Thunder Bay – NEWS – The relatively new Courthouse on Brodie Street remains closed in Thunder Bay following a fire. The early October fire damaged the building and its electrical system as well as causing water damage.
This has meant changes to how trials and court proceedings are managed in the city.
Due to a fire at the Thunder Bay courthouse, court matters are either being conducted remotely or are being relocated to another location.
Valhalla Inn and Victoriaville Provincial Offences Approved for In-Person Courts
Two alternate sites have been approved for in-person court proceedings, including trials and preliminary inquiries:
- The Valhalla Inn, 1 Valhalla Inn Road
- 101 S. Syndicate Avenue – Victoriaville Mall (typically used for Provincial Offences Court)
All in-person trials involving persons who are in custody will take place at the Valhalla Inn. Location details for all in-person trials will be provided by the Trial Coordinator and will be published in the weekly scheduling notices published by the Court.
Until further notice, court proceedings other than trials or preliminary inquiries will be conducted virtually by teleconference or by video conference, unless otherwise directed by the judicial official. Trials will be conducted either virtually (on consent of the parties) or in-person at an alternate location.
All court proceedings will proceed as originally scheduled, unless otherwise noted in a Notice published by the Court or otherwise directed by a judicial official.
This notice sets out general scheduling information that will apply, until further notice, to court proceedings of the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay.
This information is subject to change. Weekly schedules for Thunder Bay court proceedings will be posted on the Ontario Court of Justice website (http://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/covid-19/notice-criminal-november6-2020/). Please continue to check regularly for updates.
The Court would like to thank everyone, including court staff, counsel, other justice partners and the public for their continued efforts, patience and cooperation.
Family and Criminal Trials (including Preliminary Inquiries)
In person trials:
In-person trials and preliminary inquiries will be heard at an alternate site.
The Ministry of the Attorney General has been working diligently to identify and retrofit other locations to safely accommodate in-person hearings, including trials and preliminary inquiries. This involves the completion of a site assessment and the implementation of all necessary health and safety precautions, based on public health expert advice, for the protection of all court users, including judicial officers, lawyers, litigants, witnesses, staff and members of the public. The Ministry will not confirm an alternate location for court proceedings unless and until it has concluded that the health and safety of court participants will be adequately protected.
More information about the precautionary health and safety measures at courthouses implemented by the Ministry is available on the following website: COVID-19: Reopening courtrooms. The heath and safety measures include screening of all persons entering the alternate court site. You can complete an online screening before going to court: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/courthouse-screening. You must show the result as you enter. If you cannot complete the screening online, other screening options are available at the alternate court site.
Virtual Trials: Counsel are encouraged to consider and discuss with one another whether all or any portion of a hearing (including any witness testimony) can be conducted using remote technology. If counsel intend to propose that some or all of a hearing be conducted using remote technology, contact the Trial Coordinator, in advance, at ThunderBay.OCJ.Criminal.TrialCoordinator@ontario.ca
Virtual Family Proceedings
Family Conferences – Zoom or Teleconference
OCJ Family conferences will be conducted by Zoom or by teleconference. Connection details will be provided by the Trial Coordinator.
Family Law Intake – Zoom
OCJ Family Court will be conducted by Zoom, which allows participants to attend by video (over the internet) or by telephone.
Internet: https://zoom.us/join Phone: 1-855-703-8985
Whether joining over the internet or by phone, you will need to enter a meeting ID and password:
Meeting ID: 658 2020 6619 Password: 371039
Child Protection Court – Teleconference
Child Protection Court will proceed will be conducted by teleconference. Connection details will be provided in the weekly scheduling notices published by the Court.
Note that Child Protection Hearings are held in the absence of the public unless the court orders otherwise: Child Youth and Family Services Act, s. 87.
Criminal Proceedings other than Trials and Preliminary Inquiries
Bail Hearing Court (#104) – Teleconference
Bail court will be conducted by teleconference:
Teleconference number: 1 866 633 0848 Conference ID: 4223974
Justice of the Peace Criminal Case Management Court (#105) – Zoom
The Justice of the Peace Criminal Case Management Court (First Appearances, Set Dates, Adjournments) will be conducted by Zoom, which allows participants to attend by video (over the internet) or by telephone.
Internet: https://zoom.us/join Phone: 1-855-703-8985
Whether joining over the internet or by phone, you will need to enter a meeting ID and password:
Meeting ID: 615 6271 9216 Password: 042968
Judge’s Criminal Case Management Court (#103) – Zoom
The Judge’s Criminal Case Management Court will be conducted by Zoom, which allows participants to attend by video (over the internet) or by telephone.
Internet: https://zoom.us/join Phone: 1-855-703-8985
Whether joining over the internet or by phone, you will need to enter a meeting ID and password:
Meeting ID: 667 0060 6651 Password: 296363
Youth Court – Zoom
Youth Court will be conducted by Zoom, which allows participants to attend by video (over the internet) or by telephone.
Internet: https://zoom.us/join Phone: 1-855-703-8985
Whether joining over the internet or by phone, you will need to enter a meeting ID and password:
Meeting ID: 662 9327 7038 Password: 892284
Plea Court and Criminal Trial Readiness Court – Zoom
Plea Court and Trial Readiness Court will be conducted by Zoom, which allows participants to attend by video (over the internet) or by telephone.
Internet: https://zoom.us/join Phone: 1-855-703-8985
Whether joining over the internet or by phone, you will need to enter a meeting ID and password:
Meeting ID 642 0673 5064 Password: 344073
Judicial Pre-Trials – Teleconference
Criminal judicial pre-trials will continue to be conducted by teleconference. Connection details will be provided by the Trial Coordinator.
If counsel needs to schedule or reschedule a Judicial Pre-Trial, they should contact the Trial Coordinator’s office.
Satellite Courts – Teleconference
Satellite Courts will be conducted by teleconference:
Teleconference number: 1 866 602 5461 Conference ID: 3354415
WASH (Weekend and Statutory Holidays) – Teleconference
The Northwest Region’s Weekend and Statutory bail court will be conducted by teleconference:
Teleconference Number: 1 866 633 0848 Conference ID: 4223974
