There are a few organizations and charities that I support and one of them is the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF). www.jccf.ca I became aware of JCCF several years ago but really did not pay too much attention to what they stood for or what they were doing until the Freedom Convoy. As some of you may know, the JCCF provided legal support for the Convoy organizers and they did an admirable job. They also played a major role in the Emergencies Act Inquiry and represented many of those who, in my opinion, were unjustly charged during the lockdowns and the Convoy protest in Ottawa.
Each year, the JCCF presents an award in recognition of a Canadian who has contributed to advancing and preserving freedom in our country. This year’s recipient is Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. On June 15, I had the privilege to attend the event in Toronto with friends Jack and Janet MacLaren. From the JCCF website “Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is committed to defending free expression. In January 2023, he shared that the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) has “demanded that [he] submit to mandatory social-media communication retraining,” or else face a disciplinary hearing, and that the CPO threaten his professional license because of his commitment to free speech.
In 2016, he famously stood up to intimidation and “forced speech” when pressured to use newly invented personal pronouns.
Dr. Peterson is a firm advocate for personal responsibility, which is one of the pillars of the free society. He has consistently displayed courage in the face of adversity, and perseverance in the face of ongoing unjustified attacks against his character and reputation.”
Peterson is all of this and more. I have been to several events where he has spoken but had never met him before. Janet and I had the opportunity at the JCCF event to say hello and thank him for his contributions to free speech. I found him very personable, friendly, and generous with his time. There was a long line-up of those who wanted to say hello.
One of the perks of attending an event such as this is the ability to discuss issues that matter with those who listen and contribute, without judgement. You meet the most interesting people. For example, we met Carolyn Burjoski, a former teacher who was censored at a public school board meeting for expressing her concerns about the age-appropriateness of library books for children /www.jccf.ca/?s=carolyn.
But back to Dr. Peterson. His speech was about personal responsibility and how we have a duty to speak the truth. He message: “Work on yourself, don’t try to change others – they may not be ready. Speak the truth and change by example”. What a wonderful message!
If you ever get a chance to attend a JCCF George Jonas Award event, go! You won’t be disappointed.