Date Announced for the Inquest into the Deaths of Luke Moore, Lorraine Shaganash, Lizzie Sutherland, Mark Ferris and Douglas Taylor

Press Release

September 17, 2025

Dr. Harry Voogjarv, Regional Supervising Coroner, North Region, Sudbury office, announced today that a date has been scheduled for the inquest into the deaths of Luke Moore, Lorraine Shaganash, Lizzie Sutherland, Mark Ferris and Douglas Taylor. The inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Dr. Michael Wilson will be the presiding officer. Kristin Smith, Julian Roy and Shruti Ramesh will be inquest counsel.

Mr. Moore, 43 years old; Ms. Shaganash, 47 years old; Ms. Sutherland, 56 years old; Mr. Ferris, 67 years old; and Mr. Taylor, 60 years old, died in hospital on different dates between November 19, 2021, and January 23, 2022, during an outbreak of blastomycosis in Constance Lake First Nation (CLFN), a First Nation community located on the shores of Constance Lake near Hearst, Ontario. An inquest has been called to examine the circumstances surrounding their deaths under the Coroners Act.

The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.

The inquest is expected to last 25 days and hear from approximately 30 witnesses.

The inquest will be conducted jointly by video conference and in person on Wednesday to Friday, October 15 – 17, 2025, at the community hall in CLFN; and by video conference starting on Monday, October 20, 2025. Members of the public who wish to view the proceedings can do so live at the link provided below.

https://firstclassfacilitation.ca/office-of-the-chief-coroner/inquest-into-the-deaths-of-luke-moore-lorraine-shaganash-lizzie-sutherland-mark-ferris-and-douglas-taylor/

For more information about inquests, see: https://www.ontario.ca/page/coroners-inquests.

Date Announced for the Inquest into the Deaths of Luke Moore, Lorraine Shaganash, Lizzie Sutherland, Mark Ferris and Douglas Taylor

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