Reagan Humphrey

The Children's Aid Society brought a protection application seeking Crown wardship of a five-year-old child with severe behavioural and special needs.

The mother did not participate in the trial.

The father, who had an extensive criminal record and had been absent for most of the child's life, sought placement of the child in his care under a supervision order.

The court found the child in need of protection due to the mother's inability to manage the child's extreme aggressive behaviours.

The court rejected the father's plan, finding he lacked insight into the child's complex needs and had failed to complete recommended programs in a timely manner.

The child was made a Crown ward with supervised access granted to the father.

The mother brought a motion to change a custody and access order after the father unilaterally moved to a rural property, significantly increasing the child's travel time to school and extracurricular activities.

The court found a material change in circumstances.

While both parents were capable, the court determined it was in the child's best interests to reside primarily with the mother in London during the school week to reduce travel time and maintain community ties, with the father having primary care during the summer.