Re: Dylan Barbour
ORB File No: 3745
Hearing held on: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Place of hearing: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. P. Hageraats Members: Dr. R. Kunjukrishnan Dr. G. Boulais Mr. J. Weinstein Mr. R. Rainboth
Parties Appearing: Accused: Dylan Barbour Counsel: Mr. J. Boss The person in charge of hospital: Representative: Dr. J. Gojer Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Dufort
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated March 30, 2026)
Introduction
Dylan Barbour was tried in court on charges of assault, assault with a weapon and breach of probation, offences contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
On March 20, 2003, based on expert psychiatric evidence presented at his trial, Mr. Barbour was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”).
Mr. Barbour is subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB” or “the Board”) dated March 4, 2025. He was ordered to be detained at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (“ROMHC” or “the hospital”).
Mr. Barbour was awarded privileges, including travel passes and the ability to live in the community in accommodation approved by the hospital.
In August 2025, the ROMHC discharged Mr. Barbour from inpatient care. He currently lives at a supervised group home in Ottawa, the Lebreton Residence (Lebreton).
On February 24, 2026, the Board convened at the ROMHC to conduct an annual review. Mr. Barbour attended in person. He was represented by counsel, Mr. Jonathan Boss. Two members of Mr. Barbour’s treatment team were also present: Ms. Jaime Allin, RN, case manager, and Ms. Giuliana Borracci, occupational therapist and case worker with the Ottawa Salus Housing Program.
The Board received direct testimony from the attending forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Julian Gojer, in addition to a cumulative hospital report, dated January 20, 2026.
The issues to be considered by the Board are whether Mr. Barbour presents a significant risk to the safety of the public, and, if so, to determine the necessary and appropriate disposition.
Positions of the Parties:
Upon completion of the evidence and submissions, the Board was presented with a joint submission, namely that Mr. Barbour does present a significant threat to the safety of the public, and, to manage this, a detention order on the same terms as before remains necessary and appropriate.
For the reasons set out below, the Board adopted the joint submission.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses
Schizoaffective Disorder
Cannabis Use Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Most recently, in February 2026, Mr. Barbour’s prescribed regime of psychiatric medication was changed to oral Olanzapine.
Index Offences:
- The circumstances are described in the hospital report and in the Board’s Reasons for Decision and Disposition, dated April 9, 2025. In summary:
On October 5, 2002, Mr. Barbour was in the hallway of his apartment building located at 165 Colbourne Ave., in the Town of Richmond Hill. His father, Gary Barbour, opened the door and asked him to enter the apartment. As he passed the victim, Dylan Barbour began punching his father several times about the face, leaving him with a black left eye and swelling to the left side of the head, near the eye.
Dylan Barbour then attended the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen steak knife, and began to approach his father to continue the assault.
At the time of these events, Mr. Barbour was subject to a probation order requiring that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Personal Background:
Mr. Barbour was 18 when the index offences arose. He is now 42. Mr. Barbour has spent almost his entire adult life under the jurisdiction of the Board. The criminal record consists of numerous convictions from 1999 to 2007. Most of these predate the 2002 index offences and were committed when he was a youth. Several convictions were for violent acts, including one robbery and various other assaults.
The clinical history documents impulsive and aggressive attitudes with associated behaviour going back to a young age of seven or eight years. Mr. Barbour’s mother had him admitted to the ROMHC as a child after he had threatened a babysitter with a knife.
His parents separated in 1990. After living initially with his mother, Mr. Barbour moved in with his father in September 1992.
Mr. Gary Barbour reported that his son did well when he first came to live with him. However, by March 1999, he began getting into difficulty and was charged with theft before accumulating more charges. Gary Barbour described Dylan as becoming non-compliant, verbally abusive and withdrawn. In March 2002, the father tried to have his son hospitalized but, for some reason, the hospital could not keep him.
Course Following the 2003 NCR Finding
Mr. Barbour has enjoyed periods of stability under the Board. However, there have also been repeated periods of medication non-adherence and substance use associated with relapses of active psychotic symptoms and repeated violent incidents, in addition to other antisocial behaviour.
From 2003 until the end of 2021, Mr. Barbour was under the supervision of the Whitby Mental Health Centre (“Ontario Shores”). While in the Whitby area, he was supported by his father who kept up frequent contact. Mr. Barbour’s mother also stayed in touch over the years, from Ottawa. During an earlier period, she had different expectations about his recovery. There were moments when she would discourage him from taking prescribed medication.
Mr. Barbour’s initial course in hospital was challenging for him and hospital staff. Oppositional and aggressive conduct was seen, including verbal and physical attacks directed at both peers and staff. In 2006, he assaulted a staff member - for which he was criminally charged and later convicted and imprisoned.
Mr. Barbour was regarded as immature for his age. Progress and treatment were slow, incremental, and marked by periods of regression. Throughout the Whitby admission during times when he was most unwell, Mr. Barbour showed evidence of agitation, bizarre and disorganized behaviour, delusional beliefs, symptoms of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), and problems with grooming and self-care. He was observed to be intrusive, threatening and responding to internal stimuli. Although found NCR in 2003, it was not until 2012 that the Board saw fit to grant Mr. Barbour community living privileges.
While under Ontario Shores’ supervision at Whitby, Mr. Barbour required multiple readmissions to hospital due to treatment non-adherence and alcohol and substance use. He showed poor to fair insight, with limited participation and engagement in group programming. He socialized with a peer who used alcohol and substances. With improvement in the last few years in his insight and participation, he was transferred to the ROMHC in late 2021.
The relationship with Mr. Barbour’s mother improved, as it did with Ottawa family members. Following the Board’s order transferring him from Whitby, Mr. Barbour began living at the Lebreton Transitional Residence on January 4, 2022. At the time of last year’s annual review hearing, held on January 14, 2024, he was still there.
Initially, Mr. Barbour’s transition to community living in Ottawa went well. The case manager, Jaime Allin, RN, engaged him in counselling. They continue working to identify unmet needs and avenues to help Mr. Barbour manage stress and his cooperation with staff. They explore his various goals and challenges, including trying to identify triggers that can bring on addictive tendencies.
Psychoeducation has been provided to Mr. Barbour and his mother about Schizophrenia and the early identification of relapse, with treatment options. In March 2022, an assessment noted that Mr. Barbour would probably function best in a relatively structured, low-stress, predictable environment involving ongoing follow-up. A psychological risk assessment from April 2022 noted that his risk would increase were he to move to an independent living situation.
By late 2022, Mr. Barbour was regularly using cannabis. Changes in his mental state were observed including his expressing doubts that Mr. Gary Barbour was his father. Dylan Barbour’s condition deteriorated. He increasingly avoided hospital staff, appointments, and groups. His mood and affect became more irritable. He was more disorganized and tangential and was no longer getting proper sleep at night.
Mr. Barbour’s mother was concerned that his presentation resembled what she had seen in the past. On one occasion, he threatened to kill her. He was also becoming unmanageable at the Lebreton Residence. On September 1, 2022, the hospital admitted him under the authority of the ORB detention order. Following a return to oral medication, Mr. Barbour’s condition stabilized. He was discharged back to Lebreton on September 26, 2022.
The reporting year leading to early 2024 was described as an “exceptionally good year”. Mr. Barbour participated well in Lebreton programs. He complied with treatment and showed excellent insight into his illness. Despite occasional relapses with cannabis use, there was no significant change to his mental state.
In 2023, Mr. Barbour participated in recommended group programming including “Risk and Recovery, Concurrent Disorders, and Emotional Regulations”. However, despite this, Mr. Barbour would express disbelief that cannabis use could negatively affect his mental health. When asked about cannabis use, he was forthcoming and complied with the requirement to provide urine samples for drug screening analysis.
Mr. Barbour developed a good therapeutic relationship with staff at Lebreton and the hospital. The close relationship with his mother and Ottawa family members continued.
In late 2023, Dr. Gojer anticipated that Mr. Barbour could be a candidate for independent housing. However, there were two obstacles: ongoing cannabis use and lack of supplemental funding to cover rent at market rates.
In the Board’s Reasons dated February 27, 2024, the Board acknowledged Mr. Barbour’s compliance with prescribed medication, apart from certain times when his mental condition would deteriorate to the point of him needing hospitalization. Mr. Barbour had been free of violent behaviour for several years.
Notwithstanding compliance with medication, Schizophrenia symptoms were still present. The Board noted that Mr. Barbour was “… psychologically fragile and his mental state is susceptible to rapid deterioration in response to stress, substance use and medication changes.” The Board felt this illustrated the fragility of his mental condition and highlighted the associated risk to public safety. With those considerations in mind, the Board found that the overall risk level still required a formal detention order.
Course in Treatment, January 2024 to February 2025
In February 2024, Mr. Barbour transitioned from the Lebreton Residence to his own apartment. He lived with a roommate. Rent was subsidized by the Salus Housing Program. At first, the transition went well, with Mr. Barbour continuing to be engaged in treatment. He worked on his recovery goals by participating in groups and keeping the apartment in decent condition.
However, Mr. Barbour began to use cannabis more frequently. When concerns about his substance use were expressed, he responded by saying that cannabis was benefiting him and that he saw no issues with continuing to consume.
In August 2024, Mr. Barbour admitted to having stopped taking oral medications. The roommate reached out to the hospital expressing concern. Mr. Barbour was disengaging from involvement with the treatment team and showing more concerning behaviours. At one point, he stabbed his apartment wall with a knife. Other concerning behaviours are described in the hospital report.
Mr. Barbour was readmitted to the ROMHC where he remained for a short time following initial admission to the Ottawa Civic Hospital’s psychiatric unit.
Following his hospital discharge in early September 2024, Mr. Barbour was again non-compliant with medication. The same problematic behaviours resumed. There were reports he was threatening people and becoming thought disorganized. In mid-September, Mr. Barbour was admitted to the Montfort Hospital for four days. On September 27, he was transferred to the ROMHC, where he remained on inpatient status until November 19, 2024.
Upon returning to his Salus apartment unit in November, and despite the hospital’s best efforts, by December 2024, Mr. Barbour resumed smoking cannabis. He claimed he was only using low doses and that it did not affect him. His treating psychiatrist, Dr. Gojer, could not reason with him that cannabis could potentially trigger renewed psychosis. Mr. Barbour agreed to a medication trial of oral Abilify. On February 5, 2025, long-acting injectable Abilify was introduced, at 400mg IM, every four weeks.
A year ago, Dr. Gojer noted that Mr. Barbour’s illness had been well managed over the years under previous ORB dispositions involving detention orders. Mr. Barbour did not resist most restrictions placed on him by the Board following his transfer to Ottawa from Whitby. Dr. Gojer described him as appearing to be somewhat institutionalized. Mr. Barbour’s greatest risk factors involved limited insight into his need for medication, a somewhat obstinate approach to treatment and his attitude to using cannabis. The relapse in late 2024 was described as resulting from a combination of both items, that is, non- compliance with treatment and cannabis use. At the February 2025 annual review hearing, Dr. Gojer believed that Mr. Barbour still could not be safely managed in the community without a formal detention order.
Course in Treatment, February 2025 to February 2026
In March and early April 2025, Mr. Barbour’s mental health remained otherwise stable. He showed no signs of psychotic or mood symptoms and tolerated his additional Abilify Maintena injection. Despite attending both weekly sessions with his one-on-one addictions’ counsellor and weekly group therapy for concurrent disorders, Mr. Barbour kept using cannabis, three times daily.
By April 10, 2025, Mr. Barbour said he was interested in cutting back on cannabis and that he was afraid of becoming addicted. However, on April 15, 2025, he reported he no longer wished to participate in group therapy because he had no plans of changing his substance use. He felt that participating only gave him limited benefit. He then stopped going to any more groups. In the following weeks and months, all of Mr. Barbour’s urine drug screen samples tested positive for cannabis.
By mid-April 2025, Mr. Barbour’s mental health had seriously destabilized. Details are set out in the hospital report at p. 121. Mr. Barbour reported having reduced his dose of oral Olanzapine. His thought process was disorganized. He spoke about unusual topics. The roommate reported that Mr. Barbour was not sleeping or eating properly, was religiously preoccupied, easily irritable, and making bizarre statements and racist comments.
Despite a medication change ordered by Dr. Gojer, Mr. Barbour’s concerning thought content and disorganized speech continued. By the end of April, Mr. Barbour stopped his involvement with the Bakeology vocational therapy program. He was disorganized and guarded and claimed he wanted to work on his own in the wider community.
In May 2025, Mr. Barbour’s mental stability worsened. At the shared Salus apartment, his behaviours became very disturbing to others in the building. Mr. Barbour would leave doors unlocked. He made phone calls at all hours from outside, trying to get in. He would scream through the window, waking others up. He was speaking nonsense and looked like “Hagrid from Harry Potter,” as one occupant described him. Mr. Barbour’s physical appearance was far from presentable. He wasted his money smoking cigarettes and hash, leaving him without funds. Concerns were expressed that he was panhandling and asking other people to buy him meals.
Mr. Barbour’s roommate and bystanders on the street became fearful. Risky behaviours were reported, including that Mr. Barbour had cut the wire to his fan causing sparks in the apartment. By May 7, 2025, Mr. Barbour was sent to the emergency department on a Form 1 from where he was immediately admitted to the Ottawa Hospital General Campus. After returning to his apartment on May 12, 2025, problematic behaviours continued.
On May 13, 2025, it became clear that Mr. Barbour could no longer be managed as an outpatient. A Form 49 was issued to return him to the ROMHC. Mr. Barbour remained on inpatient status at the hospital until August 25, 2025.
In June 2025, Dr. Hwang made a medication change to oral Clopixol. By the end of July, as he became more settled, Mr. Barbour benefitted from escorted and accompanied passes off the Forensic Assessment Unit. On July 29, 2025, he was transferred to the less secure Forensic Rehabilitation Unit where he subsequently progressed to exercising community passes on his own.
With further progress and continued stability, Mr. Barbour was able to transition back to the Lebreton Residence on August 25, 2025. He remains there and continues to do well.
During the current Lebreton stay, Mr. Barbour’s progress is described as excellent. He has participated in all hospital and Lebreton programs including addictions’ counselling, Smart Recovery the Cooking Group, and APT, which is geared to community living. Mr. Barbour actively involves himself in all chores at the residence. He relates very well to peers and staff. There has been no evidence of psychosis or mood disturbances.
Significantly, Mr. Barbour has not tested positive for cannabis or any drugs. He appears motivated to maintain sobriety.
Evidence at the Hearing
The Board also received direct testimony from the attending psychiatrist, Dr. Julian Gojer. Dr. Gojer explained that a contemplated trial fourteen day stay in a Salus apartment had been contemplated earlier in February. However, this was placed on hold when Mr. Barbour’s condition required certain modifications to his regime of prescribed medication.
Both Mr. Barbour and Dr. Gojer felt that the combination of oral Olanzapine and injectable long acting Abilify were causing problems with side effects. Mr. Barbour’s Clopixol (Zuclopenthixol) was also producing undesirable side effects. Mr. Barbour asked to come off Zuclopenthixol. A slight increase in Olanzapine was made. Monitoring is ongoing.
Dr. Gojer testified that since Mr. Barbour’s discharge from hospital in August 2025, and throughout his current stay at Lebreton, Mr. Barbour has remained abstinent from cannabis and other substances. Mr. Barbour maintains good relations with hospital staff as he does with his counsellor, Ms. Allin and the Salus case worker, Ms. Borracci. Dr. Gojer and Mr. Barbour see each other for monthly appointments and, even more frequently, on other occasions when Mr. Barbour likes to drop in.
Dr. Gojer responded to questions posed by Ms. Dufort, counsel for the Attorney-General:
a) Having spent two earlier years at the Lebreton Residence, Mr. Barbour’s next step will be to go to a teaching apartment. Mr. Barbour does not require the usual full year of transition at Lebreton. He already has the skills he needs to be able to move forward, at least to a teaching apartment.
b) Earlier substance use saw Mr. Barbour consume in the presence of his brother. This is no longer a concern given Mr. Barbour’s positive participation in programs.
c) Now that Mr. Barbour’s medications are in only oral form, the treatment team will continue to see him more frequently than the minimal requirement.
d) If non-adherent to medication, Mr. Barbour could decompensate within a week. People who know him will see the signs within a few days. Mr. Barbour does attend hospital frequently and is agreeable to coming in whenever asked.
e) Cannabis has a very strong destabilizing effect on Mr. Barbour.
f) Salus housing staff are aligned with the hospital treatment team. They can see Mr. Barbour as often as needed. If Dr. Gojer were to ask that he be seen daily, they would do so, Monday to Friday. This would very quickly capture any potential decompensation or cannabis use.
g) Should Mr. Barbour use cannabis, many indicators will appear. These indicators include by random urine drug screens and symptoms of his quickly becoming ill.
Mr. Barbour spoke on his own behalf during Dr. Gojer’s testimony. He told the panel, “My goal is to stay away from cannabis for the rest of my life.”
Dr. Gojer responded to questions posed by Mr. Boss, counsel for Mr. Barbour:
a) Mr. Barbour’s recent “hiccup” four weeks ago is not attributable to any use of cannabis. The reason, Dr. Gojer explained, could be because of the medication switch from Zuclopenthixol to Abilify.
b) Dr. Gojer plans to lower the current dose of Olanzapine from 30mg to 25mg. This is due to concerns of oversleeping (sedation).
c) In recent meetings with Dr. Gojer, Mr. Barbour understands the hospital’s recommendations, including for a detention order. While Mr. Barbour has wondered about a conditional discharge, he appears accepting of Dr. Gojer’s sense that, for now, a slow approach is better advised.
d) Before he would recommend a conditional discharge, Dr. Gojer needs to see continued stability on medication and complete abstinence from cannabis.
- Dr. Gojer answered questions posed by panel members:
a) Considering the long years that Mr. Barbour has been under the ORB, while the prognosis is somewhat guarded, he remains optimistic about Mr. Barbour’s future. As people get older, they become better able to see things more clearly.
b) Mr. Barbour’s father, Gary Barbour, is still alive. He lives in the Keswick area, and they have phone contact. Mr. Barbour’s mother still lives in Ottawa.
c) Mr. Barbour’s current stay at Lebreton is time limited. If things go well in the current transitional phase, the hospital will consider the best fit for Mr. Barbour. This could possibly include Salus housing.
d) Mr. Barbour’s medication is currently optimized after various trials and errors. Olanzapine seems to be the one that works best for him. Dr. Gojer noted that “close tinkering now is rather minor.” Within thirty days, Mr. Barbour could become optimally treated.
- The parties presented no further evidence.
Submissions of the Parties
Counsel for the Attorney-General, Ms. Dufort, supported the hospital recommendation. Mr. Barbour’s collaboration and the frequency of his accessing supportive involvement with the hospital is appropriate. Counsel noted that, hopefully, in the next reporting period, Mr. Barbour will enjoy even more success.
Speaking for his client, Mr. Boss said it is clear, Mr. Barbour is doing very well. They did not take issue with significant threat. Despite a recent “hiccup” having to do with medications, and the recent change of medication, Mr. Barbour is progressing. It has only been six months since he was last hospitalized. Accordingly, it is appropriate that there be a longer period of stability before moving to a different form of disposition. Mr. Barbour and his counsel are agreeable to continue with the hospital on the same basis as before.
Analysis and Conclusions:
Based on the evidence, and supported by the appropriate joint submission, the Board concludes that Mr. Dylan Barbour continues to present a significant threat to public safety. This is evident from the clinical and behavioural histories which include recent events. The current reporting year saw Mr. Barbour again suffer a serious decompensation of his mental state giving rise to a real risk of serious harm to others in his surroundings.
To keep Mr. Barbour and members of the public safe, he was returned to inpatient status for three months, between May and August of 2025. Once in hospital, Mr. Barbour made commendable progress while regaining his mental stability. He did the hard work that is involved in gaining better insight into his need for medication compliance and abstinence from substances.
It is to Mr. Barbour’s credit that he continues to show a high level of effort at working with Dr. Gojer and hospital staff. We commend him for his now extended period of abstinence from cannabis and other substances. We encourage Mr. Barbour to take hope for the future while continuing his admirable collaboration with all members of the treatment team.
Mr. Barbour’s regained mental health is precious to him. At the same time, he appears to appreciate how certain aspects of his condition, including substance use, leave him fragile. Compared to a year ago, his level of insight and commitment to staying well appear to have improved.
As all parties have acknowledged, Mr. Barbour is currently on a positive trajectory. For this to continue, Mr. Barbour will benefit from and will require the hospital’s continued attentive support and supervision. The Board agrees that his advancing and cautious reintegration can best be promoted and consolidated with a continuation of the current detention order. In its present form, it offers the best and least onerous and least restrictive set of tools available to promote Mr. Barbour’s well-being and progress while keeping the public safe.
We thank the parties and both counsel for their assistance.
DATED this 30th day of March 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. P. Hageraats Alternate Chairperson
__________________
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board