Professor who questioned BLM movement, criticized Indigenous policy at MRU fired

CBC reports that Frances Widdowson, a former associate professor at Mount Royal University who gained notoriety in 2020 for comments regarding the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and residential schools, was fired in December. In a statement, MRU emphasized that it fosters free speech and diverse viewpoints, but that academic freedom “does not justify harassment or discrimination.” CBC reports that the case will be going to arbitration in about a year, and CTV News reports that Widdowson intends to appeal the decision through her union. Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.