The Latest

The Centre for Free Expression is pleased to announce that author, actor, and academic Vershawn Ashanti Young is joining the Centre’s Advisory Board. Young is Professor in the Departments of English Language and Literature and of Communications Arts at the University of Waterloo where he teaches communication, race, gender, literature, writing, and performance. He is also a solo performance artist and writer.

Milton Public Library Chief Librarian and CEO Mark Williams is joining the Centre for Free Expression’s Working Group on Intellectual Freedom. “We are delighted to welcome such a dedicated champion of intellectual freedom to the CFE Working Group,” said James L. Turk, the Centre’s Director.

Representatives of the Centre for Free Expression Whistleblowing Initiatives made a presentation to the Alberta Legislature’s Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship as part of its review of the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act. A copy of the presentation, the accompanying PowerPoint slides, CFEWI Criteria for Evaluating the Protection of Whistleblowers, and CFEWI Evaluation of Alberta’s current Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act are available at the links below.

Susan Caron is joining the Centre for Free Expression as a Senior Fellow. As the former Director of Collections and Membership Services for the Toronto Public Library, she was an advocate for better access for North American libraries to digital content and responsible for supporting the Library’s commitment to intellectual freedom. “We are delighted to have a person of Susan’s ability and experience join the Centre for Free Expression to help with our work on intellectual freedom,” said James L. Turk, Director of the Centre.

The violent attacks on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 6th were, in large part, a culmination of four years of a political regime that incited violence and hatred based on racism, white supremacy and xenophobia. In the aftermath, governments, law enforcement and the public are searching for ways to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure such violence isn’t repeated, even as threats of similar mob violence on inauguration day rise.