The family of a 16-year-old from a small northern Ontario community continues to support her recovery from an alleged hit-and-run and sword attack, describing the past week as a “blur.”
Kaylie Smith remains in hospital in Ottawa with serious but is in stable condition.
According to Const. Martin Thibault of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), officers responded to a collision involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian in Cobalt, Ont., on Nov. 3.
When they arrived, they found an 18-year-old had driven an SUV into Smith.
“After the collision, the male proceeded to take a sword from within the vehicle and attacked the 16-year-old,” Thibault said.
Thibault said witnesses helped Smith until emergency services arrived.
Phillipe Gagnon was arrested within an hour of the incident and remains in custody. He faces several charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.
OPP are treating the incident as intimate partner violence.
‘Doesn’t seem real’ to mom
Smith’s family has been in Ottawa by her side since she was airlifted to the city.
“It’s just like a big blur. It doesn’t seem real,” said Cindy Smith, Kaylie’s mother.
“One minute we’re living life, and the next minute we’re here at the hospital, fighting for her life. I just don’t get it.”
Smith described her daughter as a “beautiful, wonderful girl” who loves animals and drawing.
“I just thank God she’s alive, and I sure hope there’s justice for this,” she said. “Nobody deserves to go through this.”
Family members describe Smith as soft-spoken, sweet and helpful to others. (Submitted by Paige Smith)
A handful of family members have been in the city to support Cindy and Kaylie, including Kaylie’s cousin Paige Smith.
Paige bounced between two hotels before securing a place to stay for the “foreseeable future” with help from the community.
“It’s just been a blur,” Paige said. “When everything happened, we kind of dropped everything and headed down, worried about the consequences afterwards. You don’t really think about yourself in these moments. It’s just auto-pilot — doing what needs to be done.”
An online fundraiser to support the family’s stay in the city and Kaylie’s long recovery has raised close to $100,000. A candlight vigil was also held over the weekend.
Cobalt, Ont., community members hold a candlelight vigil for Smith on Nov. 6. (Charlie Angus/X)
Accused known to police
Protesters demonstrated outside the Haileybury courthouse on Tuesday morning ahead of bail proceedings for Gagnon. They carried signs reading “Justice for Kaylie” and “No Bail.”
OPP confirmed Gagnon had previously had dealings with police.
Court records show he assaulted Smith’s stepfather in May and received a conditional sentence and probation in October — just days before he allegedly attacked Smith.
His conditions included a prohibition on possessing weapons.
Phillip Gagnon appeared in court in Haileybury, Ont., on Nov. 13, 2024. (Lauren Foster-MacLeod)
Kaylee Kennedy, one of the protesters outside the courthouse, said the situation has been heartbreaking.
“Domestic violence is no joke. To go through something like that, her whole life has changed, and that breaks my heart,” Kennedy said. “She’s never going to be the same again.”