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CBC
12 hours ago
- CBC
Moms' emotional statements open Ontario inquest for 7 Maplehurst inmates after overdose deaths
Social Sharing The coroner's inquest into the deaths of seven inmates from drug overdoses while they were incarcerated at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton, Ont., began Monday morning with emotional statements from the men's families being read to the jury. The men died either at Maplehurst or after transfer to Halton Healthcare between June 2017 and October 2019. Their names and dates of death are: Wesley Da Silva, 40, of Cambridge, Oct. 4, 2019. Cory Hemstead, 31, of Brampton, June 19, 2029. Shawn Irvine, 38, of Kitchener, Oct. 29, 2018. Derek Johne, 28, of Magnetawan, June 20, 2017. Curtis McGowan, 32, of Guelph, Oct. 6, 2017. Peter Ormond, 38, of Kitchener, Sept. 25, 2017. Rattanbir Sidhu, 23, of Cambridge, May 7, 2019. The inquest, being held virtually, is set to hear from 25 witnesses over 13 days. It began in the morning with inquest counsel Jai Dhar reading the families' statements, starting with one from Da Silva's mother, Liz. She described her son as a magnetic person who loved animals. He was supposed to be safe. He was there to pay for his wrongdoings, not to die there. - Mother of Wesley Da Silva, Maplehurst inmate who died in 2019 "Wesley was my only child, the love of my life, my precious gift," she said. Da Silva also wrote about her anger for the system, which she believes should have kept her son safe. "I did not get to hold him, nor did I get to hold his hand, nor did I get to say goodbye," Da Silva's statement read. "He was supposed to be safe. He was there to pay for his wrongdoings, not to die there." 'My son needed help, but instead he got drugs' Da Silva's sentiment was echoed by Cathy Johne, Derek's mother. In her statement, Johne described her dismay with staff at the jail. "Derek was in custody. He was supposed to be safe," the statement read. Johne said her son was in custody often, but that provided some comfort. "I was always thankful when he was in jail because I believed he was safe, not overdosing on the street somewhere," she wrote. She said Derek wanted to get better, and he was tired of his life in and out of jail. "My son needed help, but instead he got drugs," she wrote, adding, "He thought he was going to be released in a few days, but instead, we had his funeral." Sister of man, other witnesses to address jury In Ontario, inquests into deaths while in custody are mandatory under the Coroners Act. Maplehurst Correctional Complex holds about 1,500 inmates in medium and maximum security. The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the men's deaths and the jury may then make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths. Amber McPherson, McGowan's sister, is among those expected to speak before the jury. In an interview with CBC News when the inquest was called in April, she said it's important people know her brother was more than just an addict who died in jail. "I would like to keep Curtis's name going because he was somebody. He could have gotten better. Like people say, maybe he's in a better place because he's not suffering now. But that's not what I believe," she said. "Nothing is going to bring him back, but I feel like we deserve answers. The whole family is going to be part of the Zoom. And we're going to bring pictures and we're going to just fight. Curtis was a good guy. He was hilarious. He had a big heart. He was like a big teddy bear." The main goals of inquests is to publicly examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The jury is tasked with identifying potential safety issues and may make recommendations to prevent future similar deaths.
Hamilton Spectator
02-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
HRPS, Halton Healthcare launch mental health support team
The Halton Regional Police Service and Halton Healthcare have partnered to launch a pilot Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) aimed at providing enhanced care to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis across the region. Under the MCRRT program, a specially trained HRPS officer will be paired with a healthcare professional to jointly respond to urgent mental health calls. The officer's role is to ensure safety, while the healthcare worker assesses the individual's needs and recommends next steps. The team may engage in conversation to de-escalate the situation and provide comfort, or, based on the circumstances, connect the individual to community services offering expert care and recovery resources. Hospitalization will occur only if no other safe or appropriate option exists. The MCRRT program has three main objectives: ensuring the individual's first point of contact is with a mental health expert, reducing strain on hospitals and the justice system by diverting individuals to community care, and alleviating demand on HRPS frontline officers to allow response to other emergencies. The new initiative expands on an existing MCRRT partnership between HRPS and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, which pioneered the crisis response model. Between Jan. 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, HRPS received 5,476 calls related to mental health and addictions. Of those, 1,739 were answered by the HRPS–St. Joseph's MCRRT. The Halton Healthcare partnership is expected to handle an additional 10 per cent of annual mental health-related calls. 'Every day, our officers see the tremendous amount of distress experienced by people who are in crisis,' said HRPS Deputy Chief Kevin Maher. 'Though we are always ready to respond, we know healthcare professionals and community services are better equipped to provide robust support. Our hope is that MCRRT programs reduce repeat crises by ensuring individuals receive the care they need, allowing our officers to focus on other emergency calls. This partnership is a win for everyone.' Claudia Barning, program director of mental health and addictions at Halton Healthcare, said the collaboration marks a meaningful step in improving care for people in crisis. 'By integrating healthcare professionals into these situations, we can offer immediate support and ensure individuals receive timely and appropriate care,' she said. 'Our goal is to reduce the number of repeat crises and help people lead healthier lives. Together, we are creating a safer and more compassionate community.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
