Arrested on a weekend or holiday in Toronto: when is the bail hearing?

A weekend or a holiday does not stop the clock. Police holding someone must bring them before a justice within 24 hours of the arrest if a justice is available, and as soon as possible if not, and the Ontario Court of Justice runs weekend and statutory holiday bail courts so that can happen. In Toronto, adult bail matters go to the Toronto Regional Bail Centre at 2201 Finch Avenue West.

This page covers the timing and the place. For how a bail hearing is decided, see our main page on bail hearings in Ontario.

How fast must police bring someone before a justice, step by step?

The Ontario Court of Justice's own guide says it directly: even if you are arrested on a weekend or holiday, the court has special weekend and statutory holiday bail courts so the bail hearing can happen within 24 hours. The court calls this weekend and statutory holiday bail court "WASH" court.

Police do not always hold someone for a hearing at all. An officer must decide whether to release, and can refuse only on reasonable grounds, such as the need to confirm identity, preserve evidence, prevent another offence, protect a victim or witness, or a belief the person will not come to court (s. 498(1.1)). Even after deciding to hold someone, an officer who becomes satisfied that detention is no longer necessary must release them before the hearing, except for the most serious offences listed in section 469 (s. 503(1.1)).

Where does a Toronto weekend bail hearing happen?

At the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, Toronto, M9M 2Y9. When the province consolidated Toronto's criminal courts into 10 Armoury Street in 2023, it kept this building open as the bail centre for adult bail hearings, and the Ontario Court of Justice said it would take all adult bail operations, including WASH court bail matters, once the new courthouse fully opened that year. Our guide to what to expect at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre covers the building, its contacts and what happens after the hearing.

Under the court's practice direction on modes of appearance, at a first appearance after arrest the accused appears by video unless the court directs otherwise. Sureties may appear in person or by video, and by audio with the presiding officer's permission. That matters for families: the person who will act as a surety does not always have to travel to Finch Avenue to be heard.

Our courtroom resources page keeps Toronto court contacts in one place, including the Zoom rooms we have on file for the bail centre's weekday courts and its weekend and statutory holiday (WASH) courts. Zoom details change, so check them against the court's own location page.

Who helps if the family has not hired a lawyer yet?

Anyone arrested has the right to retain and instruct a lawyer without delay and to be told of that right (Charter, s. 10(b)), and anyone charged has the right not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause (s. 11(e)). In bail court, the Ontario Court of Justice describes duty counsel as free lawyers available every day; if the accused has no lawyer, duty counsel will give advice and represent them at the bail hearing. The accused can also be represented by their own lawyer instead.

What can the family do before the hearing?

Ontario's Crown policy on bail says that, wherever possible, the hearing should be done on the accused's first appearance in bail court, and any adjournment should be as short as necessary. That puts weight on what the defence can show quickly. According to the court, the lawyer or duty counsel will usually present:

• details about the accused's job;
• where the accused will live while on bail;
• how the accused will keep track of court dates;
• how any drug or alcohol issue connected to the arrest will be addressed; and
• on the accused's instructions, a proposed surety: usually a responsible relative or friend.

A family can help by having that information ready and by thinking carefully about who could supervise. Before anyone volunteers, read what a surety agrees to in Ontario: it is a real financial and legal commitment. If a surety or the accused needs an interpreter, the lawyer can request one; the Ministry of the Attorney General provides interpretation in any language required in criminal matters.

What happens at the hearing, and after?

The Crown says whether it consents to release or seeks detention. The presiding justice hears a summary of the allegations, any other charges and any criminal record, then decides whether the accused is released and on what conditions, starting from the least restrictive form of release. If the accused is detained, a bail review can be brought in the Superior Court of Justice; in Toronto that court sits at 361 University Avenue. If released, the accused must follow every condition and attend court on the date and at the place the release order states. For most Toronto charges that next date is at 10 Armoury Street; our guide to the first court appearance in Toronto explains what happens there.

What changes the answer?

• Where the arrest happened. Toronto bail goes to 2201 Finch Avenue West. An arrest by York Regional Police or Peel Regional Police leads to that region's courthouse instead; see the Brampton courthouse guide for Peel.
• The charge. For the most serious offences listed in section 469, such as murder, only a Superior Court judge can grant release (s. 522(1)), so a weekend justice of the peace cannot.
• A reverse onus. For some charges, including an indictable offence alleged while already on release for another indictable offence, the accused must show cause by clearly demonstrating that the release plan addresses the risks (s. 515(6)).
• Earlier release conditions. If the arrest is for breaching an existing release, the earlier release can be cancelled and the accused may have to justify release again (s. 524).
• A domestic allegation. The justice must consider whether the charge involves violence against an intimate partner (s. 515(3)), and no-contact terms are common. Our page on domestic violence charges in Ontario explains what usually follows.
• Ties outside Canada. Detention can be justified where it is necessary to ensure attendance in court (s. 515(10)(a)), and a justice can order passports deposited (s. 515(4)(f)). For an accused who is not a citizen, the plan should address this directly.

For example: a Saturday hearing with a surety by video

This is a hypothetical, not a real client or a result. Suppose a young man who lives with his parents in Richmond Hill is arrested in North York late on a Friday night and held for bail. On Saturday morning, his sister calls a lawyer. The lawyer speaks with the parents in Farsi, explains that the hearing will be in the weekend and statutory holiday bail court for the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, and confirms that the father is willing to act as a surety.

The lawyer gathers the details the court expects: the son's job, where he will live, how he will track court dates and the father's ability to supervise. The father joins by video from home with a Persian interpreter, answers the justice's questions, and the son is released that afternoon to live with his parents, with a no-contact condition and a first court date at 10 Armoury Street. Because the son is a permanent resident, the lawyer also notes that any later plea must be weighed against the immigration consequences of a conviction.

What mistakes do families make over a weekend arrest?

1. Waiting for Monday. Bail courts sit on weekends and statutory holidays, so the hearing may happen before the family has organized anything.
2. Volunteering a surety too quickly. The person who says yes in a panic may not be the most suitable supervisor, and the role lasts for the whole case.
3. Going to the wrong courthouse. Toronto adult bail is at 2201 Finch Avenue West, not 10 Armoury Street.
4. Assuming a family member can translate for the court. If the accused or a surety needs an interpreter, ask the lawyer or duty counsel to request one; the Ministry provides interpretation in any language required in criminal matters.
5. Contacting the complainant to "sort it out". That can hurt the bail plan and may later breach a condition.
6. Agreeing to conditions nobody can live with. A condition that cannot be kept leads to breaches. Changing it later takes a consent variation or a court order; see how a no-contact condition can be changed.

What can you do this week?

1. Find out where the person is being held and which police service arrested them.
2. Call a lawyer, or ask for duty counsel at the bail court, as early as possible.
3. Gather the details the court expects: job, address, a plan for court dates and any treatment plan.
4. Agree within the family who could act as a surety, and have them read about the role first.
5. Tell the lawyer if the accused or the surety needs a Persian (Farsi) or other interpreter.
6. After release, write down every condition and the next court date, and keep the release order safe.

Frequently asked questions

Can the family attend the weekend bail hearing?

A surety may appear in person or by video, and by audio with the presiding officer's permission, under the court's mode of appearance direction. Ask the lawyer how the hearing will be held and how a surety should join.

Is duty counsel available on weekends?

The Ontario Court of Justice says duty counsel are available every day in bail court. Legal Aid lists its own bail centre office hours as weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How long can the hearing be delayed?

A justice can adjourn a bail hearing, but not for more than three clear days without the accused's consent (s. 516). The Crown policy says adjournments should be as short as necessary.

What if bail is denied?

A detention order can be reviewed by a Superior Court judge under s. 520. Our main page on bail hearings in Ontario explains the grounds the court applies.

Will the accused have to give up a passport?

Only if the release order says so. A justice can order the accused to deposit all passports (s. 515(4)(f)), which matters for anyone planning travel abroad, including trips to visit family in Iran.

Can we speak to the lawyer in Farsi?

Yes. Gambriani Law PC works in English and Farsi, so families can go through the plan in Persian. Our guide for Persian-speaking people charged in the GTA explains the rest of the process.

Getting help

Gambriani Law PC handles bail hearings for clients and families in North York, Toronto and across the Greater Toronto Area, in English and Farsi. You can reach the office by phone, WhatsApp or the contact form.

This page is general information about Ontario bail procedure, not legal advice about a specific arrest.