Ontario Review Board
Re: Yohannes Z. Reda
ORB File No: 7067
Hearing held on: Monday, March 30, 2026
Place of Hearing: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. M. Labrosse
Members: Dr. R. Kunjukrishnan
Dr. G. Nexhipi
Ms. R. L. Louis
Ms. B. Naegele
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Yohannes Z. Reda
Counsel: Ms. M. Munsterman
Person in charge of hospital: Representative: Dr. M. Strike
Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Dufort
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated April 16, 2026)
Introduction
On November 25, 2016, Yohannes Z. Reda was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of assault, assault with a weapon, utter threats to cause death or bodily harm, and causing a disturbance contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”).
Mr. Reda is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB”) dated March 13, 2025, which detains him at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, in Ottawa (“Hospital”). The disposition provides Mr. Reda privileges up to and including that of living in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge of the hospital.
On March 30, 2026, the ORB convened at the Hospital to conduct Mr. Reda’s annual review hearing, pursuant to subsection 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Reda was present and was represented by counsel, Ms. M. Munsterman. The Hospital’s report dated February 25, 2026, was entered as Exhibit 1 for the hearing (Hospital Report).
As a preliminary matter, Dr. Kunjukrishnan notified the parties that he was Mr. Reda’s psychiatrist between 2015 and 2019. None of the parties took issue with Dr. Kunjukrishnan’s presence on the panel.
The issues before the Panel are: (1) whether Mr. Reda continues to represent a significant threat to public safety, and if so, (2) to determine the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage his risk for the coming year.
The parties provided their preliminary positions at the outset of the hearing.
The Hospital recommended the continuation of Mr. Reda’s detention order that is currently in effect, which includes privileges up to living in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge.
Counsel for the Attorney General agreed with the Hospital’s position.
Mr. Reda’s counsel conceded that Mr. Reda continues to pose a significant threat to public safety. Mr. Reda’s counsel also agreed with the Hospital’s position.
The parties presented a joint position based on the Hospital’s recommendation at the end of the hearing.
Below are the reasons the ORB finds: (1) that Mr. Reda continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and (2) that a detention order with privileges up to living in the community in an accommodation approved by the person in charge of the Hospital is the necessary and appropriate disposition.
Evidence
- The evidence at the hearing originates from two sources: the Hospital Report and Dr. Strike’s testimony. The Hospital Report includes, among other information, a summary of the index offences, details of Mr. Reda’s personal, family, criminal, and psychiatric history, and an update on Mr. Reda’s circumstances for the reporting year.
Index Offences
- Below is a summary of the index offences, reproduced from last year’s Reasons for Disposition:
“At 8:10 p.m., on July 2, 2015, the accused Yohannes Reda, was walking northbound on Bank Street near Third Avenue in the City of Ottawa.
Reda was gesturing violently and ranting to a passersby, threatening to kill or harm them. Reda approached Leeza Kagan, a 10-year-old girl and, collecting his saliva in his mouth, Reda then spat at Kagan, nearly missing her face. Kagan, scared, ran into the Metro grocery store located at 754 Bank St. Reda continued threatening the individuals while walking northbound on Bank Street.
Walter Toffolo observed the incident and contacted police while following Reda. Walter Toffolo (a male individual) endured the incident. Reda makes several comments to Walter Toffolo and contacted the police. Reda proceeded to make a fist with his thumb sticking out and made a slashing gesture with his thumb across his neck. Walter Toffolo felt threatened and created some distance between Reda and himself
Reda continued northbound on Bank Street, stopping at First Avenue. Reda collected some fist-sized stones from a rock garden at the intersection. Reda proceeded to threaten an unidentified woman and male. Reda attempted to strike the woman, who managed to duck out of the way and fled the scene. Reda continued northbound on Bank Street.
Reda once again stopped and turned towards Walter Toffolo. Reda pointed at the witness and once again gestured to slash his throat using his thumb. Reda then proceeded to make a throwing motion towards Walter Toffolo with a stone in his hand. Reda did not release the stone and Walter Toffolo was not struck. Reda walked behind a structure and re-emerged later a moment later with no stones.”
Personal and Family History
The Hospital Report provides that Mr. Reda arrived in Canada as a refugee, from Eritrea, in 2003. He has resided in Ottawa since 2004. His experience as a refugee was traumatic. Prior to his arrival, he was married in his twenties, in Eritrea, for two years. He has had no contact with his former wife since 2008, though he believes her to live in Sudan. He has no children. Mr. Reda’s father passed away when Mr. Reda was a child. He reports his father passed away at the hands of the Ethiopian government at the time. His stepmother lives in Saudia Arabia. His mother lives in Eritrea with her family, and experiences health challenges. Mr. Reda also has two late brothers, and two half-sisters who live in Scandinavia. He has no contact with his sisters.
Mr. Reda also has Rosina Kidane, who is referred to as a cousin in the Hospital Report. While they are not blood-related, their grandfathers were close friends. Ms. Kidane has supported Mr. Reda while he has been experiencing mental health challenges, since November 2016. Ms. Kidane, alongside other community members familiar with Mr. Reda, have tried to support Mr. Reda while he has experienced struggles with alcohol and homelessness. Ms. Kidane has visited Mr. Reda at the Hospital and provided the treatment team with details of his history, including that Mr. Reda has an uncle in Texas who would like to visit Mr. Reda at some point. Ms. Kidane has also indicated a willingness to support Mr. Reda in the future, except for accommodation.
Mr. Reda has never worked in Canada. He currently receives support through the Ontario Disability Support Program. He has resided at the Salvation Army and other shelters for a considerable period. He reports never having had a birth certificate, and that the birthdate he uses is an assumed date assigned to him by nuns where he attended school. The Hospital Report indicates he appears older than his assumed birthdate indicates.
Criminal History
- The Hospital Report provides that Mr. Reda has the following criminal convictions:
2012-09-10
Assault
2011-11-18
Assault
2011-09-06
Failure to comply with recognizance
Assault
2009-06-05
Cause a disturbance
Failure to comply with undertaking
Failure to attend court
Failure to comply with recognizance
Psychiatric History
Mr. Reda has a history of major mental health challenges going back to 2011, when he was admitted to the Hospital on a 30-day court-ordered assessment order. At that time, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and alcohol use disorder. He was found unfit to stand trial and a treatment order was recommended. At that time, he was not taking medication. At the time of the index offences, Mr. Reda was non-compliant with his recommended treatment.
Mr. Reda’s current diagnoses are:
a. Schizophrenia, multiple episodes, currently in full remission
b. Alcohol use disorder
c. Post-traumatic stress disorder
Update for Reporting Year
The Hospital Report includes an update on Mr. Reda’s circumstances beginning at page 57. It explains that Mr. Reda continued to reside at the Edgewood group home during the reporting year. Edgewood also did not report any signs of psychosis or behavioural problems. Edgewood did note, however, rule defiance in terms of bringing beer into his room and alcohol consumption on the property.
Mr. Reda also shared with his case manager that he was banned from Loblaws for 7 months, and so he cannot buy beer there during this time. He did not share why he was banned.
The treatment team is not aware of any new charges or police involvement during the reporting year.
The update also provides that Mr. Reda’s addiction counselling file was closed, due to poor engagement. As in previous reporting years, the treatment team reports it is difficult to locate Mr. Reda, which has resulted in him missing many of his psychiatric appointments.
Mr. Reda attends the Hospital for his long-acting injection (LAI), on his own. However, he was often late, by 2-7 days.1
Additionally, the update provides that Mr. Reda provided samples for toxicology screening when he attended the Hospital for his LAI. However, he routinely breached his disposition by failing to attend for random toxicology screening. Moreover, 7 of the 11 urine drug screens conducted in 2025 tested positive for alcohol. He maintains that he drinks 3 large beers per day, 3 days per week.
Finally, the update provides that Mr. Reda expresses limited insight into his mental health needs, the effects and risks of his alcohol use, or the significance of being part of the ORB process.
The Hospital Report also includes a Violence Risk Assessment beginning at page 55. Based on Mr. Reda’s historical risk factors and risk management factors, his risk of future violence is moderate to high.
Ultimately, the Hospital Report update concludes that Mr. Reda may become aggressive with alcohol, without destabilization of his schizophrenia. A separate violence risk scenario is aggression driven by persecutory delusions that may be triggered by a delay in receiving his LAI, from alcohol use, or from psychosocial stress. He had some altercations with co-residents at Edgewood, though there was no police involvement. He continues to present a risk of verbal aggression, including threats of harm and death, physical aggression, and sexual aggression.
Dr. Strike’s Testimony
Dr. Strike is the attending psychiatrist for Mr. Reda at the Hospital.
Dr. Strike testified, as follows:
a. Mr. Reda attended his appointment on December 8, 2025, and on the day of the hearing, but has missed several psychiatry appointments;
b. Mr. Reda typically attends his appointment for his LAI within 2-3 days of when it is due, with one exception when he attended 9 days late, in February 2025;
c. Edgewood and hospital staff reported that Mr. Reda’s mental state remained unimpacted despite receiving his LAI 9 days late in February 2025;
d. to connect with Mr. Reda, his case manager typically must meet him at the location where he panhandles; and
e. on the day of the ORB hearing (March 30, 2026), Mr. Reda opened a bank account with his case manager’s assistance and looks forward to saving money for a trip rather than spending it on alcohol and cigarettes.
- In response to Mr. Reda’s counsel’s questions, Dr. Strike testified as follows:
a. although Mr. Reda has missed psychiatric appointments, the current disposition order is sufficient to address his risk;
b. Mr. Reda has maintained his mental stability over the past year, has remained conflict-free while panhandling, no Form 49 was issued in the year, and overall, he had a year of stability;
c. after he was reminded that a Form 49 could be issued for missing his ORB hearing last year, no police involvement was required, and he attended the Hospital voluntarily;
d. Mr. Reda does well at Edgewood, and it provides him good support and stability, and although Edgewood, in practice, takes a more permissive approach to substance use than other group homes, the staff know Mr. Reda well and will report if he poses a risk;
e. Mr. Reda would be at risk of homelessness if transferred to another group home because of his alcohol use due to their policies on substances;
f. Mr. Reda has shown no signs of decompensation despite numerous positive urine screens for alcohol; and
g. Mr. Reda is generally 2-5 days late for his LAI, was exceptionally late by 9 days on one occasion and still needs prompting and support for his LAI, but his risk is managed with the current treatment team.
- In response to questions from ORB panel members, Dr. Strike testified as follows:
a. Mr. Reda has refused Naltrexone (a medication which aims to reduce the quantity of alcohol use), but he has been encouraged to try it;
b. Mr. Reda does not appear to understand there to be any link between his alcohol use and aggression;
c. when Mr. Reda misses his LAI, sometimes he attends without prompting to receive it, other times, he requires prompting;
d. Mr. Reda’s urine screens, when positive, are only positive for alcohol and not other substances;
e. Mr. Reda’s alcohol use does not place him at risk of losing his accommodation at Edgewood as they adopt a more permissive policy on substance use than some other group homes;
f. physical and verbal aggression do not place Mr. Reda at risk of losing his accommodation at Edgewood, as these behaviours have not been a concern in the past year;
g. Edgewood remains the best option for accommodation for Mr. Reda in the region, as the alternative would be a hospital, shelter, or managed alcohol program, and the risk Mr. Reda poses can be managed outside of a hospital; and
h. Mr. Reda is unlikely to be admitted into a substance use or addiction program, in-patient, or out-patient, given his poor engagement with his addictions counselling, which file was closed.
Counsel for the Attorney General had no questions for Dr. Strike.
No further evidence was presented.
Parties’ Submissions
Dr. Strike, for the Hospital, submitted that a detention order is the least onerous, and least restrictive disposition to manage Mr. Reda’s risk. This is given his ongoing alcohol use, difficulty attending appointments, and delays in attending for his LAI. Dr. Strike also submitted that Mr. Reda currently reports feeling supported and having a good quality of life. Dr. Strike encouraged Mr. Reda to attend his monthly appointments.
Counsel for the Attorney General agreed with the Hospital that the appropriate disposition is the current one, which is a detention order, which includes privileges including up to community living in an approved accommodation by the person in charge of the Hospital.
Mr. Reda’s counsel conceded that he continues to pose a significant risk. His counsel also agreed with the Hospital and counsel for the Attorney General that a detention order is appropriate and necessary, with the same conditions as included in his current disposition.
Ultimately, the parties’ submissions reveal a joint-position that Mr. Reda continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, and that a detention order with privileges up to community living in approved accommodation by the person in charge of the Hospital is necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive disposition in Mr. Reda’s circumstances.
Analysis and Conclusion
Having considered all of the evidence, and the parties’ submissions, the Panel finds that Mr. Reda continues to pose a significant threat to public safety as defined in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code and as further defined by the Supreme Court of Canada in Winko.2
According to Winko, a significant threat to public safety 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.3 The finding of a significant threat is an onerous one, including in the context of a joint submission.
The Panel finds that Mr. Reda continues to pose a significant threat to public safety. Our finding on this point considers that the index offences concern several threats against members of the public, including a child, unknown to Mr. Reda. The index offence was driven by a major mental illness that Mr. Reda lives with, while he was treatment non-compliant, and using alcohol. In arriving at the conclusion that Mr. Reda continues to pose a significant threat, the Panel has also considered that he has a history of violent offences, with three prior convictions for assault. The Hospital Report provides that he continues to have a chronic risk of threats of harm or death, and aggression both physical and sexual.
Moreover, he continues to have persisting risk factors for violence, which have not attenuated. The Hospital Report provides two separate risk scenarios: (1) he may become more aggressive while using alcohol, and (2) he may show aggression driven by persecutory delusions triggered by a delay in his LAI, from alcohol use, or psychosocial stress. Considering both his ongoing alcohol use, and general delays in receiving his LAI are directly linked to his two risk scenarios, the risk of physical or psychological harm he poses to members of the public is beyond speculative.
It is commendable that Mr. Reda, while sometimes late, is currently compliant with his LAI. Still, however, his engagement with his treatment team is sporadic, as evidenced by his multiple missed psychiatric appointments, failure to turn up for random urine screens when requested, and non-engagement with addictions counselling which resulted in his file being closed. His continued use of alcohol increases the likelihood of aggression, decompensation and delayed receipt of his LAI, which sometimes requires prompting by the Hospital.
Dr. Strike’s evidence that Mr. Reda does not seem to understand a link between his alcohol use and aggression demonstrates a lack of insight into his illness. His lack of insight in this regard, coupled with his ongoing alcohol use, and non-receptiveness to addictions counselling supports the Panel’s finding that he continues to pose a significant threat of physical or psychological harm to the public.
The Panel agrees with the parties’ joint submission that a detention order continues to be required to manage Mr. Reda’s risk. This is consistent with the duty to public safety, and Mr. Reda’s mental condition, as it provides for Mr. Reda to be admitted to Hospital in the event of decompensation. A less onerous disposition would not adequately protect the public currently. While Mr. Reda had a stable year, this occurred under the relatively onerous conditions of his current detention order, which required approved accommodation, permitting the treatment team some prospect of locating him when required, including prompting for his LAI.
Mr. Reda had expressed a desire to open a bank account for some years since he has been under the Panel’s jurisdiction. On the day of his ORB hearing, he successfully accomplished this aim. The ongoing support of his treatment team will assist with his societal reintegration.
The Panel has considered the factors in section 672.54 of the Criminal Code, namely the protection of the public, which is the paramount consideration, Mr. Reda’s mental condition, his reintegration into society and his other needs in coming to the unanimous finding that a detention order on the terms and conditions described above is the necessary, appropriate, least onerous, and least restrictive disposition in all of the circumstances.
DATED this 16th day of April 2026, at the City of Ottawa, in the Ottawa Region.
Ms. R. L. Louis Legal Member
__________________
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board
Footnotes
- Hospital Report, p. 57, para. 3; Note, however, elsewhere indicates he was often late by 2-5 days for his LAI: Hospital Report, p. 57, para. 8, p. 58, para. 1.
- Winko v. British Columbia (Forensic Psychiatric Institute), 1999 CanLII 694 (SCC), [1999] 2 SCR 625 [Winko].
- Winko, at para. 57.