Re Taegan Urquhart, 2026 CanLII 26871

Ontario Review Board

Re: Taegan Urquhart

ORB File No: 3557

Hearing held on: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Place of hearing: Providence Care Hospital

Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code

Before:

Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein

Members: Dr. S. Hucker Dr. G. Kerry Ms. K. Weisbaum Mr. T. Wall

Parties Appearing:

Accused: Taegan Urquhart Counsel: Ms. E. Holder

The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Szabo

Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. R. Edward

REASONS FOR DISPOSITION

(Dated March 24, 2026)

Introduction

1. On April 22, 2002, the accused, Taegan Urquhart, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder one charge of assault and three counts of assault peace officer, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”). Ms. Urquhart is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated March 14, 2025, which detains her at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Providence Care Hospital, Kingston with privileges up to and including to live in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge.

2. On March 4, 2026, the Ontario Review Board convened a hearing at the Providence Care Hospital, Kingston (the “Hospital”), to conduct Ms. Urquhart’s annual review hearing pursuant to section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Ms. Urquhart attended her hearing and was represented by her counsel, Ms. Erin Holder. Also in attendance by video conference was Ms. Urquhart’s father. A hospital report dated February 19, 2026, (the “Hospital Report”) was marked as Exhibit 1.

3. The issues for the hearing were whether Ms. Urquhart continues to meet the threshold of significant threat to the safety of the public and, if so, to determine the disposition that is necessary and appropriate in the circumstances.

4. For the reasons set out below, the Board finds that Ms. Urquhart continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order Disposition with the same terms and conditions as in Ms. Urquhart’s previous Disposition.

Position of the Parties

5. At the outset of the hearing, Ms. Szabo indicated the Hospital’s position that Ms. Urquhart continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order Disposition with the same terms and conditions as in Ms. Urquhart’s previous Disposition.

6. On behalf of the Attorney General, Ms. Edward joined the Hospital.

7. On behalf of Ms. Urquhart, Ms. Holder also joined the Hospital and indicated that her client expressly requested no changes.

Index Offences

8. The facts of the index offences are set out in the Hospital Report:

“On March 2, 2002, Ms. Urquhart was at home with her parents. Her mother thought she was attempting to use the phone and again abusing the 911 emergency system. A verbal argument ensued which escalated into a physical confrontation, with Ms. Urquhart grabbing her mother by the hair in the rear of her head and twisting her head around. She was arrested and transported to the Cobourg Police Station where, while being escorted to use the bathroom facilities, she attacked the two escorting officers and grabbed at the firearm of one of them. In the ensuing struggle to restrain her one of the escorting officers was bitten twice on the left hand, causing swelling and redness to his left index finger and palm. During the struggle Ms. Urquhart kicked the other officer and attempted to bite her.”

Background and History

9. The Hospital Report includes details regarding Ms. Urquhart’s background, including her personal, criminal, and psychiatric history. As it was entered as an exhibit at the hearing, it is not reviewed in detail here, beyond a brief summary of a few salient points.

10. Ms. Urquhart was born in Vancouver and moved to Cobourg, Ontario at the age of six. Reports indicate she began demonstrating antisocial behaviour in the seventh grade. She was identified as having a learning disability in the ninth grade. She has never been employed and has had difficulty maintaining housing.

11. The Hospital Report sets out psychiatric hospital admissions between 1999 and 2002 with suicidal ideation, self-harm, overdose of medication and otherwise seeking treatment. The Hospital Report notes that she has a history of substance abuse dating back to the time she was in the seventh or eighth grade, including cannabis, PCP, and heroin.

12. Ms. Urquhart’s criminal record spans the years 1999 to 2005 and includes failure to comply with court orders, three convictions for assault and two convictions for assault peace officer.

Current Diagnoses

13. Ms. Urquhart’s current diagnoses are listed in the Hospital Report as follows:

• Mild intellectual development disorder;

• Autism spectrum disorder;

• Schizoaffective disorder, by history; and

• Substance use disorder, in remission in a controlled environment.

Evidence at the Hearing

14. The Hospital’s evidence was presented through the oral testimony of Dr. Selhi, to supplement the evidence in the Hospital Report.

15. In response to questions from Ms. Szabo, Dr. Selhi stated that she had no changes or updates to make to the Hospital Report.

16. Ms. Urquhart moved back into the community to Dual Diagnosis Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Program (“DDTRHP”) housing in June 2024. She was then discharged to independent housing in December 2025, which was a very significant transition for Ms. Urquhart.

17. Ms. Urquhart is seen daily by her ACT team for medication prescribed by Dr. Selhi. She receives 20 hours of independent living support each week, including help with shopping for groceries, activities in the community and general tasks at home. She has been in her new housing for approximately two months and is doing well. All of Ms. Urquhart’s programs and supports have worked together to support her transition from the Hospital to the community in order to manage Ms. Urquhart’s risk and will continue to support her going forward.

18. Ms. Urquhart had a few difficulties in May 2025 in relation to a new roommate at the DDTHRP housing, causing some friction. In combination with Ms. Urquhart’s regressed behaviour, it became apparent that she should be discharged from DDTHRP, which in turn triggered her transition to independent housing. Her behaviour is now well managed within a broader framework of support.

19. Ms. Urquhart has a long forensic history, with some good transition periods, but also some difficult behaviours at specific times and in general. She needs the supportive framework of a forensic system to ensure a successful transition to independent housing. The forensic framework will be necessary for the coming year and beyond to ensure Ms. Urquhart’s success. Dr. Selhi agreed that this would be a slow, gradual process.

20. Ms. Edward had no questions.

21. In response to a question from Ms. Holder, Dr. Selhi confirmed that over the coming year there will be no changes to Ms. Urquhart’s current supports.

22. There were no questions from the panel members.

23. No further evidence was presented.

Closing Submissions

24. In final submissions, all parties maintained their original positions.

Conclusion and Disposition

25. Having considered all of the evidence presented at the hearing, the Board finds that Ms. Urquhart continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public as set out in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code and as further defined in Winko v. British Columbia (Forensic Psychiatric Institute), 1999 CanLII 694 (SCC), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 625 (“Winko”): A “significant threat to the safety of the public” means a real risk of physical or psychological harm to members of the public that is serious in the sense of going beyond the merely trivial or annoying. The conduct giving rise to the harm must be criminal in nature.

26. The panel accepted all the evidence before it, including the oral evidence of Dr. Selhi. Ms. Urquhart has had a good year, successfully transitioning to independent living in the community. Her continued success requires the network of supports she receives, which are part of the forensic system; these include daily visits from the ACT team to support Ms. Urquhart’s continued medication adherence, provide her with support for activities of daily living, and monitor her behaviour, which at times can escalate and have historically sometimes included physical violence. The panel noted that Ms. Urquhart herself has requested that no changes be made to the terms and conditions of her previous Disposition.

27. Having considered the four factors set out in section 672.54 of the Criminal Code, namely the protection of the public, which is the paramount consideration, the mental condition of the accused, her reintegration into society and her other needs, the Board finds that Ms. Urquhart continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order Disposition with the same terms and conditions as in her previous Disposition.

28. The Board congratulates Ms. Urquhart on her transition to independent living in the community and wishes her success for the coming year.

DATED this 24th day of March 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.

Ms. K. Weisbaum Legal Member

Office of the Registrar

Ontario Review Board