the submissions of the parties, and the criteria set forth in s.672.54, the paramount consideration being the safety of the public, in addition to the mental condition of Mr. Barnard, his reintegration into society and his other needs, we conclude that the necessary and appropriate, least onerous and least restrictive Disposition is a Detention Disposition, with changes to the terms as recommended by the hospital, as set out in our formal Disposition.
The panel wishes Mr. Barnard a successful year ahead at the Port Bruce group home.
DATED this 24th day of February 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. C. Murray Legal Member Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board