Toronto Criminal Court: 10 Armoury Street and the Toronto Regional Bail Centre

Most adult criminal cases in Toronto begin at the Ontario Court of Justice at 10 Armoury Street, while adult bail hearings take place at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on Finch Avenue West. The information below will help you prepare for either location.

At a glance

• Main courthouse: Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto, 10 Armoury Street, Toronto, ON M7A 0B9

• Courthouse phone: 416-212-2701 · Email: 10Armoury.OCJ.courts@ontario.ca

• Bail centre: Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Ave. West, Toronto, ON M9M 2Y9

• Counter hours (both): Monday to Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

• Legal Aid duty counsel (Toronto): 416-646-1286

Getting there

10 Armoury Street sits downtown near University Avenue, north of Queen Street West and behind Osgoode Hall, a short walk from St. Patrick and Osgoode stations on Line 1. All visitors pass through a single main entrance with airport-style security screening.

The Toronto Regional Bail Centre is located at 2201 Finch Avenue West in the city’s northwest end, with TTC service along Finch Avenue West.

Parking

No public parking is listed for 10 Armoury Street. Paid lots and street parking are available nearby, although transit is often the more practical choice downtown. The Toronto Regional Bail Centre at 2201 Finch Ave. West has plenty of parking on site.

Your first court date

Your first court date, known as a “first appearance,” is not a trial. It takes place in a “case management court,” a busy courtroom where the court tracks the progress of each case and schedules future dates. Unless a judge or justice of the peace directs otherwise, you can usually attend in person or by Zoom. Video is preferred, although joining by phone is permitted, and the connection details are printed on your release papers.

In some Toronto courtrooms, the day you are scheduled depends on the first letter of your surname and the police division that laid the charge, so review your papers closely.

Bail in Toronto

The Toronto Regional Bail Centre hears adult bail matters, including those on weekends and holidays. The detained person usually appears by video, while sureties (people who promise the court to supervise the accused) may attend in person or by video unless the court directs otherwise. Because bail court video links are not posted on the court’s public page, the lawyer or duty counsel (free Legal Aid lawyers at the courthouse) provides them to sureties. For a fuller explanation of the process, see Stephanie Heyens’ bail page.

Official Zoom details: case management courts at 10 Armoury Street

• Courtroom 201 – What it is used for: Adult – police divisions 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, Meeting ID: 641 1772 5477, Passcode: 632860

• Courtroom 202 – What it is used for: Adult – police divisions 31, 32, 53, 54, 55, Meeting ID: 628 7742 9247, Passcode: 086329

• Courtroom 203 – What it is used for: Adult – police divisions 11, 51, 52, Meeting ID: 640 5558 9354, Passcode: 537401

• Courtroom 204 – What it is used for: Adult – intimate partner violence cases, Meeting ID: 652 0551 1991, Passcode: 380199

• Courtroom 205 – What it is used for: Adult – police divisions 32, 41, 42, 43, Meeting ID: 687 3561 8593, Passcode: 727196

• Courtroom 1001 – What it is used for: Adult – federal charges (for example, drug charges), Meeting ID: 660 4638 5889, Passcode: 579060

• Courtroom 604 – What it is used for: Youth case management, Meeting ID: 679 7261 8187, Passcode: 083607

• Courtroom Bail courts – What it is used for: Toronto Regional Bail Centre (2201 Finch Ave. W.), Meeting ID: Not published, Passcode: Not published

The Ontario Court of Justice publishes these video details, and they are subject to change. Before joining, confirm them against your release papers or the court’s own page. To connect, go to zoom.us/join and enter the meeting ID and passcode; no Zoom account is required. To join by phone, call 1-855-703-8985 (toll-free) and enter the same meeting ID and passcode.

What to bring

• Your release papers or court notice

• Government photo ID

• Any correspondence from police, the court or the Crown (the prosecutor)

• Pen and paper, and a written list of your questions

• Glasses, medication or anything else you may need over a long day

What to expect on the day

On arrival, locate your courtroom on the screens or lists in the lobby. Courtrooms are busy, and delays are common. Silence your phone and dress neatly. When your name is called, come forward to the front of the courtroom or, on Zoom, unmute yourself. If you do not have a lawyer, Legal Aid duty counsel may be able to assist.

Stephanie appears here regularly

Stephanie regularly appears at both 10 Armoury Street and the Toronto Regional Bail Centre. She has spent over 25 years defending criminal charges in Ontario, both with Legal Aid Ontario and in her own practice.

Talk to Stephanie. If you have a court date in Toronto, Stephanie can help you prepare for it. Call her at 416-684-4322 or email stephanie@stephanieheyens.ca.