citation: "Rondeau c. Bahun, 2025 ONCS 5179" parties: "Marc Rondeau c. Nalida Yolande Wilson-Bahun" party_moving: "Marc Rondeau and Nalida Yolande Wilson-Bahun" party_responding: "Marc Rondeau and Nalida Yolande Wilson-Bahun" court: "Superior Court of Justice" court_abbreviation: "ONCS" jurisdiction: "Ontario" case_type: "motion" date_judgement: "2025-09-11" date_heard: "2025-09-09" applicant:
- "Marc Rondeau"
- "Nalida Yolande Wilson-Bahun" applicant_counsel:
- "Self-represented" respondent:
- "Marc Rondeau"
- "Nalida Yolande Wilson-Bahun" respondent_counsel:
- "Self-represented" judge: "Doyle" winning_degree_applicant: 2 winning_degree_respondent: 3 judge_bias_applicant: 1 judge_bias_respondent: 1 year: 2025 decision_number: 5179 file_number: "FC-13-00001033-0000" source: "https://www.canlii.org/fr/on/onsc/doc/2025/2025oncs5179/2025oncs5179.html" summary: > In this family law matter, the court determined the appropriate secondary school for a 12-year-old child whose parents were in dispute. The father sought to enroll the child at Louis-Riel public secondary school in a Sports-Exploratory program, while the mother preferred Mer Bleue Catholic secondary school in the Techno-Design program. The court found that the father, who held decision-making authority over educational matters pursuant to a prior court order, had made a reasonable choice aligned with the child's strengths in athletics. The court ordered the child to attend Louis-Riel and appointed the Office of the Children's Lawyer to provide an independent report on the child's circumstances given the high level of parental conflict. interesting_citations_summary: > The decision applies established principles from family law jurisprudence regarding school placement decisions in the context of parental disputes. The court emphasized that educational decisions must prioritize the child's best interests rather than parental preferences, and that a child's unique needs, aptitudes, and attributes must be considered. The decision references Thomas v. Osika for comprehensive factors governing school placement disputes, including the importance of considering the child's strengths and weaknesses, the stability of the placement, and the capacity of each parent to support the child's educational program. The court also recognized the role of the Office of the Children's Lawyer in providing independent assessment in high-conflict family situations. final_judgement: > The court ordered that the child Jessica attend Louis-Riel secondary school for the 2025-2026 school year and thereafter until further order. The parties were directed to cooperate to ensure the child's regular attendance, with the mother specifically required to ensure the child is transported to school either by her or by school transportation. The Office of the Children's Lawyer was invited to intervene and provide a report to the court regarding the child, including references concerning the school and the current parental agreement. legislation:
- title: "Children's Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.12" url: "https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/900c12" case_law:
- title: "Thomas v. Osika, 2018 ONSC 2712" url: "https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2018/2018onsc2712/2018onsc2712.html"
- title: "Deschenes v. Medwayosh, 2016 ONCJ 567" url: "https://www.canlii.org/en/on/oncj/doc/2016/2016oncj567/2016oncj567.html"
- title: "Bandas v. Demirdache, 2013 ONCJ 679" url: "https://www.canlii.org/en/on/oncj/doc/2013/2013oncj679/2013oncj679.html"
- title: "Gordon v. Goertz" url: "https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1996/1