A coroner’s inquest will be held into the death of 18-year-old Justin Fiddler, who died in hospital in Thunder Bay in 2019 after sustaining injuries at the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre in Fort Frances.
The inquest will investigate the circumstances of Fiddler’s death while in custody at Ge-Da-Gi-Binez, which opened in 2009 as Canada’s first secure custody facility for Aboriginal youth, Dr. Kevin Miller, Regional Supervising Coroner, North Region, Thunder Bay Office, announced on Monday.
“The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths,” the coroner’s office said in a press release. “Further details regarding the inquest, including the date and venue, will be provided at a later date.”
Further details surrounding Fiddler’s case were not immediately available. He who was from Sandy Lake First Nation, or Neh gaaw saga’igan, a remote, fly-in community about 600 km northwest of Thunder Bay.
Because the death occurred in a correctional setting, the Ontario Coroner’s Office is required to investigate. Inquests in Ontario are fact‑finding, not fault‑finding, but often reveal gaps in supervision or safety protocols, failures in medical response, systemic issues in youth justice facilities and opportunities for policy reform.
Ge-Da-Gi-Binez, operated by Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services, was designed to help Aboriginal youth in conflict with the law through culturally appropriate programs and services. The 12-bed centre serves Indigenous youth ages 12 to 17 years who require secure custody and detention in Northwestern Ontario.
It’s stated aim is to reconnect Indigenous youth in conflict with the law with their heritage and traditions, helping them transition back into the community better prepared to make better choices through traditional teachings, history, cultural ceremonies, as well as education, anger management and life skills programs.
Shortly after Ge‑Da‑Gi‑Binez opened in 2009, the facility experienced a serious safety failure when five detainees attacked two staff members in the recreation yard, leaving one employee injured enough to require medical treatment. The situation escalated to the point that the OPP had to intervene, and six youths were transferred to another detention centre in Thunder Bay.
The incident was not disclosed to the public until days later, prompting criticism about transparency and raising early concerns about the centre’s ability to safely manage the youth in its care.
