Ontario Court of Justice - North West Region

The OCJ has issued a Message re COVID-19 regarding COVID-19 that includes encouraging judicial officials, parties and counsel to actively explore whether all, or any portion, of trials or other hearings that would otherwise be in person can be conducted using remote technology, and to be accommodating of such requests from opposing counsel or parties.

MAG has advised that an OPS individual who works in the Thunder Bay Courthouse has tested positive for COVID-19. For details see the memo provided by the MAG Recovery Secretariat.   ​View Memo

MAG has advised that an OPS employee who works on the main floor at 189 Red River Road, Thunder Bay has confirmed positive for COVID-19. For details see the memo provided by the MAG Recovery Secretariat.  ​View Memo

The OCJ has issued a new Notice to the Profession and the Public regarding criminal case management appearances. Previous OCJ Notices stipulating that criminal case management appearances will be adjourned for five weeks (with a discretionary bench warrant if the accused person does not appear) will end on November 27, 2020. As of November 30, 2020, all accused persons will be required to attend their scheduled appearances in criminal case management court.

The OCJ has issued a new Notice regarding the resumption of in-person family law proceedings in the Northeast and Northwest regions. Beginning on November 30, 2020:

The OCJ has amended its October 22nd Notice regarding virtual criminal case management courts. New dates and locations have been added for the implementation of virtual criminal cases management appearances.

The OCJ has announced that in-person criminal trials and preliminary inquiries in the Ontario Court of Justice will resume on November 30, 2020 at the following locations: Alexandria, Bradford, Elliot Lake, Kirkland Lake, Picton, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout.

Today, the MAG Recovery Secretariat confirmed that the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay is prepared to host OCJ and SCJ proceedings on a temporary basis, due to the recent fire at the Thunder Bay courthouse at 125 Brodie St N. MAG has confirmed that the recommended health and safety measures  (made in the Valhalla Inn site assessment report and the COVID-19 Precautionary Measures Guidebook, more generally) were in place.

Due to the fire at the Thunder Bay Courthouse earlier this month, the OCJ has provided an updated schedule for family and criminal proceedings between October 26 and November 9:

Due to an emergency in the Thunder Bay Courthouse facility, the schedule for family and criminal proceedings between October 26 and October 30 has been revised. For details, see the schedules for the WASH Court (weekend bail court) and for the OCJ Thunder Bay for the week of October 26-30.