Ontario Coroner Confirms Mandatory Inquest Under Coroners Act
THUNDER BAY, Ont. — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Kaylee Martha Dallas Crowchild, a 29-year-old member of Tsuut’ina Nation who died in September 2022 following an incident at the Kenora District Jail.
The announcement was made Tuesday by Dr. Kevin Miller, Regional Supervising Coroner for the North Region based in Thunder Bay. The inquest is being conducted under Ontario’s Coroners Act, which requires a mandatory review in certain custodial death cases.
Ms. Crowchild, who was from Tsuut’ina Nation, a Dene community located in southern Alberta, died on Sept. 20, 2022, at Lake of the Woods Hospital in Kenora, Ont. Her death occurred after an incident at the Kenora District Jail, according to information released by the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Purpose of the Inquest
Jury to Review Circumstances Surrounding the Death
A coroner’s inquest is a public proceeding designed to examine the facts surrounding a death. The process is intended to provide transparency and identify opportunities to improve public safety and institutional practices.
According to the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the inquest into Crowchild’s death will focus on the circumstances that led to her death while she was in custody.
“The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Ms. Crowchild’s death,” the ministry said in its announcement.
A jury hearing the evidence will have the authority to make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future. While such recommendations are not legally binding, they are often considered by government agencies, correctional institutions, health-care providers and other organizations involved in the case.
Mandatory Review Process
Under Ontario law, inquests are mandatory in several situations, including certain deaths that occur while an individual is in custody. The proceedings are not intended to assign legal responsibility or determine criminal liability. Instead, they focus on establishing the facts surrounding a death and identifying potential systemic improvements.
The upcoming inquest into Crowchild’s death will form part of that review process and may examine issues related to correctional services, inmate care, emergency response procedures and other relevant factors depending on the evidence presented.
Details to Be Released Later
Date and Venue Yet to Be Announced
Officials said further information regarding the inquest, including when and where it will take place, will be released at a later date.
“Further details regarding the inquest, including the date and venue, will be provided at a later date,” the ministry stated.
The announcement marks the latest step in the formal examination of the events surrounding Crowchild’s death nearly four years ago.
As the process moves forward, witnesses may be called to testify and evidence may be presented to help the jury understand the circumstances leading up to the incident and subsequent hospitalization.
Background on Kaylee Martha Dallas Crowchild
Kaylee Martha Dallas Crowchild was a member of Tsuut’ina Nation, a First Nation community located southwest of Calgary, Alta. She was 29 years old at the time of her death.
According to the Ministry of the Solicitor General, Crowchild died at Lake of the Woods Hospital on Sept. 20, 2022, after an incident at the Kenora District Jail.
The inquest is expected to provide a public examination of the circumstances surrounding her death and may result in recommendations intended to improve safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Ontario officials have not yet released additional details regarding the scope of the proceedings beyond confirming that the inquest will proceed under the Coroners Act. More information is expected once the date and venue are finalized.