Repeat assaults on partner net 14-month sentence

A Brandon man charged with repeatedly assaulting his partner was sentenced to more than 14 months behind bars on Wednesday in provincial court.

Oren Canada, 21, previously pleaded guilty to a single count of uttering threats, two counts of assault, two counts of assault with a weapon and several counts of breaching court orders.

Crown attorney Yaso Mathu read the facts to the court.

Canada and his partner got into an argument after she said she wanted to go to the clinic for a sore throat on the morning of Oct. 30, 2024. He got angry and started to hit, push and threaten her.

“Canada grabbed a knife and forced (the victim) to hold it and told her that her fingerprints would be on the knife. Canada tried to force (the victim) to stab him,” Mathu said. “Canada then barricaded the door with a stroller and told (the victim) that if she tried to leave, he would slice her throat.”

At one point that morning, Canada choked the victim to the point that she almost passed out, Mathu said.

He was arrested for the incident and later released with conditions that included he not contact the victim.

Two months later, a man called Brandon police and reported that Canada had assaulted his previous victim and held a knife to his own throat. The man and the victim gave statements to the police.

Canada was angry at the victim and dragged her across the ground, Mathu said. He grabbed a knife and walked toward the man “like he was intending to use the knife,” she said.

Canada had already left by the time police got to the residence. Police were later dispatched to the same address when Canada was ringing the buzzer to get into the apartment.

When officers arrived, they told Canada he was under arrest. Canada ran away and tried to hide under a van in a nearby parking lot.

“Once police attempted to take the male into custody, he resisted by kicking, flailing and holding his hands under his body,” Mathu said, adding that he was eventually taken into custody and later released after a contested bail hearing two days later.

On Jan. 21, police were called to the victim’s apartment again after Canada lit a pizza box on fire in the bathroom.

The victim gave a statement to police about the events that day.

At 4 a.m., Canada was angry and woke up the victim before he “stormed” into the bathroom, Mathu said. When she got up, she saw that Canada had lit a fire in the bathroom but had put it out by the time she got there.

“(He) began to yell and threaten her … then began to punch her in the head several times,” Mathu said. “Canada then grabbed a nearby first aid kit and struck her in the head with it.”

Canada left the residence with the victim’s phone and bank card, and she had to use one of her children’s phones to call 911.

Police patrolled the area and found him wearing the same clothing the victim described. He had several debit cards and mail that didn’t belong to him, and officers arrested him.

Mathu said the victim presented as “particularly vulnerable.”

“Mr. Canada would return to the home after each incidence of domestic violence, and presumably even if she had reluctance, he somehow ended up inside her home, and it was a cycle that she was trapped in,” Mathu said.

She acknowledged that Canada’s life had been impacted by colonialism and said while he had some good role models growing up, he also witnessed violence in his home.

“I think that impact has flowed down,” she said. “That shows the cycle of violence and domestic violence right there.”

Mathu and defence lawyer Jordon Hildebrandt jointly recommended a time-served sentence of 428 days, followed by two years of probation.

Hildebrandt said Canada has shown “genuine” insight into his offending and takes full responsibility for his actions.

While in custody, Canada has participated in AA meetings and read several workbooks, Hildebrandt said.

When Canada is released from custody, he wants to continue focusing on his alcohol and substance abuse issues, he added.

“His focus going forward is to maintain that train of sobriety that he’s acquired, and he’s dedicated on working on that, because he truly does understand his alcohol and substance abuse alongside his struggles to regulate his emotions before resulting to violence.”

Hildebrandt said Canada was exposed to alcohol and substance abuse from his relatives, and it was normalized.

“He states that his substance abuse and alcohol abuse are a means of relieving the pains that are associated with this trauma that he’s experienced,” he said.

Despite the victim sending a letter to victim services stating that she did not want a no-contact order in place, Hildebrandt agreed with the Crown’s submission to keep it in place as Canada plans upon release to go back to his home community.

When Canada was given a chance to speak, he emphasized his desire to continue in a positive direction.

“I’ve gone through a lot,” he said. “I want to do better for myself.”

Judge Patrick Sullivan agreed with the lawyers’ joint recommendation and kept the no-contact order in place for six months. After that, Canada can have contact with the victim with her ongoing consent.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com