Ontario Review Board
Re: Christopher Hardie
ORB File No: 7454
Hearing held on: Monday, December 15, 2025
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. Goldenberg Members: Dr. K. Hand Dr. M. Kalia Mr. C. MacIntyre, KC Mr. R. Rainboth
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Christopher Hardie Counsel: Mr. C. Hynes
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Mr. K. Dow
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated January 20, 2026)
On November 27, 2018, Christopher Hardie was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”), on a charge of second-degree murder, contrary to the Criminal Code. Mr. Hardie is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated December 18, 2024, by which he was ordered to be detained at the Forensic Program of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (“Ontario Shores”). That Disposition provided a number of privileges and prohibitions.
On Monday, December 15, 2025, the Ontario Review Board convened a hearing at Ontario Shores and conducted the annual review of Mr. Hardie’s Disposition.
Position of the Parties
At the outset of the hearing, the parties were canvassed as to their recommendations to the Board.
Mr. Dow appeared for Ontario Shores. Mr. Dow advised that the hospital was recommending a hybrid order, namely that Mr. Hardie be detained on a Secure Forensic Unit but with discretion given to the person in charge to transfer Mr. Hardie to a General Forensic Unit when his improved condition justified such a transfer.
Ms. MacDonald appeared for the Attorney General. She wished to hear the evidence. She wished to consider the possibility of the Board directing Mr. Hardie to be detained in a Secure Forensic Unit.
Mr. Hynes appeared for Mr. Hardie. Mr. Hynes supported the Board granting a Hybrid Disposition.
Index Offence:
- "Mr. Christopher Hardie was the 40-year-old son of the victim, Mrs. Nina Hardie (age 72). They lived together at 1 Bathgate Drive.
Mr. Hardie was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has had a long mental health history beginning from the time he was in his late teens. Mr. Hardie has had numerous apprehensions under the Mental Health Act, and he has been hospitalized on and off over the years.
Mrs. Hardie faced heightened concerns about her personal safety in the relationship with her son at the end of 2016. However, those concerns were addressed, and they seemed to be resolved by late 2017. In the weeks leading up to this offence, it seemed that Mr. Hardie was compliant with his medication and nothing concerning was being reported between himself and his mother.
On December 6, 2017, at 2:17 pm, Mr. Hardie called police and reported that his mother had passed away. He told the 911 dispatcher that he had just killed her and that a higher authority had told him to do so. He explained that he carried out the attack earlier that day after midnight. He said he used two golf clubs and a small steak knife and that these items were in the bathroom. He told the 911 dispatcher that her body was in the foyer/front door area inside the house and that he was in the office on the main floor.
When officers arrived on scene, Mr. Hardie was compliant, and they took him into custody. He told the arresting officer that he killed his mother but that something or someone made him do it.
Officers entered the house and observed blood spatter on the kitchen floor and the walls leading to the front foyer. Blood and hair were observed on the walls and ceiling. Mrs. Hardie’s body was observed in the foyer. She had extensive injuries to her face and head. Dr. Lee pronounced her dead at 2:36 p.m. over the phone.
During the search of the house, officers located golf clubs and a cane in the main floor bathroom tub. They appeared to have blood on them. They also located a black handled knife on the bathroom sink.
Mr. Hardie was taken to the police station and given his RTC. He then provided a police statement. He outlined a similar account of how he carried out the killing of his mother and that he had been told to do so by a higher authority. Parts of his statement are unintelligible and nonsensical. He admitted to slitting his mother’s throat three times with a knife and striking her about 50 times with at least one golf club and possibly her cane.”
Evidence at Hearing:
The Board admitted into evidence the Hospital Report dated December 1, 2025. The Hospital Report provides a great deal of information concerning Mr. Hardie, his personal history, his mental health history, details of the index offence, details of prior criminal convictions and Mr. Hardie’s course in hospital following the NCR finding. As the Hospital Report was made an exhibit in this hearing, it is not necessary to reproduce the information contained in the Hospital Report in these Reasons. We do note, however, the stated diagnosis of Schizophrenia.
In addition to the documentary evidence the Board heard from Dr. Bhullar. Dr. Bhullar advised that she has been Mr. Hardie’s most responsible physician since October 2022. She is a co-author of the Hospital Report and adopts the contents of that report.
Dr. Bhullar noted that her patient has enjoyed “a positive year”. There have been no inappropriate incidents this year. In other years, Mr. Hardie would run away from groups when he was on a group outing. This year Mr. Hardie is more inclined to follow staff instructions.
Mr. Hardie has participated in certain groups this year. The doctor drew the panel’s attention to page 42 of the Hospital Report that indicates Mr. Hardie has participated in the Empowering Progress Encouraging Connections program and the Life in One Year program. Apparently, Mr. Hardie has also completed an Illness Management Recovery Coping With Stress program. The doctor stated that Mr. Hardie’s participation in these programs is a "huge step forward”.
The doctor confirmed her opinion and the opinion of the clinical team that Mr. Hardie remains a significant threat to public safety. The doctor noted that Mr. Hardie remains a patient in the Forensic Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit (FARU). The doctor is “hopeful” that Mr. Hardie may be ready to a transfer to a General Forensic Unit approximately six months from now. The doctor stressed that at the present time public safety requires Mr. Hardie to be detained in a Secure Forensic Unit.
Ms. MacDonald asked the doctor whether Mr. Hardie continues to hear from “the true highest deity” (THD). It would appear that there is a history of Mr. Hardie receiving command directions from THD. The doctor simply noted that for a significant period of time Mr. Hardie has not received messages from THD that would lead Mr. Hardie to act out inappropriately.
Once again, Dr. Bhullar stressed that at the present time public safety requires Mr. Hardie to be detained on a Secure Forensic Unit.
In response to questions from a panel member, Dr. Bhullar confirmed that Mr. Hardie currently has his own room in a Secure Forensic Unit. Dr. Bhullar acknowledged that in the General Forensic Unit there are some patients who have their own room and some patients who share the room.
No other evidence was heard at this hearing.
Final Submissions:
Mr. Dow is asking for the panel to make a Hybrid Order, namely an order directing Mr. Hardie to be detained in the Secure Forensic Unit but with discretion given to the person in charge to transfer Mr. Hardie to a General Forensic Unit should his improved conduct and condition justify such a transfer.
Ms. MacDonald also supports the Board making a Hybrid Order but asked the Board to specify that if and when Mr. Hardie is transferred to a General Unit, it should be to his own room and that he should not be sharing a room with any other patient.
Mr. Hynes confirmed that the parties are making a joint recommendation for the Board granting a Hybrid Order. Mr. Hynes chose not to make any submissions directing that Mr. Hardie to have his own room if and when he is transferred to a General Forensic Unit.
Findings of the Board:
The Board accepts the evidence of Dr. Bhullar and the evidence contained in the Hospital Report with respect to the issue of significant threat. The parties’ joint recommendation is well founded. We note the very serious nature of the index offence. We note frequent reports of Mr. Hardie being violent towards his parents.
We also accept that a Detention Order is both necessary and appropriate. We agree with the parties’ joint recommendation that the Board should direct detention on a Secure Unit but with the ability to transfer Mr. Hardie to a General Forensic Unit when he has sufficiently improved so as to justify such a transfer.
We also shall direct that if transferred to a General Forensic Unit, Mr. Hardie should be detained in his own room. Ms. MacDonald strongly made that submission; Mr. Hynes supported that position and Mr. Dow suggested that it would not be necessary given his understanding that if transferred to a General Unit, Mr. Hardie would end up having his own room.
Our Disposition shall require Mr. Hardie to be detained in his own room if and when he is transferred to the General Forensic Unit.
In reaching our Disposition, the Board has taken into consideration public safety, Mr. Hardie’s mental condition and his other needs, and Mr. Hardie’s reintegration into society.
DATED this 20th day of January 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. J. Goldenberg Alternate Chairperson Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board