An inquest into the 2019 death of Jennifer Fellinger, a 31-year-old woman who died after being transferred from a correctional facility in Milton, Ont., is set to begin March 2, 2026, Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner announced Thursday.
Dr. Karen Schiff, regional supervising coroner for the West Region in Hamilton, confirmed the proceedings will start at 9:00 a.m. and will be conducted by video conference, allowing members of the public to observe online.
“Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner, West Region, Hamilton Office, announced today that a date has been scheduled for the inquest into the death of Jennifer Fellinger,” the Ministry of the Solicitor General said in a news release.
Fellinger died in hospital on Feb. 12, 2019, after being transferred from the Vanier Centre for Women, a provincial correctional institution that houses adult women in custody.
Under Ontario law, inquests are mandatory for certain deaths that occur in custody or while an individual is detained in a correctional facility. These proceedings are not intended to assign blame or determine criminal liability. Instead, they are fact-finding processes designed to examine the circumstances of a death and identify potential measures to prevent similar fatalities in the future.
“The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Ms. Fellinger’s death,” the ministry said. “The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.”
The five-day proceeding will be presided over by Dr. Jennifer Tang, with Phillip Tsui serving as inquest counsel. According to the ministry, approximately 12 witnesses are expected to testify.
Witnesses at coroner’s inquests typically include medical professionals, correctional staff, investigators and other individuals who had direct knowledge of the events leading up to the death. Evidence presented may include medical records, institutional policies and expert testimony.
Fellinger’s death occurred amid ongoing scrutiny of health care and oversight in Ontario’s correctional system, which houses thousands of inmates across multiple institutions. While the specific circumstances surrounding her case will be examined during the inquest, such proceedings often draw attention to broader systemic issues, including inmate health services, monitoring procedures and emergency response protocols.
The Vanier Centre for Women, located in the town of Milton west of Toronto, is one of Ontario’s primary correctional facilities for female inmates. The institution provides both maximum- and medium-security custody and has been the subject of previous reviews related to inmate welfare and institutional conditions.
Coroner’s inquests in Ontario are overseen by the Office of the Chief Coroner, which operates under the Ministry of the Solicitor General. Recommendations made by inquest juries are not legally binding but can influence policy changes, operational reforms and legislative reviews.
In recent years, recommendations from similar inquests have led to changes in correctional procedures, including improvements in mental health screening, enhanced staff training and updated emergency response practices.
The ministry said the proceedings will be open to public viewing via a live video link.
“The inquest is expected to last five days and hear from approximately 12 witnesses,” the ministry said. “The inquest will be conducted by video conference. Members of the public who wish to view the proceedings can do so live at the link provided below.”
Public access to inquests is considered a key component of transparency in Ontario’s death investigation system, allowing families, advocates and the broader community to observe the process.
Inquests typically conclude with a jury delivering recommendations to relevant agencies or institutions. These recommendations are intended to improve public safety and prevent future deaths under similar circumstances.
No further details about the evidence to be presented or the specific issues expected to be examined were released in Thursday’s announcement.
The inquest into Fellinger’s death will begin March 2 and is scheduled to run for five days.