Ontario Review Board
Re: Kwang Ung Park
ORB File No: 0699/4484
Hearing held on: Monday, December 8, 2025
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. L.O. Lightfoot Dr. R. Chandrasena Ms. C. Murray Ms. C. Plyley
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Kwang Ung Park Counsel: Mr. W. Glover
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Zamprogna
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. D. Rows
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated January 12, 2026)
Introduction:
On August 26, 1983, Kwang Ung Park was found not guilty by reason of insanity, on a charge of arson, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”). On January 28, 1994, he was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on a charge of cause damage by fire to a motor vehicle, also contrary to the Criminal Code. Finally, on May 30, 2006, he was again found not criminally responsible on four charges: arson causing damage to property, possession of an incendiary device, disobey court order, and mischief, all contrary to the Criminal Code.
Mr. Park is subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”), dated December 23, 2024, which ordered that he be detained at the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, St. Joseph's Health Care London (“Southwest”). This Disposition includes privileges up to, and including, hospital and grounds privileges, escorted by staff and indirectly supervised.
On December 8, 2025, the Board convened a hearing at Southwest to conduct the annual review of the current Disposition.
Mr. Park was present at the hearing and was represented by counsel, Mr. W. Glover.
A Hospital Report, dated October 16, 2025 (the "Hospital Report"), was entered as Exhibit 1.
The issues at this hearing were whether Mr. Park is a significant threat to public safety, as defined in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code, and, if so, the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances must be determined, bearing in mind the factors enunciated in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
For the reasons set out below and based on the expert evidence and opinions before us, the Board concluded that Mr. Park continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. The Board found that the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances is the continuation of the existing Detention Order, with the amendment to paragraph 2(d), omitting the words “ground privileges,” giving him only hospital privileges indirectly supervised.
Current Psychiatric Diagnosis:
- Schizophrenia
Position of the Parties
Counsel for the hospital, counsel for the Attorney General and counsel for Mr. Park advised that this was a joint submission: all were adopting the hospital’s recommendation of a continuation of the Detention Order, with the amendments requested therein, including the removal of indirectly supervised grounds privileges.
For the purposes of this hearing, counsel for Mr. Park advised that significant threat was not in dispute.
Index Offences:
- The circumstances giving rise to the Index Offences are extracted from last year’s Board Reasons, as follows:
“1. Arson
On July 26, 1982, Mr. Park, acting on the belief that a spy camera was being operated by an employee of the Ford Motor Company, traveled with two 5-gallon gasoline cans in his car from Toronto. He tried to set fire to two cars in the Ford factory parking lot. He was noticed by workers in the area and police were called. He was admitted to St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital on an application for psychiatric assessment. He remained in hospital until September 14, 1982, when he was discharged. On March 7, 1983, he again went to the Ford Motor Company lot and set fire to several cars.
- Cause Damage by Fire to a Motor Vehicle
Mr. Park was living in Toronto under the authority of a Disposition Order dated April 19, 1993, which permitted him to live in a supervised home in the community of Metropolitan Toronto and to have 10 hour passes to the city of London to visit his brother's grave with a person or persons approved. On Monday, November 15, 1993, Mr. Park took the bus from Toronto to London arriving about 1230. He hired a taxi and asked the driver to wait at the Canadian Tire Store at Wellington Street near the 401. He bought a jug for gasoline and then filled up the gas at a Sunoco gas station near Wellington Street. He then proceeded to the Talbotville Ford Motor Company arriving around 1330. He found the parking place where it was written "high level parking place". He poured gasoline on four tires of three cars and then set a fire. Security guards found out and tried to put out the fire and Mr. Park was picked up by the police. He was taken to the Emergency Department of the Elgin General Hospital in St. Thomas and put on an Application for Psychiatric Assessment. He was then admitted to the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital.
- Arson, Possession of Incendiary Device, Mischief under $5000 & Disobey Court Order
On April 29, 2006, Mr. Park went by cab to Canadian Tire where he a purchased a plastic red gasoline container and then returned to his group home. On May 1, 2006, Mr. Park again took a taxi to a gasoline station in St. Thomas where he purchased $9.00 worth of gasoline in the container. He then had the taxi take him to the Ford Motor Company, Talbotville Plant. The taxi dropped him off in the driveway and Mr. Park proceeded through the parking lot carrying his blue tote bag and the gasoline container. He chose a vehicle at random and set both front tires on fire using the gasoline he had purchased, matches and paper which he had brought with him. A witness saw him pouring gasoline at the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Mr. Park, who was holding a piece of paper and a book of matches, told the witnesses to call the OPP because he was going to start a fire. Damage to the vehicle was approximately $300.00.".
Personal Background and Psychiatric History:
- Mr. Park’s personal background and psychiatric history are outlined in the Hospital Report, and they are accurately summarized in last year’s Reasons:
“Briefly, Mr. Park was born in South Korea, the youngest in a sib line of ten. He completed grade twelve education in South Korea and served three years in the Korean Army. Mr. Park remained in a Buddhist temple for two years prior to immigrating to Canada in 1970.
Mr. Park was sponsored by his brother who was working for the Ford Motor Company plant in Talbotville, Ontario. He obtained employment and worked as an assembler until 1975 when he was promoted to a position of temporary foreman. At that time, he began to feel that people were harassing him, tampering with his mail, rearranging the furniture in his apartment, and banging on his walls. He also believed that people attempted to poison him on several occasions and were monitoring his actions with a special “spy camera.” Mr. Park believed the Ford Motor Company was responsible for these actions.
In August 1976, he was fired from his job after he had been physically aggressive with fellow workers and “let loose with a spray gun on the assembly line”. He was admitted to Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, for approximately six months and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Mr. Park remained obsessed with obtaining recompense from the Ford Motor Company and his former supervisor, Bill Barber for ruining his life.
In July 1982, he travelled from Toronto to Talbotville where he attempted to set fire to vehicles in the Ford Motor parking lot. He was admitted to hospitaland was discharged after one and a half months with a diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis, paranoid type. On March 7, 1983, he returned to the Ford Motor Company lot and set fire to several cars. He was subsequently found NGRI on August 26, 1983, and detained under an ORB Disposition at St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital (now Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care).
In May 1989, Mr. Park was transferred to the Queen Street Mental Health Centre in Toronto to be closer to his daughter. In November 1993, while living in the community under an ORB Disposition, he again set fire to vehicles at the Ford Motor Company parking lot in Talbotville. Mr. Park was found NCR and returned to the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital.
In February 2002, Mr. Park was moved into a group home in St. Thomas where he remained until May 2006. At that time, he returned to the Ford Motor Company and set fire to vehicles in the parking lot. He was found NCR and remained at St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital.
While under the jurisdiction of the ORB, Mr. Park has continued to express long-standing and fixed delusions related to the Ford Motor Company. At the time of the hearing, he remained under a Detention Order Disposition at Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care.”
Course Since Last Disposition:
- Mr. Park’s course since his last Disposition is set out in detail in the Hospital Report. The following extracted paragraphs are relevant to this hearing:
“Mr. Park continued to reside on the Forensic Rehabilitation Unit (B1) under the care of Dr. Amir Rezaei Ardani, Forensic Psychiatrist, and the Forensic Rehabilitation Treatment team. There were no significant incidents over the reporting period.
Mr. Park’s overall mental status remained unchanged from the previous reporting year. He continued to endorse fixed and persecutory delusions around Bill Barber, his former supervisor at the Ford Motor Company, who is now deceased.
He also experienced other delusions related to staff. On multiple occasions, for instance, on June 19, 2025, he claimed that someone had been entering his room and stealing his belongings but did not elaborate on who (peers or staff) was doing this. His belongings were noted to be intact, with no concerns around items going missing from his room. On July 16, 2025, he believed that treatment staff were entering his room during the night and stealing his bed sheets while asleep. He believed that the people taking his belongings were instructed by Bill Barber to do so.”
Evidence at the Hearing:
- The Board had available to it the evidence and documents forming the Record, the Exhibits, and oral evidence from Dr. Ardani. Dr. Ardani co-authored the Hospital Report, and he testified as follows:
a) He is the attending psychiatrist for Mr. Park.
b) Mr. Park’s mental status worsened after a reduction in his clozapine dosage, which was necessary because of side effects related to age (notably orthostatic hypotension). This condition causes Mr. Park to be unsteady on his feet and at risk of falling.
c) The lower clozapine level has led to an increase in Mr. Park’s psychosis.
d) Midodrine was added to help with hypertension.
e) There will likely need to be further reduction in Mr. Park’s clozapine dosage as he ages. This reduction will result in more decompensation in the future.
f) There is no suitable substitute for clozapine.
g) Mr. Park requires supervision to make sure he remains adherent to his medication regimen.
h) Mr. Park has a history of setting fires. He has been charged with arson three times. He has stated that he would set fires again, if placed in the community. This behaviour is a barrier to Mr. Park living in the community.
i) Mr. Park has tried community living multiple times, but each attempt resulted in further incidents.
j) The treatment team is recommending that Mr. Park be placed in a locked unit in a long-term care facility. However, no facility will accept him, because of his lack of independent living skills and his propensity to set fires.
k) Mr. Park is capable of making decisions about long-term care placement, but he prefers staying in the hospital, because it is free. This arrangement allows Mr. Park to continue sending money to family members.
l) Mr. Park continues to suffer from delusions relating to his past employment at Ford Motor Company, which fuels his behaviour and his sense of loss.
- In response to questions from counsel for Mr. Park, Dr. Ardani testified:
a) Mr. Park has excellent physical health and fitness for his age. He should not live in the community while he remains physically fit, as he is a risk to both himself and the public.
b) Any hospital recommendation for community placement would only be considered after a decline in Mr. Park’s fitness.
- In response to questions from the panel, Dr. Ardani testified:
a) Mr. Park’s delusions have evolved. They initially focussed on the Ford Motor Company plant but now extend to Ford dealerships and hospital staff. Mr. Park now also believes hospital staff are being directed by figures from his past, notably Mr. Barber, who is now deceased.
b) Clozapine is currently the only available option to Mr. Park. Alternative antipsychotic medications that have been trialled have caused severe side effects in the past, specifically tardive dyskinesia, from which he continues to suffer. Unfortunately, he is becoming less tolerant to the clozapine as well.
- No other evidence was called.
Analysis and Conclusions:
Having heard and considered the entirety of the evidence, as well as submissions from the parties, the Board agrees with the joint submission: Mr. Park remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.
In Winko, the Supreme Court outlined that, in coming to the conclusion on the issue of significant risk, a Review Board should closely examine a range of evidence, including: the circumstances of the original offence; the past and expected course of the accused’s treatment; the present state of the NCR accused’s medical condition; the NCR accused’s own plans for the future; the support existing for the NCR accused in the community; and most importantly, the recommendations provided by experts who examined the NCR accused. In coming to our conclusion in this matter, the Board relies on the uncontroverted expert evidence of Dr. Ardani, in addition to the documentary evidence before us.
Mr. Park requires a high level of supervision and would not be able to obtain appropriate support in the community, at this time.
Mr. Park suffers from a treatment refractory illness, which impairs his insight into his mental illness and his need for treatment.
Mr. Park’s treatment plans and rehabilitation will continue to be compromised by symptoms of his major mental illness.
Mr. Park is sub-optimally treated, but there is no alternative medication regimen available that would be able to improve his major mental illness.
The Board agrees that it is not safe for Mr. Park to have indirectly supervised passes on grounds, because of his strong physical condition.
In particular, the Board relies on the Re-Offence Scenario and Current Clinical Assessment of Significant Risk, set out in the Hospital Report:
“Mr. Park’s re-offence scenario remains unchanged from the previous reporting year. He has no insight into his mental illness or violence risk. He has ongoing and constant delusions that Bill Barber has power over him. Absent his current Forensic support and supervision, he would immediately feel frustrated as a result of his delusional thoughts and would quickly decompensate. He would be unable to obtain housing independently and would become noncompliant with his medication. He has voiced that he would commit a violent act (most likely arson), as soon as Bill Barber prevents him from a normal life, as demonstrated in 2022.
It is the opinion of the treatment team that Mr. Park continues to pose a risk of serious physical or psychological harm to members of the public. The following evidence supports this opinion:
Mr. Park has a severe and persistent mental illness, Schizophrenia. His symptoms remain treatment resistant, preventing further rehabilitation progress;
Mr. Park has no insight into the index offence, his illness, or his need for treatment. Absent forensic supervision, his risk would be considered very high due to his ongoing threats to cause extreme violence (setting fires) and history of absconding in the community and committing violent acts. On March 9, 2022, Mr. Park absconded and set fire to the parking lot of the Ford Dealership in St. Thomas, Ontario; and
Mr. Park has no internal or motivational protective factors. He has no personal or professional supports, aside from his current inpatient treatment team, mitigating his elevated violence risk. He would be unable to independently secure and obtain parallel support if living in the community.”
In light of the Board's finding of significant threat, it is charged with shaping a Disposition for the coming year. It is clear from the Hospital Report that the hospital needs to approve Mr. Park’s housing, to monitor his mental stability and his adherence to his medication regimen.
In consideration of all the evidence, submissions of the parties and criteria set forth in s. 672.54, the paramount consideration being the safety of the public, in addition to the mental condition of Mr. Park, his reintegration into society and his other needs, the necessary and appropriate Disposition is to continue with the Detention Order, with the amendments agreed to by all the parties.
DATED this 12^th^ day of January 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. J. Weinstein Alternate Chairperson Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board