Ontario Review Board
Re: Randy F. Hannah
ORB File No: 7770
Hearing held on: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein Members: Dr. K. Hand Dr. M. Kalia Hon. A. Sosna Mr. J. Cyr
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Randy F. Hannah Counsel: Mr. F. Bernhardt
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Mr. L. Crowell
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated April 30, 2026)
Introduction
On August 26, 2020, Mr. Randy Hannah was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, on charges of assault causing bodily harm, and failure to comply with probation order (x2), all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”).
Mr. Hannah is subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”), dated January 23, 2025, which ordered that he be detained at the Forensic Service of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (“Ontario Shores”).
On April 7, 2026, the Board convened a hearing at Ontario Shores to conduct the annual review of the current Disposition.
Mr. Hannah was present at the hearing and was represented by his counsel, Mr. F. Bernhardt.
A Hospital Report, dated January 14, 2026 (the “Hospital Report”), was entered as Exhibit 1.
The issues at this hearing were whether Mr. Hannah 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, 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. Hannah continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public. The Board found that the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances is a continuation of the existing Detention Order.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses
- Schizoaffective Disorder Intellectual Disability (Mild Severity) Polysubstance Abuse (Alcohol, Cannabis, Crack Cocaine; in sustained remission in a controlled environment)
Position of the Parties
Counsel for the hospital, the Attorney General and Mr. Hannah advised that this was a joint recommendation. All were adopting the hospital’s recommendation of a continuation of the existing Detention Order.
For the purposes of this hearing, counsel for Mr. Hannah advised that significant threat was not in dispute.
Index Offences
- The circumstance giving rise to the Index Offences are extracted from last year’s Board Reasons, as follows:
“On June 20, 2019, police were contacted by multiple witnesses reporting an assault at the intersection of Avenue Road and Bloor Street West. It was reported that a female had been hit in the face by an unknown male who had then fled the scene.
The victim reported that she was walking on the sidewalk when, without warning, the Mr. Hannah struck her on the bridge of her nose with what she believed was his forearm.
The victim immediately bled from her nose and was assisted by a witness. Once on scene, officers located Mr. Hannah a short distance away. Mr. Hannah was arrested and transported to 53 Division where, upon further investigation, it came to light Mr. Hannah was bound by an Adult Probation Order issued by Honourable Justice B. M. Green, Ontario Court of Justice, located at 150 Bond Street, Oshawa, dated December 8, 2017, and was in breach of his condition to "keep the peace and be of good behaviour."
During the search of Mr. Hannah, officers located two lighters, one of which was located in his jacket pocket and a second in his right pants pocket. This was prohibited in his Probation Order as one of the conditions stated “do not possess any incendiary devices including, but not limited to, matches or lighters." Mr. Hannah was held for a Show Cause Hearing.
The victim sustained a broken nose.”
Background
- Mr. Hannah’s background is outlined in the Hospital Report, and it is accurately summarized in last year’s Reasons:
“Mr. Hannah has an extensive criminal history including crimes of violence. On several occasions since 2001, the court directed him to attend counselling for alcohol and substance abuse. During an admission to Center for Addiction and Mental Health from February 5 to May 11, 2015, it was noted that Mr. Hannah has a reported history of lengthy crack abuse. Mr. Hannah has described drinking to excess and almost daily use of marijuana.
Mr. Hannah has had several psychiatric admissions to hospital beginning in April 2011.
Mr. Hannah has had unstable housing including a group home, shelters, and homelessness.
Mr. Hannah has been supported by Ontario Disability Support Program since 2002.
Since 2021, Mr. Hannah has been incapable of consenting to his psychiatric treatment. The Public Guardian and Trustee is his substitute decision maker (“SDM”).”
Course Since Last Disposition
- Mr. Hannah’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. Hannah began the beginning of the reporting period on the general Forensic Psychiatric Rehabilitation Unit (FPRU).
Mr. Hannah was discharged from FPRU to the community in July 2025. Since his discharge from hospital, he has successfully transitioned to community living. Mr. Hannah has been supported by his forensic outpatient service (FOS) team. He attends regular follow-up with this outpatient team, attending appointments multiple times per week in the community as well as at Ontario Shores.
Mr. Hannah demonstrated limited insight into his mental illness. He has consistently denied experiencing any symptoms of his illness despite team observations indicating he is responding to internal stimuli. Mr. Hannah is unable to make a connection between his psychiatric diagnosis and symptoms exhibited and rejects the suggestion that these experiences are related. Mr. Hannah was adherent to his prescribed medications however his insight into the need for these medications is limited. His long-acting injection is administered by his outpatient clinician. He does not believe he requires medication to maintain his current level of wellness.
Mr. Hannah currently resides in the Dual Diagnosis Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Program (DDTRHP). This housing program provides 24-hour supervision in partnership with Karis and Ontario Shores. Mr. Hannah receives daily support from Karis staff as well as a recreational therapist and behavioral therapist provided by Ontario Shores. The group home provides support and supervision with activities of daily living, medication administration and transportation. Mr. Hannah has adapted well to the group home participating without issue in activities of daily living as well as shared chores.”
Evidence at the Hearing:
- The Board had available to it the evidence and documents forming the Record, the Exhibits, and oral evidence from Dr. Pallandi. Dr. Pallandi co-authored the Hospital Report. He testified as follows:
a) He is Mr. Hannah’s attending psychiatrist with the Forensic Outpatient Service. He has treated Mr. Hannah since his most recent discharge into Dual Diagnosis Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Program (“DDTRHP”).
b) Mr. Hannah continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public. The treatment team is recommending no change to the current Disposition, as his current housing provides the ongoing structure, supervision and risk management needed.
c) The proposed risk management strategy for the coming reporting year is to continue to monitor and support Mr. Hannah’s stability and medication adherence and to gradually increase his community integration.
d) Mr. Hannah’s limited insight is unlikely to improve significantly because of the combination of his major mental illness and his intellectual limitations.
e) Mr. Hannah does require 24/7 supervised housing.
f) Mr. Hannah’s lack of participation in programming is primarily due to negative symptoms of schizophrenia and not wilful noncompliance. These negative symptoms can be partially addressed through direct, hands-on support and behavioural activation, especially when staff actively engage Mr. Hannah rather than relying on his self-motivation. There is a change in staffing at DDTRHP to personnel who will be more encouraging, which should result in increased recreational therapy and community activities for Mr. Hannah.
g) The re-offence scenario described on page 26 of the Hospital Report is still valid.
h) He agreed, in response to questions from the panel, to include in next year’s Hospital Report a list of assessment tools used to assess Mr. Hannah’s cognitive abilities and a summary of scores from those assessments.
i) Mr. Hannah can never be in fully independent housing. The treatment team is hoping that housing with a lower level of supervision would eventually be appropriate and available to him through the same housing provider. Mr. Hannah would need to progress and to show increasing stability, and engagement in recreational therapy, before he could transition to such housing.
- No other evidence was called.
Analysis and Conclusions
Having heard and considered the entirety of the evidence as well as the submissions from the parties, the Board agrees with the joint submission: Mr. Hannah 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. Pallandi, in addition to the documentary evidence before us.
Mr. Hannah demonstrates limited insight into his major mental illness. As set out in the Hospital Report, he has consistently denied experiencing any symptoms of his illness, despite team observations that he was responding to internal stimuli. Mr. Hannah is unable to make a connection between his psychiatric diagnosis and his symptoms, and he rejects the suggestion that these two are related.
Mr. Hannah is adherent to his prescribed medication regimen, but his insight into the need for these medications is limited. He does not believe that he requires medication to maintain his current level of wellness.
In particular, the Board relies on the following paragraphs extracted from the Hospital Report:
“Mr. Hannah’s risk emanates from a combination of intellectual deficit and its’ accompanying impoverished insight, a history of polysubstance misuse and major mental illness – although the latter two factors are in reasonable control.
He requires a good degree of instrumental support, supervision and oversight in order to maintain his stability and control risk. He is well-placed currently to have all of his needs met and to contain risk to the safety of the public.
If Mr. Hannah were to reoffend it would mostly likely occur under the following circumstances. Absent the structure and support afforded by an ORB Disposition, if Mr. Hannah were to fall away from treatment, he would most likely reduce or discontinue his medication, use substances, and become prone to stressors. Under this scenario, his already limited insight would become further compromised and his mental status would deteriorate. His psychotic symptoms would intensify and he would likely experience disorganized thinking and respond to internal stimuli. This would be compounded by prominent negative symptoms with limited verbal responding which has limited the team’s ability to reliably assess his mental status. In this context, by history the risk for verbal and/or physical aggression would significantly increase.”
- 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. Hannah, his reintegration into society and his other needs, the necessary and appropriate Disposition is to continue with the Detention Order.
DATED this 30th day of April 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. J. Weinstein Alternate Chairperson Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board