Collision Course: The Darcy Allan Sheppard Case
A special series to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the death of Toronto bike messenger Darcy Allan Sheppard.
In this new four-part series, edited and re-mastered*, you’ll hear a story of elites vs peasants, cars vs bicycles, and wealth and privilege vs poverty and crime. It’s a cautionary tale of how justice works differently in this country… for some people.
OPEN INVITATION:
15th Annual Memorial Gathering
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2024 @ 3 PM
TORONTO - 151 BLOOR ST WEST (Bloor & Avenue)
Please join Kristi Lee, Darcy’s father Allan Sheppard and other loved ones to remember Darcy and commemorate the 15th anniversary of his death.
The gathering will be held at the white Ghost Bike commemorating the place where Darcy died, located at Bloor & Avenue opposite Tiffany & Co. See map. We hope to see you there.
The Episodes
* Note: This is a reboot of our original, much more detailed six-part series released in 2022. That series is still available on the podcast feed (episodes 113-118) or to stream on the website.
[ Part 1 of 4 ] Sheppard v Bryant
A fatal collision between cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard and former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant on a busy Toronto street in 2009 sparked widespread shock, media scrutiny, and ongoing debate about the Canadian justice system.
[ Part 2 of 4 ] How the Media Failed
In the wake of Darcy’s death, a crisis PR firm succeeds in influencing the media – and public perception – with misleading and false information.
[ Part 3 of 4 ] How the Justice System Failed
The controversial 2010 hearing where the prosecutor announced his decision to withdraw charges. While Darcy’s father expected that result, something seemed significantly wrong with how the prosecutor chose to explain how the decision was made.
[ Part 4 of 4 ] The Truth
Hidden documents and files are released through a Freedom of Information request, strongly suggesting that what actually happened on August 31, 2009 was different to the narrative presented by the press — and in court.
Listen ad-free and early: The entire series is available ad-free, now, on our premium feeds - Amazon Music (included with Prime), Apple Podcasts, Patreon and Supercast.
Special thanks to Allan Sheppard, Joe Hendry and eyewitness Victoria.
Thanks also to writer Mary Fairhurst Breen for editing and creative direction on this reboot series.
Credits:
Executive producer, writing and analysis, interviews, sound design: Kristi Lee
Script editor (reboot), creative direction: Mary Fairhurst Breen
Initial research: Haley Gray
Initial production assistance: Aviva Lessard, Eileen Macfarlane
Theme Song: We Talk of Dreams
Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound
Sources:
Court transcripts, eyewitness statements, video footage, investigation reports
* Please remember - none of this evidence has been proven in court.Video: Surveillance
Court Proceeding - May 25, 2010, Crown announces charges against Bryant were dropped:
Collision Reconstruction Report prepared by Toronto Police Services reconstructionist DC Jeff Vance
Traffic Fatality occurrence Report - Toronto Police Services
Supplementary Record, charges - Toronto Police Services
Blogs with additional analysis and insights
Bryantwatch maintained by Joe Hendry
The Darcy Allan Sheppard Files maintained by Allan Sheppard
Book/Memoir
28 Seconds: A True Story of Addiction, Tragedy, and Hope by Michael Bryant, published by Viking, Toronto, 2012
Media archives
Collection of CBC News articles:Dead Toronto cyclist identified, September 1, 2009
Former Ontario AG Bryant charged in cyclist's death, September 2, 2009
Toronto Mayor refuses comment on Bryant, September 2, 2009
Cyclist may have grabbed Bryant, wheel: police, September 2, 2009
Bryant quits Invest Toronto after cyclist death, September 2, 2009
Riders stage memorial ride for cyclist killed in Bryant altercation, September 2, 2009
Charges against Bryant in fatal crash withdrawn, May 25, 2010
Michael Bryant do-over, by Amara McLaughlin, January 11, 2018
Cyclist in Bryant case remembered at native ceremony, September 7, 2009
Collection of Toronto Star articles:
Michael Bryant's deadly duel, by Cathal Kelley, September 1, 2009
Michael Bryant joins top law firm as adviser, by Robert Benzie, December 5, 2009
Lost Boy: The death of Darcy Allan Sheppard, by Jennifer Wells, December 26, 2013
Province will crush your car and the parts racers told, by Robert Benzie and Peter Edwards, June 21, 2007
Cyclists mourn ‘good man’ by Kenyon Wallace, September 2, 2009
Bike courier troubled spirit who battled his addictions, by Daniel Dale, September 2, 2009
Spinning the first week of Michael Bryant’s new life, by Linda Diebel, September 5, 2009
Bryant and bike courier a class issue, by Antonia Zerbisias, September 18, 2009
Before Bryant’s Saab came attack on BMW by Robyn Doolittle and Messe Mclean, May 26, 2010
DiManno: The 28 seconds that changed MIchael Bryant’s life by Rosie DiManno, May 26, 2010
Justice in Michael Bryant Case, uncredited editorial, May 26, 2010
Darcy Sheppard’s father uses documents to continue fight by Valerie Hauch, May 24 2013
Witness interview video released in Darcy Allan Sheppard’s death, by News Staff, CityNews, April 6 2015
Collection of Globe & Mail articles:
Girlfriend of dead cyclist questions police refusal to drive him home, by Jennifer Yang and Kate Hammer, September 2, 2009
A cyclist dead, a political star tarnished by Joshn Wingrove, Timothy Appleby and Kate Hammer, September 1, 2009
Bryant’s story shocking and sobering - but also far too common by Christie Blatchford, September 1, 2009
Michael Bryant’s spin class, by Joe Friesen, September 18, 2009
The problem with PR: Let’s speak for ourselves, by Rick Salutin, September 3, 2009
Cyclist killed in Yorkville hit and run, by Josh Wingrove, September 1, 2009
Bike victim had a police past, by Kate Hammer, September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant: The story none of us can stop talking about, by Judith Timson, September 3, 2009
Death on Bloor Bryant enters a world beyond political spin, by Josh Wingrove, Timothy Appleby, and Kate Hammer, September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant in police custody, by Josh Wingrove, September 1, 2009
Michael Bryant’s book met with anger from slain cyclist’s father, police by Kelly Grant, August 21, 2012
Bonfire on Bloor Street: Michael Bryant’s ‘28 Seconds’ by John Barber, August 24, 2012
Memorial bike ride held in honour of fallen courier by Adrian Morrow, August 29, 2010
For Michael Bryant, an extraordinary kind of justice by Christie Blatchford, May 25, 2010
Bryant cleared of both charges in cyclist’s death by Anthony Reinhart, May 25 2010
Couriers and comrades mourn Al Sheppard by Liem Vu, May 25, 2010
Where justice and politics meet by Adam Radwanski, May 25, 2010
Michael Bryant Chronology by Jill Mahoney, May 25, 2010
All charges dropped against former Ontario A-G Michael Bryant, uncredited, May 25
Collection of National Post articles:
Former Ontario AG Michael Bryant was 'terrified' during fatal encounter with cyclist by Shannon Kari, May 25, 2010
Courier community remembers fallen cyclist, by Kathryn Blaze Carlson, September 2, 2009
Dark day for rising star, by Allison Hanes, September 2, 2009
Analysis: Bryant case highlights divide between south and north by Adam McDowell, May 26, 2010
Father of bike courier who died after altercation with former Ontario AG Michael Bryant seeking justice for 'Al' by Katrina Clarke, May 23, 2013
Darcy Allan Sheppard taunted other drivers before Michael Bryant: photos by Shannon Kari, May 25, 2010
Bryant quits post, declares innocence by Allison Hanes, National Post, September 3, 2009 (requires newspaper.com subscription to view clip in link)
Bike courier dragged after colliding with car by Matthew Coutts and Shannon Kari, September 2, 2009 (requires newspaper.com subscription to view clip in link)
Courier community remembers fallen cyclist by Kathryn Blaze Carlson, September 2 2009 (requires newspaper.com subscription to view clip in link)
Other media articles, interviews, blogs and information sources:
Lowering the bar on Michael Bryant by Joe Hendry, Now Toronto, January 15, 2020
City's most famous ghost bike goes missing then reappears by Wayne Scott, Now Toronto, Jan 15, 2020
Michael Bryant's political resurrection takes ironic turn by Allan Sheppard, Now Toronto, December 29 2014
Car vs Bike by Jonathon Gatehouse and Charlie Gillis, Macleans, September 15, 2009
Criminal charges may snuff out promising future for ex-Ont. cabinet minister: experts by Maria Babbage for the Canadian Press, CP24, September 2 2009
Bryant says he’ll ‘never forget’ deadly fight with cyclist, CTV News, May 25, 2010
Police scan footage to see if cyclist grabbed ex-Ont. attorney general before fatal collision, by Allison Hanes, The Vancouver Sun, September 3, 2009
Whatever happened to Michael Bryant?, by Daniel Fish, Law and Style, December 5, 2016
The Fixer, by Marci McDonald, Toronto Life, October 20, 2015
Bryant says he’s innocent of charges laid in bike courier’s death, by Maria Babbage for the Canadian Press, CP24
Cops check videos of bizarre T.O. accident, by Allison Hanes, Montreal Gazette, September 3, 2009
Michael Bryant Killed My Son by Canadaland, April 2015
Darcy Allan Sheppard Memorial and Protest Ride in Photos by Derek Flack, BlogTo, September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant’s very bad year: his life on bail, how he got off, and his surprise comeback by Leah McLaren, Toronto Life, September 16, 2010
Michael Bryant releases his tell-all book about drinking binges and the worst night of his life by Frances McInnis, Toronto Life, August 21, 2012
Reaction round-up: Michael Bryant is tarnished but still golden, according to Toronto’s newspapers by John Michael McGrath, Toronto Life, May 26, 2010
In memoriam: Cycling advocate Wayne Scott by Albert Koehl and Allan Sheppard, Now Toronto, February 14, 2021
Charges withdrawn against former Ontario AG Michael Bryant in death of Bike courier by Maria Babbage for the Canadian Press, CP24, May 25, 2010
Steve Paikin’s interview with Michael Bryant, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, 2012
Steve Paikin’s interview with Allan Sheppard, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, 2012
Darcy Allan Sheppard's Tragic + Unnecessary Death on Bloor, by Toronto Mike Blog, September 1, 2009
Darcy Allan Sheppard’s obituary, Edmonton Journal, September 10, 2009
Michael Bryant charged in fatal crash, Toronto Sun YouTube channel, February 28, 2018
Michael Bryant and self-defence, Ottawa Citizen Opinion, September 3, 2009
Darcy Allan Sheppard documents revealed through freedom of information request, by James D. Schwartz, The Urban Country Blog, May 2013
The truth emerges, Bicycle Law, June 4, 2013
Road rights - when worlds collide, by Bob Mionske, Bicycle Law, September 16, 2009
Allan Sheppard’s response: Michael Bryant Did A TEDx Talk About How Killing My Son Helped His Personal Growth (canadaland.com)
Law Society presents Honorary LLD to Marie Henein | Law Society of Ontario (lso.ca)
Richard C.C. Peck, Q.C. receives the G. Arthur Martin award – Peck and Company
What ever happened to Michael Bryant? | Precedent Magazine (lawandstyle.ca)
What happened to Michael Bryant? Former Ontario attorney general on his do-over | CBC News
Michael Bryant - The Top 25 Most Influential 2019 | Canadian Lawyer (canadianlawyermag.com)
Studies, resources, research articles:
Eyewitness Testimony and Memory Biases by Cara Laney and Elizabeth F. Loftus, Introduction to Psychology, University of Saskatchewan
Why pain after an auto accident is sometimes delayed, Reid Physician’s group
What happens when you get an adrenaline rush? Medicalnewstoday.com
What is g-force and how is it related to harsh driving? Geotab.com
Pecora P, Kessler R, Williams J, et al. Improving family foster care: findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. Seattle, WA: 2005. Casey Family Programs, available at
Rubin DM, O'Reilly AL, Luan X, Localio AR. The impact of placement stability on behavioral well-being for children in foster care. Pediatrics. 2007;119(2):336-344. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1995
Webster D, Barth RP, Needell B. Placement stability for children in out-of-home care, Child Welfare, 2000 Sept Oct, available at
Wedeles J, Placement Stability in Child Welfare for Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies
Adopt Ontario, Understanding Attachment
CADDAC Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada, Understanding ADHD, Ages 7-17 years
Clips of Michael Bryant licenced from Earbank Media Vault