Re: Tigran Mirzoyan
ORB File No: 5155
Hearing held on: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. M.D. Segal Members: Dr. G.A. Chaimowitz Dr. H. Moulden Hon. N. Kozloff Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing: Accused: Tigran Mirzoyan Counsel: Ms. M. Perez
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. C. Coughlan
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated March 9, 2026)
Introduction
Tigran Mirzoyan, age 37, was found on August 29, 2008, not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, all contrary to the Criminal Code.
Mr. Mirzoyan was subject to a Detention Order dated February 12, 2025, detaining him at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care – High Secure Provincial Forensic Programs, Penetanguishene. After a two-year wait, he was admitted to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (the “hospital”) on January 8, 2026, where he had his annual hearing before the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) on February 4, 2026.
Mr. Mirzoyan’s parents attended the hearing.
Exhibit 1 was the Hospital Report dated December 7, 2025.
In preliminary positions all parties advanced that Mr. Mirzoyan be subject to detention on the Secure Forensic Unit with privileges including hospital and ground privileges while escorted or accompanied by a person approved, passes into the community escorted, and a weapons prohibition. By the end of the hearing the Board agreed. Significant threat was not contested.
Index Offence
- The circumstances of the index offences are taken from last year’s Reasons for Disposition as follows:
“On the 13th of March 2008, officers were called to the area of Yonge Street and Oxford Road in the Town of Richmond Hill in regard to unknown trouble. Communications received a call from a male who stated that he had observed a pedestrian step into the side of a car on Yonge Street, then punch the car, and pull a knife on the driver. The driver fled the area and the pedestrian continued walking down Yonge Street.
Officers spoke to the caller, and he advised that he was travelling eastbound on Oxford Road, behind a dark Volkswagen. As the VW turned left onto Yonge Street (on a green light), a pedestrian stepped out into the road and into the side of the VW. He feared the VW was going to run over the pedestrian’s foot. The pedestrian proceeded to punch the rear of the VW. The driver of the VW stopped and yelled out his window at the pedestrian who punched the vehicle again. The pedestrian came around the vehicle to the driver and reached into his right front pant pocket. The pedestrian pulled an object out of his pocket and held it up to the driver. The driver stated, “Are you pulling a knife on me.” The witness reports that the driver appeared scared and fled the area. At this time, the pedestrian continued to walk southbound on Yonge Street. The witness called 911 and provided a description of a male approx 17-18 years old, white, tan complexion, heavy build, 6-foot, brown spiky hair, black baggy pants, brownish earth tone button up shirt and no jacket.
During a search of the area, officers located a male matching the description of the pedestrian walking in a parking lot south of the incident location. Officers asked the male if he was in possession of any weapons and he stated, “No.” A search of the male was conducted for officer safety reasons and a blue handled folding knife was located in his right front pant pocket. The male was placed under arrest for Carry Concealed Weapon and Weapons Dangerous.
The accused kept laughing for no reason. When questioned by police, he advised he suffers from schizophrenia. He stated that he does take his medication, although it appears to officers that he does not take his medication or the medication he is on is not working.
The accused was transported to 2 District and lodged in cell 2D10. The accused spoke with duty counsel and, although the accused is an adult, due to his mental history, officers contacted the accused’s parents.
The accused’s parents attended 2 District and brought his medication. They advised that the accused does not take his medication willingly. They hide his medication in his food. Police attempted to give the accused his evening medication, but he refused to take it.
The accused is currently on a Conditional Discharge for Assault with a Weapon X2 (YRP incident #07-27575) for attempting to skin his parents alive. In November 2007, the accused was a patient at the Whitby Mental Health Centre. During his stay here, he lashed out punching another patient and assaulting a nurse (Durham incident #071152917).
The accused has been apprehended by York Region Police twice under the MHA. At this time, the accused is being held for a Show Cause Hearing on the 14th of March 2008.”
The Hospital Report outlines Mr. Mirzoyan’s history and background and need not be repeated here in detail. In brief, Mr. Mirzoyan is 37 years old. Mr. Mirzoyan and his family immigrated to Canada from Armenia in 2001, when he was 13 years old. Mr. Mirzoyan is single with no dependants. Mr. Mirzoyan completed grade 10. Collateral information indicates that he was suspended from school on two occasions. On one occasion, he was armed with a knife. Mr. Mirzoyan has no history of substance abuse.
Prior to the index offences, Mr. Mirzoyan’s criminal offence history includes a finding of guilt for assault with a weapon in 2007, for which he received a conditional discharge. Mr. Mirzoyan had used a Swiss army knife and attempted to skin his parents based on his delusional belief that his parents had been abducted by Russians who had killed his brother two years previously. He believed it was his mission to remove the skin from them (Russians) to retrieve his parents. In February 2008, Mr. Mirzoyan was found guilty of two counts of assault involving an unprovoked attack on a co-patient (at the then Whitby Mental Health Centre), for which he also received a conditional discharge.
Mr. Mirzoyan began to experience symptoms of mental illness when he was 14 years old (he began to self-isolate and later to self-harm). Mr. Mirzoyan’s first contact with psychiatric services was in July 2006, when he was admitted to hospital on a Form 1 under the Mental Health Act (“MHA”). The Hospital Report sets out further admissions up until the time of the index offences in 2008.
Mr. Mirzoyan is diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. Liu, the patient’s psychiatrist at the hospital, testified.
By the time of the hearing, Mr. Mirzoyan was starting his fourth week at the hospital. Mr. Mirzoyan is in Secure Forensic Unit A. He has settled in very well.
Mr. Mirzoyan had a smooth transition.
Mr. Mirzoyan is very polite and friendly. He greets others with polite gestures. Occasionally, he makes kissing gestures, but they are not sexual.
Mr. Mirzoyan has residual psychotic symptoms. He has been alarmed by staff that he has not met before. Mr. Mirzoyan was concerned that they may hurt him, but he could not explain this further. He denied being unsafe.
There are some co-patients to whom he is not friendly, but he has not exhibited any derogative gestures. He is trying to connect with staff. No one feels menaced by him. He does not speak very much.
Mr. Mirzoyan has referred to aliens indicating they live in a parallel universe.
Mr. Mirzoyan is compliant with his medications. He is on clozapine and a second antipsychotic by injection every two weeks.
The hospital has been encouraging Mr. Mirzoyan to get fresh air but so far, he has been reluctant. His privilege level is level 1. At Waypoint, he was reluctant to use passes as well. Mr. Mirzoyan has negative symptoms that inform the reluctance to use privileges.
Mr. Mirzoyan does respond to rewards and looks forward to using the canteen.
One reason for the transfer from Waypoint was proximity to family. His mother has visited her son in hospital. Mr. Mirzoyan has had strained relations with his father in the past. The fact that the patient’s father was at the hearing and that Mr. Mirzoyan was open to his attendance was positive.
At Waypoint, Mr. Mirzoyan requested PRNs when he felt he needed them. The fact that he has not yet requested them at the hospital confirms that he is settling in well.
There has been no evidence of self-harming. The daily dynamic risk assessment tool that tracks irritability, impulsivity and like measures has been unblemished since his arrival at the new hospital.
The impact of the antipsychotic medications has caused drooling but the positive impacts on mental health outweigh that concern.
Mr. Mirzoyan had to wait two years for the transfer and is adapting well.
Analysis
No one contested significant risk to the public and it is well made out given the patient’s history as documented in the Hospital Report.
Mr. Mirzoyan was waiting for a transfer to CAMH for two years. On January 8, 2026, he was admitted to the new hospital. So far, Mr. Mirzoyan has done well. He is in a secure unit. The transition went well. At Waypoint, Mr. Mirzoyan would make use of PRNs. So far, he has not requested any. He is not displaying anxiety. While not very verbal, he is polite and welcoming of staff and patients.
Both of Mr. Mirzoyan’s parents attended the hearing. The transfer was in great part to accommodate better access by his parents. Mr. Mirzoyan’s mother has been a strong supporter of her son. She has visited him. The relationship with his father has been strained in past, but Mr. Mirzoyan welcomed both his mother and father. This was the very first time in a long while that father and son have been together.
The plan going forward includes having Mr. Mirzoyan engage using privileges to get outside.
These are early days but so far so good. We wish Mr. Mirzoyan well in the upcoming year.
DATED this 9^th^ day of March, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. M.D. Segal Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board