By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

COUNSEL: "THIS IS ANOTHER CANCEL CULTURE

Judicial Review of ousted ex-Red Deer school trustee begins in Court of King’s Bench

May 1, 2024 | 4:51 PM

On Wednesday, a double judicial review began into the case of former Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) trustee Monique LaGrange.

LaGrange was involved in a scandal of sorts that began in late summer and went into the fall of 2023; it began with her posting an image on social media which many found offensive and believed likened the modern-day Pride movement to Nazism.

Monique LaGrange (left), pictured in an RDCRS headshot, and right, the meme that kickstarted the controversy last summer.

LaGrange was sanctioned by the RDCRS board of trustees twice, and was ultimately removed from the board after breaching the sanctions of the first Code of Conduct investigation.

Her legal representation, Counsel James Kitchen, later announced the judicial review and that The Democracy Fund would pay for LaGrange’s judicial review costs.

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LaGrange’s team has stated they hope the judicial review could overturn her dismissal from the board.

(More below)

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You can read our extensive ongoing coverage of this story below (articles are chronological):

• Red Deer Catholic will not hold by-election to replace ousted trustee
• Red Deer Catholic school board to discuss by-election on Jan. 26
• Dismissed former trustee taking school board to court, hopes to be reinstated
• Red Deer Catholic releases official report on former trustee’s dismissal
• After second Code of Conduct complaint, Red Deer Catholic removes trustee
• Red Deer Catholic trustee invoked Holy Spirit in explanation for posting controversial meme
• Lawyer: Red Deer school trustee likely won’t follow through on training & apology
• Monique LaGrange won’t be removed as Red Deer Catholic trustee
• Trustee LaGrange removed as ACSTA director, Minister of Education also speaks
• Red Deer Catholic writes Education Minister on dismissal of trustee who posted Nazi, 2SLGBTQ+ comparison
• Red Deer Catholic school trustee likens Pride movement to Nazism

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On day one of three of the judicial review, LaGrange’s counsel James Kitchen gave his opening arguments to Justice Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay in Court of King’s Bench.

“This is not your everyday case. It’s controversial. There are beliefs at play. The applicant [LaGrange] would submit there are political and ideological [factors],” said Kitchen, also pointing to the emotionality of those against LaGrange.

“This is another cancel culture case.”

Kitchen is arguing that the first set of sanctions handed down by the school board were, “pre-judged,” “unreasonable,” and lacked, “procedural fairness.”

He says if the judge agrees, then the second one, which is intrinsically connected to and would not have come to to pass if it weren’t for the first, he explained, should automatically be nullified too.

Kitchen repeatedly emphasized that what LaGrange’s intent with the post/meme was to express, simply, “a viewpoint.”

“These are opinions and you don’t punish someone on that basis,” he concluded.

It’s expected that Kitchen will wrap up his opening arguments Thursday morning, followed by opening arguments from Red Deer Catholic’s counsel, Teresa Haykowsky.

rdnewsNOW will provide updates on this case as they become available.

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