Re: Daniel Cyr
ORB File No: 8385
Hearing held on: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Place of hearing: North Bay Regional Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. P. Hageraats
Members: Dr. J. Watts Dr. G. Stones Ms. M. Chamberlain Ms. C. Plyley via video conference
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Daniel Cyr Counsel: Mr. C. Bracken
Person in charge of Hospital: Representative: Ms. C. Condie Counsel Mr. P. Trenker
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Mazurski
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated February 23, 2026)
Introduction:
On September 8, 2023, the Court found that Mr. Daniel Cyr was not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on a charge of aggravated assault. This is an offence contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
Mr. Cyr is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB” or “the Board”), dated January 17, 2025, ordering his detention at the Forensic Programs, North Bay Regional Health Centre – North Bay Site (“NBRHC” or “the Hospital”). Privileges were awarded, including to live in the Hospital’s catchment area, except for the Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers, in supervised accommodation approved by the person in charge.
On January 15, 2026, the Board convened at the NBRHC to conduct an annual review. Mr. Cyr attended in person. He was represented by counsel, Mr. Chad Bracken. Documents were filed in evidence, including last year’s Disposition and Reasons, together with a cumulative Hospital Report, dated November 29, 2025.
The issues to be determined by the Board are whether Mr. Cyr represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, and, if so, to determine the necessary and appropriate disposition.
Positions of the Parties:
The Board was presented with a joint submission by all three parties, namely that significant threat remains and, to address the risk to public safety, the current detention order should remain in effect, subject to a minor change regarding travel passes.
As is explained below, the Board adopted the parties’ joint submission.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses, Hospital Report p. 20:
Delusional Disorder, Persecutory Type
Cannabis Use Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, by History
- Mr. Cyr receives the following prescribed medications:
Paliperidone palmitate 75mg IM every 28-days
Metformin 250mg three times daily
Empagliflozin (Jardiance) 25mg once daily
Index Offence:
- The circumstances are set out in the Hospital Report and in last year’s Reasons dated March 20, 2025. In summary:
On May 23, 2020, a neighbour, Mr. F., was tilling fields on his property located at 1350 Lee Valley Road, Massey Ontario. His parents had purchased the property in 2007 before he took over. He and his family had resided there since 2013.
While tilling the field that afternoon, he saw Daniel Cyr standing at the end of his driveway filming the tractor. Cyr would often do this, so that Mr. F. did not find it to be out of the ordinary.
While Mr. F. was turning, he heard a “boom”. Part of the tractor windshield glass came toward him, leaving a 2-2 ½ inch hole in the windshield. He first thought the noise was from a pickup truck passing on Lee Valley Road.
A second “boom” was heard as Mr. F. turned to the left towards Lee Valley. This time, a hole was created in the back windshield. Flying glass came toward Mr. F. from behind. He then turned out, more into the field, and began heading back across the field toward his house.
He heard another “boom”. The tractor’s side glass window blew up. Mr. F. ducked down below the seat and steered the tractor toward the house.
He called 9-1-1 to report that someone was shooting at him.
Mr. F. was bleeding from cuts on the sides of his face. His injuries consisted of small cuts with glass in his cheeks. The side of his ear was cut. He had glass in his eyes.
The tractor had damage to the front and back and on the windows, with a flat tire on the left side.
Mr. Cyr placed his own 9-1-1 call to the police. He claimed he was involved in a shootout with members of the Hell’s Angels gang, “them” being the residents at Mr. F.’s property on Lee Valley Road, and that he had shot at them.
He told police his gun was on the couch and that the police needed to come and arrest him. The Communications Centre remained on the line with Cyr as officers responded. While on the phone with the operator, Cyr explained that he “didn’t want this to happen” and that it was “beyond anything” he ever imagined. Cyr explained to the operator that he was worried he wouldn’t make it safely to the police station as the Hells Angels have “pretty heavy-duty weapons.”
Cyr discussed corruption and how “these guys”, being Mr. F.’s family, “are part of a big terrorist ring.” He spoke about how children have been moved in trailers alongside cattle and how Russian military equipment has been snuck into the country.
Cyr further stated they had entered his home and injected his juice with a syringe and that, upon drinking some of the juice, he developed internal pains. Cyr said that he was smoking marijuana while on the phone and that he was “full of anxiety.” He said he was “very sorry” that he “had to do this himself” but that he had been at his “wit’s end” for quite some time.
Espanola O.P.P. Detachment officers and an APS officer arrived at the scene. Mr. Cyr was taken into police custody. Police entered Cyr’s residence. No persons were found inside the residence. Officers observed the following:
a. A high calibre rifle was located on the couch in the living area. The magazine was removed and bolted to the rear.
b. A soft gun case was located immediately to the right and leaning against the bathroom wall on the ground level. Upon feeling the case, police believed it contained a long gun as stated by Cyr.
c. An open green metal gun cabinet/safe was seen on the second floor.
d. A strong odour of cannabis marijuana was present within the residence.
e. A small amount of cannabis marijuana in plastic bags was seen on the table in the living area.
Cyr was transported to the Espanola O.P.P. detachment. Enroute, Cyr discussed how his life had gone to hell in 2008 when Mr. F. and his family moved to Lee Valley Road.
He talked about the dust that contains toxins and is blown onto his property and how he feels that Mr. F. purposely stops in the field near Cyr’s driveway and sprays pesticides to kill Cyr. Further, Cyr stated he believed the dust and toxins were the cause of some of his animals’ illnesses. He explained how he has complained to the Ministry of the Environment at length but felt as though he “got shafted” as they informed him that Mr. F’s actions were in accordance with normal farming practice.
On the same day, May 23, 2020, at 2019 hours, Cyr was interviewed by D/Cst. Vardon at the Espanola OPP detachment. The interview was audio-video recorded and ended at 2046 hours. During the interview, Cyr made a cautioned inculpatory statement to police. He stated that he exited his house with a .303 rifle and fired several shots at his neighbour’s tractor, trying to hit the engine, to stop the tractor. Cyr explained, he could not see who was in the tractor due to the dust. He stated that he had smoked marijuana that morning. Cyr admitted that he knew it was wrong to shoot but that “they” did a lot worse by spraying his land and harming wildlife.”
Personal Background:
Mr. Cyr is 62. He has two daughters who both live in the Timmins area. Over the past year, they have not had much contact.
Mr. Cyr is in contact with a brother who lives in Sudbury. During the most recent reporting year, he has been to the brother’s home on three occasions for day-time visits. In July, and again in September 2025, Mr. Cyr travelled to Sudbury with hospital staff in the morning before returning independently to North Bay by bus that same evening. In mid-November 2025, Mr. Cyr travelled independently, both ways. All visits are reported to have gone well.
Mr. Cyr’s eldest brother, George, passed away in June 2025. Hospital staff supported his journey to Geraldton, Ontario to attend the funeral. The trip went well.
Otherwise, Mr. Cyr does not have much outside social support. He manages his own finances and receives monthly disability payments through a former employer and the Canada Pension Plan. In 2024, Mr. Cyr sold his house in the Massey area. He hopes to purchase another home in the future, likely in the Timmins area or at Iroquois Falls.
While subject to the Board’s formal detention order, Mr. Cyr was living on inpatient status within the Hospital. In early 2025, he was transferred to the Forensic Transitional Unit after residing on the Forensic Rehabilitation Unit. In May 2025, as he became increasingly motivated for discharge to the community, team members noted an improvement in his participation with Hospital programs.
On September 10, 2025, Mr. Cyr was discharged from the Hospital to Maplewood House in North Bay. This is a transitional rehabilitation housing program operated by the Hospital. It consists of both sides of a semi-detached house, with four bedrooms in each home. Members of the Forensic Outreach team are present to supervise for twelve hours daily, six days per week. They provide a supportive environment to help residents develop life skills as they transition toward independent living.
Mr. Cyr managed the transition to the community relatively well. It is reported that he gets along well with housemates and independently completes daily chores and meal preparation. When minor challenges arise while living in the shared home environment, Mr. Cyr will seek staff assistance. To date, he has been satisfied with the resolutions arrived at. Mr. Cyr reports feeling happier now that he is living at Maplewood than he was when in the Hospital.
Psychiatric Course:
In the current year just completed, Mr. Cyr has shown greater participation in counselling and Hospital programs than before. In last year’s written Reasons, the Board noted that Mr. Cyr needed to engage more and be open about sharing any delusional thoughts he may be experiencing. It was hoped that by participating in groups, he would gain further insight into his mental processes.
Mr. Cyr had fixed delusional beliefs, including that a friend was holding bags of dirt for him which contained quantities of gold taken from his former property near Massey. He also held the fixed delusional belief that someone had obtained a master key to his home and had broken in and was messing with things in his absence.
At last year’s Review hearing held on January 16, 2025, the attending psychiatrist, Dr. Gagnon, testified that if Mr. Cyr were to reside in the community, absent supports, he would stop his prescribed medications, decompensate and return to the state that he had been in at the time of the index offence.
Regarding use of substances, Mr. Cyr has a long and problematic history of cannabis use over the years. This was a major risk factor in the extended period leading up to his commission of the index offence in May 2020.
As was reported in last year’s Reasons, while living in the controlled Hospital environment, Mr. Cyr showed no evidence of accessing cannabis, even while he exercised passes within the North Bay community, indirectly supervised.
For the most recent reporting period, Mr. Cyr complied with his regime of prescribed medication. This was attributed to the mandated oversight of the ORB rather than to Mr. Cyr’s internal motivation. At the time of the last hearing, in January 2025, the Hospital risk assessment noted that Mr. Cyr had limited insight into his need for reliable adherence to antipsychotic medication.
The same risk assessment noted that if he were to resume cannabis use, absent psychopharmacological treatment, this would highly likely further precipitate a deterioration of his mental status; without adequate support and supervision he would highly likely engage in behaviours like those seen with the index offence.
Recent Course in Treatment, January 16, 2025, to January 15, 2026:
According to the Hospital Report, Mr. Cyr remains compliant with his medication regime. He continues to abstain from cannabis. His insight into the need for medication and its benefits remains poor.
In February 2025, he told a team member he was not happy with side effects from medication. He did add, however, “If I don’t take them, I will be kept (in hospital) longer.” In August 2025, Mr. Cyr restated his intention to remain compliant with medication, but only while subject to the ORB’s disposition. He commented, he would “sue” the hospital after receiving an absolute discharge for having prescribed him unnecessary medication.
While he abstains from cannabis, Mr. Cyr does not believe his previous regular use had any ill effect on his wellness. He continues to have poor insight into the potential harmful effects of cannabis on his mental stability. Mr. Cyr has met with the Concurrent Disorders Clinician on occasion. Sessions were typically used to develop skills in anger management. Mr. Cyr reports that, once he receives an absolute discharge, he does not intend to abstain from cannabis.
For the current reporting period, Mr. Cyr’s mental status has been stable. He does not appear to show any significant paranoid thoughts.
Mr. Cyr still holds his original beliefs surrounding the circumstances of the index offence. In March 2025, he expressed frustration that others did not believe his reports of how his house was ransacked by a neighbour who somehow had a key. In April 2025, Mr. Cyr noted that he did not want anything to do with his former neighbour, the victim of the index offence, and that he would like to “close that chapter” of his life and move on.
In May 2025, Mr. Cyr spoke of the index offence during a CBT for psychosis session with the assigned occupational therapist. He reported that “nothing was ongoing” for him. He did not relate his perception of the victim’s actions to his present life, nor did he feel targeted by others. Mr. Cyr continues to maintain there are photographs and video footage on a computer which are stored at his brother’s home, and which will prove that he is not delusional.
In August 2025, Mr. Cyr reported he was communicating online with a celebrity actress, Jennifer Aniston. Repeated education about online scams was provided regarding “catfishing” and fake social media profiles. For a time, Mr. Cyr was quite certain it was in fact Ms. Aniston who was communicating with him. He wanted to seek approval to travel to Toronto to meet Ms. Aniston in person.
Eventually, Mr. Cyr was able to recognize that he was likely being scammed. Fortunately, no financial transactions took place. The occupational therapist later noted that Mr. Cyr successfully applied contradictory information to his beliefs during the CBT-P sessions and, when presented with alternate evidence, was willing to change his belief.
Mr. Cyr has found it frustrating in that he disagrees with “the doctor’s diagnosis that I’m delusional”. Nevertheless, he continues to benefit from treatment team support to problem solve and manage situations. This included an occasion in October 2025 when he felt the bank was taking advantage of him when it appeared that his rent payment for housing was twice withdrawn from his account. It was later determined to be a glitch in the online banking application, as two payments were not actually withdrawn from his account.
In addition to sessions with the assigned occupational therapist, Mr. Cyr has attended the Illness Management and Recovery group, Leisure Education for Concurrent Disorders and the Men’s Self-Compassion group. He is described as attentive and respectful during sessions. Similar resources for counselling and social support remain available to Mr. Cyr at his transitional home, Maplewood House.
Evidence at the Hearing: Dr. Gagnon
The Board also received direct testimony from Dr. Jean-Guy Gagnon, the attending forensic psychiatrist. According to Dr. Gagnon, Mr. Cyr has had a very positive year. Mr. Cyr is showing positive motivation as he wants to get out and be done with the forensic system.
The current treatment plan sees the Hospital wanting to test Mr. Cyr to see how he does in transitional housing. It will be interesting to see how he handles inevitable normal conflicts with roommates. Dr. Gagnon acknowledged how it is not always easy to live with others who can be annoying and who, unlike Mr. Cyr, tend to be messier.
The treatment team is not noticing any signs that Mr. Cyr’s sense of annoyance has developed to any form of more concerning delusional beliefs. Dr. Gagnon stated that, while we are in early days, Mr. Cyr is doing as well as one can expect. The next step is to see whether Mr. Cyr develops any kind of narrative that people are targeting him or causing him trouble. So far, team members are seeing some improvements. However, Dr. Gagnon cautioned, it usually takes some time for persecutory ideas to develop.
Dr. Gagnon testified that Mr. Cyr’s plan to buy a home in the Timmins area is a reasonable goal. Mr. Cyr has family up there. The Hospital is prepared to approve further travel passes which would assist Mr. Cyr in visiting family in either the Timmins or Sudbury areas.
Dr. Gagnon responded to questions posed by counsel for the Attorney General, Ms. Mazurski. Asked about Mr. Cyr’s concern that the bank had been “messing” with him, Dr. Gagnon explained that Mr. Cyr can tend to respond with a quick reflex. The real question for the treatment team is whether anything else by way of thought process is going to develop for Mr. Cyr.
For most of his life, Mr. Cyr has lived on a rural property. Now that he is in an urban environment with others close by, he has to deal with the real concerns that roommates present. What used to be a distant countryside property line has now been dramatically reduced to ‘‘just down the hall or beside the living room couch’’. In his present setting, triggers and stressors will necessarily arise. These may lessen as time goes on, at which point, Mr. Cyr could potentially progress to apartment living on his own and where he could face less stress.
Were Mr. Cyr to progress even further to buying his own house near Iroquois Falls or Timmins, he would conceivably experience even less stress. In both situations, whether living in an apartment or his own home, the Hospital would want to have ongoing professional mental health supports put in place.
Asked about cannabis, Dr. Gagnon confirmed that Mr. Cyr did continue to abstain during the current reporting year. Mr. Cyr has expressed a future intention to use cannabis monthly. Nevertheless, despite cannabis shops near his current residence, he has made no attempt to access cannabis.
Asked about the victims of the index offence, former neighbours at the Massey property, Dr. Gagnon understands they may have moved. and are no longer in the same community.
Dr. Gagnon is not aware of any other individuals, including local police officers, who could still relate to Mr. Cyr’s delusional beliefs. It now appears there is nothing more that could lead Mr. Cyr to think about confronting individuals in the Massey area.
Dr. Gagnon testified that Mr. Cyr now recognizes how he is in a difficult state. Dr. Gagnon wished to share a positive note with the Board. In conversation only last week, Mr. Cyr told Dr. Gagnon that he was not himself at the time of the index offence. It surprised Dr. Gagnon to hear this. In his mind, he wonders if this may represent something of a breakthrough for Mr. Cyr.
Dr. Gagnon confirmed that Mr. Cyr complies with medication while complaining about weight gain and lethargy. The Hospital will try to look at his medication to address the side effects.
Dr. Gagnon responded to questions posed by Board members. Asked about Mr. Cyr’s recent conversation with Dr. Gagnon, Dr. Gagnon described him to appear less rigid than before. This contrasts with 2021, when Mr. Cyr was much more dismissive.
Dr. Gagnon is hoping that Mr. Cyr’s relationship with the treatment team will improve and that he will come to better appreciate that nobody is trying to cause him harm. Mr. Cyr understands that their mandate is to keep the public safe.
Mr. Cyr has never encapsulated Dr. Gagnon into his delusions. The relationship with Mr. Cyr’s daughters continues although, with one daughter, it is strained. Mr. Cyr’s brother in Sudbury is his primary family support.
A Board member asked if Mr. Cyr recognizes that his delusional beliefs about the index offence are “flat out delusional”. Dr. Gagnon responded that the most he was able to get out of Mr. Cyr is that he was not well at the time. Now that he is at the group home, Mr. Cyr will inevitably face conflict with others. So far, he is managing well without any flare-ups.
Evidence at the Hearing: Mr. Cyr
Upon completion of the Hospital evidence, Mr. Cyr testified.
Mr. Cyr advised he would like to visit the Espanola area to see an old friend. The gentleman is now widowed and quite lonely. Mr. Cyr intends to drive out - just for the day - to meet his friend at the man’s home. They would go out for dinner before Mr. Cyr drives himself back to Maplewood in North Bay. Mr. Cyr’s friend is having real difficulties, and can no longer drive, having undergone eye surgery.
Mr. Cyr responded to questions from counsel. No concerns were noted in terms of any intention on Mr. Cyr’s part to attend at the separate area of the Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers.
The parties presented no further evidence.
Submissions of the Parties:
- The parties confirmed their original joint submission. There is no dispute on the issue of significant threat. Only one change was requested, regarding conditions having to do with travel passes. The parties agreed on specific wording to afford Mr. Cyr the possibility of travelling west of North Bay to visit his friend near Espanola:
Travel passes, including overnights, within the Province of Ontario, upon first obtaining approval of his itinerary by the Person in Charge or their designate, indirectly supervised. When exercising travel passes, remain away from Mr. F., and 1350 Lee Valley Road, Massey Ontario, or any place where he is known to be.
Conclusions and Disposition:
Based on the evidence and supported by the appropriate joint submission, the Board finds that Mr. Daniel Cyr continues to present a significant threat to the safety of the public. This is obvious from the behavioural and clinical history which is well documented. The necessary and appropriate disposition, as proposed, will provide Mr. Cyr with as much freedom as possible without exposing the community to potential risk of dangerous behaviour.
The Hospital risk assessment notes that there has been little change in Mr. Cyr’s overall risk summary. He suffers from a persistent delusional disorder, but it is encouraging to see that the intensity of his delusions and paranoia have likely attenuated with continued adherence to antipsychotic medication.
Still, Mr. Cyr’s paranoid belief system about previous neighbours remains present. The risk is compounded by Mr. Cyr’s potential future use of cannabis. We accept the Hospital’s evidence that, in addition to his delusional disorder, cannabis use will exacerbate his symptoms. A return to cannabis use, whether with or without psychopharmacological treatment, is highly likely to further precipitate a deterioration of his mental status. Without adequate support and supervision in the forensic system, Mr. Cyr is highly likely to engage in behaviours like those seen at the time of the index offence.
Having regard to these concerns, the Hospital needs to retain the discretionary authority to approve Mr. Cyr’s place of residence while providing him with the support and supervision he needs to promote his reintegration.
Accordingly, having regard to the primary consideration of keeping the public safe, while balancing Mr. Cyr’s mental condition, his reintegration and other needs, a renewed detention order is made. Terms and conditions are set out in the accompanying disposition. The request to modify travel passes is granted.
We thank the parties and counsel for their assistance.
DATED this 23rd day of February 2026 at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. P. Hageraats
Alternate Chairperson
__________________
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board