Re: Kalis Talis
ORB File No: 8516
Hearing held on: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Place of hearing: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus
Hamilton, Ontario
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. S. Clapp
Members: Dr. J. Kis
Dr. G. Nexhipi
Ms. N. Nathanson
Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Kalis Talis
Counsel: Mr. M. A. Reynolds
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. L. Barney
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. S. Wollaston
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated June 5, 2026)
Introduction:
On March 14, 2024, Kalis Talis was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on charges of mischief – interference with lawful use of property, killing or injuring an animal, failing to comply with a release order (x2), and failing to comply with probation, all contrary to the Criminal Code.
Mr. Talis is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB” or “the Board”) dated June 2, 2025, whereby he is detained at the Forensic Psychiatry Program of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus (“SJHCH” or “the hospital”), with privileges up to and including living in the community of Southern Ontario in accommodation approved by the person in charge. He is also required to refrain from substance use, possession of weapons, and contact with the victims of the mischief offence.
On May 14, 2026, a panel of the Board convened at SJHCH to conduct Mr. Talis’ annual review pursuant to section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Talis attended the hearing and was represented by counsel, Mr. Reynolds.
The Hospital Report dated April 8, 2026, was marked as Exhibit 1. In addition to the documentary evidence, Dr. L.O. Tan gave oral evidence. Dr. Tan is a resident in forensic psychiatry under the supervision of Mr. Talis’ attending psychiatrist, Dr. Y. Alatishe.
The issues to be decided at the hearing were whether Mr. Talis continues to meet the test of posing a significant threat to the safety of the public as set out in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code, and if so, what is the necessary and appropriate Disposition, taking into account the four factors set out in section 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Positions of the Parties:
At the outset of the hearing, the parties were asked for their initial without prejudice positions. On behalf of the hospital, Ms. Barney took the position that Mr. Talis continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, and that a continuation of the existing Detention Order remained necessary and appropriate.
Ms. Wollaston and Mr. Reynolds supported the position of the hospital on behalf of the Attorney General and Mr. Talis respectively. All parties maintained the joint position in closing submissions.
Findings:
- For the reasons that follow, the panel found that Mr. Talis continues to pose a significant threat to public safety. The panel concluded that the necessary and appropriate Disposition, which is also the least onerous and least restrictive in the circumstances, is a continuation of the existing Detention Order.
Index Offences:
- The circumstances of the index offences are set out in detail in the Hospital Report at pages 2-5 and can be summarized as follows.
Mischief
On July 18, 2023, Mr. Talis threw an iron Sheppard’s hook over a fence and into his neighbour’s backyard. The neighbour advised that the iron rod landed on a trampoline where her grandchildren had just been playing. She spoke to Mr. Talis and asked him why he threw the iron rod, and Mr. Talis said that it was because he did not like the kids, and that they annoyed him. Mr. Talis also uttered the following: “no one wants you here, you black people are useless and you need to go back home.” Mr. Talis then stated that the iron rod was garbage just like them.
Animal Cruelty
On October 15, 2023, Mr. Talis’ mother told Mr. Talis’ psychiatrist that Mr. Talis had killed her dog and was “violent and dangerous.” Mr. Talis had been having delusions about the dog eating him and had been hearing voices that he believed to be coming from the dog. Mr. Talis had been previously charged in 2022 for severely injuring the same dog. Police attended the residence and located Mr. Talis. Mr. Talis had a blank facial expression and barely responded to questions. He had a bloody cut to his right index finger which contained golden hairs that appeared consistent with a dog. Blood was found on Mr. Talis’ clothing and footwear, on a nearby stone, down to the basement entrance, throughout the backyard, down the driveway, and into the neighbourhood streets. While subject to a psychiatric assessment at the hospital, Mr. Talis confessed to transporting the deceased dog to a nearby area and disposing of it.
Court Orders
At the time of these offences, Mr. Talis was bound by three court orders which required that he: not possess, visit, or be in the care/control of any live or deceased domestic or wild animals; and remain in his residence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except when in the presence of his surety.
Background:
Mr. Talis’ personal history is outlined in the Hospital Report in detail and will only be summarized here. Mr. Talis’ birth name is Jonathan Chu. He was born and raised in Saskatchewan; however, his family travelled to and from China on a regular basis to visit his grandparents when he was young. He became proficient in the Chinese language. Mr. Talis began playing the piano at age four and is a gifted musician. After his parents separated, he moved to Kansas with his mother and younger brother. His father moved to Washington.
Mr. Talis lived with both his mother and father at various times during his teenage years, and finished high school. He completed two years of a Bachelor of Music program at an American university, following which he and his mother moved to Toronto in 2013 (Mr. Talis’ younger brother had been sent to live with their father due to Mr. Talis’ extreme bullying of him). Mr. Talis transferred to an Ontario university, but had to restart the degree program as he was unable to transfer his credits. Two years into the program, Mr. Talis began experiencing interpersonal and behavioural issues with his peers and the administration. The university required Mr. Talis to undergo a psychoeducational assessment for risk management and accommodation needs. While the assessment was completed in 2016 (Mr. Talis was found to meet criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder with secondary diagnoses of narcissistic and antisocial personality traits), Mr. Talis was ultimately escorted off campus by police and did not resume academic studies.
Mr. Talis does not have a significant employment history. He is financially supported by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
According to health records, Mr. Talis experimented with ecstasy and cocaine when younger and used cannabis heavily for a few years until he was 21 years old.
Mr. Talis is now 33 years old. His mother lives in Georgetown (where the index offences occurred) and his father and brother live in the United States. Mr. Talis has undergone several legal name changes over the years (likely related to his mental disorder).
Criminal History:
- Mr. Talis was found guilty on a charge of failure to comply with a release order on April 19, 2023, and was granted a conditional discharge and placed on probation for a period of 12 months. Last year’s Reasons for Disposition (“Reasons”) also cite an assault conviction on December 14, 2023 while Mr. Talis was on a form of release with his mother as surety. This incident involved punching a police officer in the face. Mr. Talis was credited with having served 50 days in presentence custody.
Psychiatric History:
Mr. Talis’ extensive psychiatric history is discussed in the Hospital Report at pages 9-16. This history was summarized in detail in last year’s Reasons, and will only be briefly outlined here. Mr. Talis’ mother began to notice a significant change in Mr. Talis’ behavioural functioning in May 2016. He appeared depressed and indicated that his mind was “cloudy.” He would stay awake all night and sleep during the day. He was also observed talking to himself.
His first psychiatric hospitalization was in September 2016, and two more hospitalizations followed in November and December 2016. Mr. Talis was thought disordered, responding to internal stimuli, paranoid, and aggressive with his mother. In November 2016, it was alleged that he assaulted his mother and told her he was leaving for China. At the airport, he displayed bizarre behaviour and attempted to board a plane without a passport. Mr. Talis had discontinued his prescribed medication and was found incapable of consenting to psychiatric treatment. A Community Treatment Order (CTO) was initiated in December 2016, and the discharge diagnosis was Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorder.
Mr. Talis was then subject to multiple CTOs between 2021 and 2023, and was followed by a number of Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACTTs) in the community. There were several incidents of noncompliance with his long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication, resulting in two apprehensions (pursuant to a Form 47) and brief admissions. There were also occasions where the CTO was either allowed to lapse or was revoked by the Consent and Capacity Board. When this occurred, Mr. Talis was invariably readmitted to hospital following concerns raised by his mother about his psychotic symptoms including agitation, disorganization, auditory hallucinations, irritability, and delusional thinking. On one occasion, Mr. Talis placed their cat in a bag and drove it to another neighbourhood. On another occasion, Mr. Talis disclosed that he had killed four family pets in the context of his worsening psychosis.
In March 2022, Mr. Talis was transported to the emergency room by police after he called 911 with concerns that his mother was going to harm him. According to health records, Mr. Talis informed police that his mother got a new puppy which he hated and believed was provoking him and making him angry. Mr. Talis reportedly grabbed the dog “in a headlock,” then entered the room where his mother was and punched her in the chest. Mr. Talis’ mother was concerned that her son would severely injure the puppy, and reported that her son had been abusive towards their cat and had killed another cat due to his anger. A report to the Humane Society was made. Mr. Talis was followed by an ACTT up until the time of the index offences.
Mr. Talis made considerable gains during his first year under the jurisdiction of the Board. He did not believe that he had a mental illness or symptoms, and was assessed as incapable of consenting to treatment in October 2024. His medications were adjusted at that time. Although he still heard some voices, his mental status improved. Mr. Talis used his full envelope of privileges without any issues. His mother became an approved person, and felt that her son was “much improved.” A community living provision was added to Mr. Talis’ Disposition following last year’s hearing.
Mr. Talis’ diagnosis is Schizophrenia. He remains incapable of consenting to treatment and his father is his substitute decision-maker (“SDM”) (a decision was made in 2023 that Mr. Talis’ mother was not an appropriate SDM because she was not convinced that her son had a mental illness that was causing his symptoms). Mr. Talis is capable of managing his property.
Evidence at the Hearing:
The Hospital Report stated that Mr. Talis continued to endorse psychotic symptoms with pressured speech, and disorganized and tangential thinking during the initial portion of this reporting year (there were several Notable Incidents in the Hospital Report between October 2025 and January 2026); however, his mental status improved following an increase in his long-acting injection. His psychotic symptoms have largely subsided. Mr. Talis has been adherent to prescribed medications and he approaches staff at medication times. He accesses liberal privileges on hospital grounds and into the community without issue, and spends most afternoons off the unit. Random urine screens have tested negative for illicit substances, and there has been no evidence of substance use.
Mr. Talis has a positive relationship with his mother and goes on accompanied passes with her. He speaks to his father on the phone occasionally.
The Hospital Report stated that Mr. Talis completed a Community Living Assessment in June 2025 and scored ‘moderately’ overall. It was recommended that he could manage living in an independent apartment with support and regular check-ins from the Outpatient Team to monitor for changes in mental status, substance use, and medication non-adherence.
The Hospital Report stated the following about housing (at page 47):
“Mr. Talis has been referred to the Good Shepherd – Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Program (TRHP) and he has also been referred to First Place Support Housing. It was previously noted there may have been referrals to Toronto City Housing, however the pre-existing referral which was initialized in May 2022 was never fully completed and therefore is considered inactive. Mr. Talis and his mother negated the need to explore housing in the Greater Toronto Area or Halton as his mother will soon retire and move to the United States, nullifying any supportive considerations for a move to these regions.”
The Psychological Risk Assessment included in the Hospital Report discusses Mr. Talis’ insight into his mental condition and the need for treatment. It was noted that Mr. Talis identified his diagnosis as Schizophrenia; however, he could not identify any symptoms, and denied all symptoms when asked directly. He listed his medications and described feeling better with medications, but also wondered if these effects were due to eating more fruits and vegetables. He stated that he would not experience a change in his mental state absent medication. Mr. Talis did not identify substances as a potential source of risk. He expressed his interest in using cannabis in the future and explained that it is legal and has not caused problems for him in the past.
The following was said about Mr. Talis’ insight into the index offences that involved animal cruelty (at page 49):
“Mr. Talis repeatedly stated that his behaviour at the time of the index offence was uniquely linked to his experience of residing with the specific animal. He explained that the dog had licked, spat, and scratched him, made grimaces and expressions, urinated and defecated in the home, and intruded upon his personal space. Mr. Talis stated he has no intention of residing with a dog in the future and therefore he poses no ongoing risk. He was unable to identify a link between his mental illness and his behaviour, and commented that according to an online search it is not illegal to slaughter and eat one’s pet. When challenged to consider alternative approaches to addressing his concerns upon reflection, Mr. Talis acknowledged that he could have requested someone remove the dog or surrendered the dog to an animal shelter.”
Dr. Tan testified that Mr. Talis was transferred to a rehabilitation unit within the hospital on April 21, 2026, and Dr. Alatishe became his attending psychiatrist (Dr. J. Ferencz was his attending psychiatrist on the prior unit). Dr. Tan reiterated that Mr. Talis had an overall positive year, especially after the dose of his long-acting injectable Clopixol was increased in November 2025. Dr. Tan was of the opinion that Mr. Talis is optimally treated, taking into account the balance between symptom management and side effects. Dr. Tan stated that Mr. Talis’ insight remains limited and there has been little to no progress in developing his insight into his illness. For example, he continued to believe that the dog that was the subject of one of the index offences was communicating with him.
Mr. Talis generally plays video games and watches videos, both on the unit and while using passes on hospital grounds. However, over the last six months there has been gradual progress in relation to Mr. Talis participating in more activities. He trained for work at the Colours Café in the hospital and has worked some shifts there. He has also met with the vocational counsellor.
When asked if Mr. Talis would be ready for discharge if a bed became available imminently, Dr. Tan responded that he would be ready to start the transition process in a gradual manner. Ideally, he would attend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis prior to discharge.
With regard to Mr. Talis’ name changes in the past, Dr. Tan believed that the treatment team has access to all of the medical and legal information that they need in order to develop a comprehensive risk assessment for Mr. Talis. Dr. Tan testified that Mr. Talis sought to change his name back to his birth name this year, but this was declined. He intends to apply again.
In response to questioning, Dr. Tan stated that Mr. Talis has limited insight into the mischief index offence that involved children and racially motivated language.
Analysis and Conclusions:
Based on the Hospital Report and the evidence of Dr. Tan, the panel concluded that Mr. Talis remains a significant threat to public safety. Notwithstanding his positive progress and relative stability this year, Mr. Talis continues to have an absence of insight into his mental illness, the need for treatment, and the underlying factors that caused the multiple serious index offences. These are still early days in his recovery. He has had limited involvement in rehabilitation programs in order to address underlying risk factors, and has only recently begun to engage in vocational training. Absent an ORB disposition, Mr. Talis would be likely to stop medications and use substances, resulting in a significant deterioration in his mental state. When psychotic, Mr. Talis has become aggressive and threatening to individuals in his proximity, and has demonstrated a very concerning pattern of animal cruelty, which undoubtedly caused psychological harm to the animals’ owners.
The panel agreed with the joint submission that a continuation of the existing Detention Order was necessary and appropriate, and the least onerous and least restrictive Disposition for Mr. Talis at this time. Mr. Talis has a significant history of being unwell and engaging in criminal behaviors in the community despite repeated efforts by his mother and numerous psychiatrists and ACTTs to have him treated and supported (including multiple CTOs). This history, his lack of insight, and the Community Living Assessment, make it clear that Mr. Talis will require support and regular check-ins from an outpatient team for medication management and monitoring of his mental status. Mr. Talis is on waitlists for housing, and the hospital requires the ability to approve any housing for Mr. Talis in order to ensure that it meets these requirements. For the same reasons, the hospital requires the ability to return Mr. Talis to the hospital quickly in the event of substance use and/or decompensation in the community.
DATED this 5th day of June 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. S. Clapp
Alternate Chair
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board