Ontario Review Board
Re: Maria R. Rowe
ORB File No: 3252
Hearing held on: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Goldenberg Members: Dr. M. Attia Dr. M. KaliaMs. Ms. J. Ferguson Mr. J. Cyr
Parties Appearing: Accused: Maria R. Rowe Counsel: Ms. J. Boissonneault The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Mr. K. Dow Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated February 24, 2026)
On November 7, 2000, Maria Rowe was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, on charges of uttering death threat and uttering threats to burn property. Ms. Rowe is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated March 17, 2025, by which she was ordered to be detained at a General Forensic Unit of the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (“Ontario Shores”) with a number of privileges and prohibitions.
One of the privileges is the ability “to live in the community in supervised accommodation approved by the person in charge”.
On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the Ontario Review Board convened a hearing at Ontario Shores and conducted the annual review of Ms. Rowe’s Disposition.
At the outset of the hearing, the Alternate Chair noted that Ms. Rowe was not in attendance. Ms. Boissonneault is Ms. Rowe’s counsel. She advised that Ms. Rowe finds attending at these hearings to be extremely stressful and she prefers not to attend at the hearing. Ms. Boissonneault advised that Ms. Rowe has not attended at the hearings for the last several years and certainly not since Ms. Boissonneault has been her counsel. Under the circumstances, the Board did exercise its discretion under s. 672.5(10)(a) of the Criminal Code to allow Ms. Rowe to be absent from the hearing.
Position of the Parties:
Subsequently, the Alternate Chair asked the parties for their preliminary positions at today’s hearing. Mr. Dow appeared for the hospital. He advised of the hospital position that Ms. Rowe remains a significant threat to public safety, and if the Board so finds, the hospital’s position is that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a continuation of the current Detention Order with the exact same terms and conditions.
Ms. MacDonald appeared for the Attorney General. Ms. MacDonald supported the hospital’s recommendation.
Ms. Boissonneault appeared for Ms. Rowe. She conceded the issue of significant threat and also supported the hospital’s recommendation. Therefore, there was a joint submission to start the hearing.
Index Offence:
- “A Dr. Marcin had been the accused's former psychiatric doctor at the London Psychiatric Hospital. Shortly after her detention at the Vanier Detention Center in January 2000, she was seen by a Dr. Srinivasan, a psychiatrist at the Vanier Detention Center.
Ms. Rowe told Dr. Srinivasan that when she was released, she intended to kill her former doctor, Marcin, by stabbing her in the back and that she intended to burn down 545 English Avenue in London, a dwelling of one Don McDonald. The accused had attempted to burn down this home earlier on August 20, 1998, while there had been three occupants in the house.
The accused also advised Dr. Srinivasan that she intended to set fire to St. Joseph's Hospital and a church in London.
As a result of these threats, the authorities were notified, as was Dr. Marcin, who out of concern for her safety and her family's safety, left her present residence, believing that the accused would carry out the threat.”
Evidence at Hearing:
The Board admitted into evidence the Hospital Report dated January 12, 2026. The Hospital Report provides a great deal of information concerning Ms. Rowe, her personal history, her mental health history, details of the index offences and Ms. Rowe’s course in hospital subsequent to the date of the NCR finding. The Hospital Report was made an exhibit in this hearing and therefore it is not necessary to reproduce the information contained in the Hospital Report in these Reasons.
The stated diagnoses as set out in the Hospital Report are as follows:
Schizoaffective Disorder, bipolar type
Borderline Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Traits
Pyromania
In addition to the documentary evidence, the Board heard from Dr. F. Alioglu Karayilan, Psychiatrist, Clinical Fellow in Forensic Psychiatry, under the supervision of Dr. Pytyck, who was in attendance at this hearing.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan advised that there were no updates to the Hospital Report which she authored.
We note information contained in the Hospital Report as follows: [I suggest that the following quote from the Hospital Report be summarized rather than have 2 pages of direct quotes.]
“Ms. Rowe remained an inpatient on the general Forensic Transitional Unit (FTU) since her last review hearing on January 28, 2025. During the reporting period, Ms. Rowe has posed no management problems. There were no incidents of violence, aggression, arson, threatening behaviours or elopements. Save and except for one incident of self-harming behaviour noted in November 2025. Ms. Rowe regularly spends her leisure time watching documentaries on her tablet, coloring or playing sudoku.
“Ms. Rowe has been adherent with her medication regimen. Her insight into her mental illness and need for antipsychotic medications remain underdeveloped. She continues to experience residual psychotic symptoms in the form of auditory hallucinations that are distressing in nature. Ms. Rowe reports that the voices tell her she is dying, often necessitating support and reassurance during these stressful periods. In relation to panic attacks, Ms. Rowe has reported that they have lessened in intensity and frequency. She continues to harbor passive violent ideations and homicidal thoughts about Dr. Marcin.
“Notable Incidents and Presentation Since Last Report:
On November 10, 2025, Ms. Rowe was noted to have four cuts to her left forearm, approximately three to four inches in length. Ms. Rowe reported that she had been experiencing bothersome auditory hallucinations that were telling her she was going to die and stated, “yesterday was a really bad day.” Ms. Rowe said that she had scratched her arm as a distraction. Ms. Rowe was placed on an increased level of observation after more cut marks were discovered on her forearm later that day. After support and reassurance were provided by staff, Ms. Rowe reported that she had cut herself with a thumbtack.
“Ms. Rowe continues to utilize her privileges appropriately. There were no incidents of privilege misuse, lateness or elopements.
“Ms. Rowe remains reluctant to engage in programming other than arts and crafts. She has had less incidents of cancelling appointments like physiotherapy.
Ms. Rowe was referred for individual therapy to assist with recurring auditory hallucinations; anxiety/stress management; refinement and positive reinforcement of her coping skills; behavioral activation; and weekly therapeutic support. These sessions were terminated in May 2025.
“Ms. Rowe does not keep contact with her family but does maintain regular contact with long-standing friends. Ms. Rowe does not have Approved persons.
“Ms. Rowe is financially supported by ODSP. She is incapable of managing her finances. Her finances are managed by the OPGT.
“Ms. Rowe remains on the Long Term Care waitlist for Taunton Mills residence located in Whitby.
“At the time of preparing this report, Ms. Rowe presented as a 57-year-old Costa Rican-Canadian woman. She was appropriately dressed and adequately groomed, and she remained obese She wore glasses with a very strong prescription but continued to have significantly limited vision. She was polite, pleasant, and cooperative during interviews, although she has a history of intermittent interpersonal conflict with various staff.
“Ms. Rowe’s speech was normal in rate, volume, and tone. Her thoughts were organized. While she previously endorsed ideas of reference and overvalued ideas with religious themes, she did not demonstrate overtly paranoid or delusional ideation during the current reporting period. Ms. Rowe reported ongoing auditory hallucinations, which were largely stress-related and transient, and improved with treatment. These symptoms worsened significantly during a brief period in November 2025, resulting in marked distress and engagement in self-harming behaviour.
“Ms. Rowe described her mood as generally good, with intermittent anxiety, panic, anger, or distress during periods of stress. She was not always able to identify specific stressors without prompting.
“Ms. Rowe’s insight into her illness, symptoms, and treatment was fair but fluctuated. She regularly requested reduction or discontinuation of clozapine and asked to switch from liquid to tablet formulation. She also implied on a few occasions that she attempted to induce vomiting and subsequently declined serum level monitoring, which she stated occurred only during brief periods of heightened stress.
“Ms. Rowe endorsed chronic passive suicidal and self-harming ideation and also experienced active self-harming ideation during the brief period noted above. She denied active violent or homicidal ideation but acknowledged finding….. (Author’s Note: this sentence is unfinished in the Hospital Report)
“Ms. Rowe’s most salient historical risk factors for re-offence remain her major mental disorder (schizoaffective disorder), which presents with residual symptoms at baseline; her personality disorder (borderline personality disorder with antisocial traits), which limits her ability to regulate her emotions and navigate interpersonal conflict with others; and limited coping skills with a tendency to resort to escape, fire-setting, self-harm, and hostility when stressed.
“Clinically, over the past reporting year, there has been clear evidence of recent problems with Insight, Symptoms of Major Mental Disorder, and Treatment or Supervision Response, in addition to partial evidence of affective and behavioural instability.
“Ms. Rowe continues to frequently express a desire to discontinue clozapine. Although she still agrees to take her medication, she has difficulty recalling her symptoms during periods of non-adherence without prompting. She also implied on a few occasions that she attempted to induce vomiting which she stated occurred only during periods of heightened stress. There was also a brief period during which she engaged in self-harming behaviour; at that time she also endorsed an increase in auditory hallucinations. The team also had significant concerns that the discussions regarding potential housing transition cause Ms. Rowe considerable stress and contributed to an exacerbation of her symptoms; however, this was not endorsed by Ms. Rowe.
“Absent an ORB Disposition, Ms. Rowe would undoubtedly fall away from psychiatric treatment and supervision. In such circumstances, she would be expected to experience significant emotional dysregulation and distress in response to interpersonal conflict and psychosocial stressors. She would deteriorate rapidly and be at high risk of engaging in violent acts with the potential to cause substantive harm to individuals around her in the context of paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and disorganization of thought and behavior.
In the current clinical context, the necessary and appropriate Disposition remains a Detention Order within the Forensic Service at Ontario Shores as Ms. Rowe has not yet demonstrated the stability, insight, or adherence required for a safe transition to the community. Ms. Rowe requires a further period of stabilization and close monitoring in hospital before her risk can be safely managed in the community. The hospital will also require the authority to approve her housing to ensure it provides adequate psychiatric oversight, structure, and support to manage her ongoing risk. The hospital will also require the ability to readmit Ms. Rowe immediately in the event of psychiatric decompensation related to medication non-adherence or other destabilizing stressors."
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that during the reporting year, Ms. Rowe has been a patient on the General Forensic Transitional Unit and has exhibited no aggressive or violent behaviour or engaged in any elopements. However, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that there was one incident of self-harming behaviour on November 10, 2025, in which Ms. Rowe cut her arm in four places. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that this occurred just prior to a scheduled visit to a group home which was being considered as a residence for Ms. Rowe.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that Ms. Rowe is on the waiting list for a long-term care unit and that the upcoming housing transition is a stressor for her. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan gave evidence that just prior to her scheduled visit, her anxiety increased and she engaged in self-harming behaviour. As a result, the hospital cancelled the visit and Ms. Rowe settled down quickly after that. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that, since then, Ms. Rowe has made a virtual visit and an in-person visit to the care home.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan opined that she had no concerns about the proposed residence, which seems to be a great fit for Ms. Rowe.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that Ms. Rowe needs constant supervision and support, especially with respect to taking her medication.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan confirmed that her opinion that Ms. Rowe continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, as set out on pages 73 & 74 of the Hospital Report, has not changed. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that Ms. Rowe’s clinical presentation remains almost the same as last year in that she still requires supervision and support, especially regarding taking her medication. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan opined that the hospital needs to approve her housing.
With respect to the upcoming year, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan gave evidence that the treatment team is exploring options for Ms. Rowe and that, for example, in the past, some group homes were considered but were not a good fit or otherwise suitable because of Ms. Rowe’s visual impairment, health problems and history of arson.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that the treatment team is providing psychoeducational services but that Ms. Rowe is not willing to go to most of them as she is only interested in arts and crafts. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that Ms. Rowe had a psychologist with whom she sometimes engaged and sometimes did not. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that the team could provide individual psychotherapy as an alternative.
In response to a question from the Crown, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan confirmed her opinion as set out on page 73 of the Hospital Report that, absent the oversight of the Ontario Review Board, Ms. Rowe would stop taking her medication. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that Ms. Rowe requests her medications be decreased or discontinued and that without supervision, she wouldn’t fully engage in medical treatment. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that Ms. Rowe has implied that she attempted to induce vomiting of her medication, which occurred during heightened periods of stress. However, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that Ms. Rowe is on liquid clozapine which is hard to get out of one’s system through vomiting.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that Ms. Rowe has, in the past, spit out her medications which resulted in her engaging in self-harm and that, when not on her medications, she deteriorates quickly. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan opined that, in the absence of medical adherence by Ms. Rowe, her symptoms would increase and the likely result would be self-harm, violence and possibly the setting of a fire.
In response to a question from Ms. Rowe’s counsel, Ms. Boissoneault, about potential housing options, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that the treatment team is still advocating for Ms. Rowe and that she is on the waiting list for Taunton Mills, a long-term care facility. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan was uncertain as to when a bed might open up at Taunton Mills but she is ready to be discharged into long-term care when a spot becomes available.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan confirmed that Ms. Rowe has made a virtual visit and then, about two weeks ago, an in-person visit to Taunton Mills and that the visits went well despite the fact that Ms. Rowe continues to have concerns about housing and whether she will be properly supported outside of hospital. In addition, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that Ms. Rowe has indicated she will only leave hospital to go to a single room, which are available at Taunton Mills. In addition, the treatment team continues to explore other housing options for Ms. Rowe.
In response from a Board Member as to Ms. Rowe’s diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that Ms. Rowe does have some traits of this disorder, which traits are not covered by the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan was asked by a Board Member to explain how the addition of antisocial traits would increment the clinical picture beyond the existing diagnoses of Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Pyromania. In particular, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan was asked whether Ms. Rowe's difficulties with impulsivity and interpersonal conflict are more accurately understood as arising from borderline personality pathology such as reactive, crisis-driven emotional dysregulation rather than from a calculative, entitled pattern of behaviour associated with an antisocial personality structure. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan responded that a comprehensive personality assessment would be required in order to properly address these questions.
Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that Ms. Rowe doesn’t express any remorse over her actions of the past. However, if a proper assessment warranted it, the treatment team would consider removing a diagnosis, including the diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Another Board Member asked if Ms. Rowe has received any treatment for her Pyromania diagnosis. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan responded that Ms. Rowe has received some individual psychotherapy in the past but has not received any treatment lately and that, at the current time, Ms. Rowe is not endorsing any pyromania. Dr. Alioglu Karayilan added that Ms. Rowe meets the criteria for pyromania but that a full assessment would be required in order for the treatment team to have a better idea of the appropriateness of that diagnosis.
In response to a question as to whether the treatment team has considered a long-acting injectable medication for Ms. Rowe, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan responded that Ms. Rowe was on other anti-psychotic medication but responded really well to clozapine, which does not come in the form of an injectable medication and that is why the treatment team wants Ms. Rowe to have constant supervision to ensure adherence to her medication.
In response to a question from the Board about whether Ms. Rowe was engaging in individual therapy, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan responded that Ms. Rowe has participated in 2 or 3 sessions since the Hospital Report was prepared and that she is engaged in psychotherapy now.
In response to a question by the Board as to whether Ms. Rowe would pose a threat of engaging in arson if released into the community near Ontario Shores, given that the Hospital Report only mentions her stated intention to set fires in the area of London, Ontario, Dr. Alioglu Karayilan testified that Ms. Rowe has also expressed an intention to set fire to a group home in the area of the hospital.
No other evidence was heard at this hearing.
Final Submissions:
- At the conclusion of the evidence, the parties were again canvassed as to their positions. All parties maintained their original position, namely, that Ms. Rowe remains a significant threat to public safety and that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a continuation of a Detention Order with the exact terms set out in last year’s Disposition.
Findings, Analysis and Conclusion:
The Board accepts the evidence contained in the Hospital Report and the evidence given by Dr. Alioglu Karayilan. The Board further accepts the parties’ joint recommendation. We do specifically and independently find that Ms. Rowe remains a significant threat to public safety. We note the serious nature of the index offence, a prior conviction for arson, and Ms. Rowe’s continuing struggles, as evidenced by the recent incident of self-harm in November 2025, her fragility when faced with stress, her major mental illness, her stated desire to discontinue her medications and past efforts to expel them from her system, her tendency to act impulsively and with hostility, her inter-personal conflicts, her relative lack of support outside of the hospital environment, and her lack of insight into her mental illness and her need for medical treatment.
We also accept that a Detention Order is both necessary and appropriate. The Board accepts the evidence that, in order for Ms. Rowe’s risk to the safety of the public to be adequately managed, she requires 24-hour supervised and supportive housing approved by the treatment team, which best understands Ms. Rowe’s complex needs. However, the Board had some concerns with respect to the uncertainty of Ms. Rowe’s diagnoses, and is hopeful that a comprehensive assessment of Ms. Rowe’s mental health status with a view to obtaining the appropriate diagnoses can be completed in the upcoming reporting year, the results of which would be helpful to next year’s panel.
Accordingly, the panel does accept that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a continuation of a Detention Order with the same exact terms as set out in last year’s Disposition.
In reaching our Disposition, the Board has taken into consideration public safety, Ms. Rowe’s mental condition and her other needs, and Ms. Rowe’s reintegration into society.
DATED this 24th day of February 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. J. Ferguson Legal Member
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board