Speaker, student argue cancelled ULethbridge speaking event a Charter violation

The Court of King’s Bench of Alberta recently heard arguments in speaker Frances Widdowson’s and former student Jonah Pickle’s legal challenge against the University of Lethbridge. In 2023, the lecture on academic freedom faced pushback from the community due to past statements by Widdowson. The talk was ultimately cancelled by ULethbridge. Widdowson and Pickle asserted that ULethbridge’s cancellation of the planned lecture was a violation of their Charter rights, while ULethbridge Lawyer Matthew Woodley argued that the decision was a result of genuine security concerns, and that the Charter largely did not apply to the case. The judge reviewing the case reserved his decision and will rule at a later date.