Rodeo runs in the blood for Ty Northcott and his family. Ty grew up on 1600 acres of real estate outside Caroline, AB. The Northcott patriarch, Harvey, ran 160 horses and 70 bulls while supplying stock for 15 rodeos a year. Like his dad, Ty has become an icon in the rodeo stock business, but he is being admired for more than his high quality stock around the country right now. During the last couple years, due to the government lockdowns, many in the rodeo industry besides the cowboys themselves have been out of work, including announcers, clowns, pickup men, and stock handlers.
After 18 months, with no forthcoming evidence for the reasonableness of the lockdowns, Mr. Northcott put together a plan to stand up for Albertans and the future of rodeo. Ty Northcott organized a freedom rodeo rally protest on his own property beside the QEII highway for the May 1-2 weekend, 2021. The event was named, No More Lockdowns Rodeo Rally.
Despite the chilling political climate and the strong winds of early spring, 4,000 Canadians came out to the rally over the two days. Cowboys and cowgirls came from across western Canada to compete. Between events, numerous speakers, including Mr. Northcott himself, spoke out against government lockdowns and the violation of Canadians’ rights.
Although the RCMP hovered around, the rodeo rally, including a Sunday morning “Cowboy Church” went off without a hitch.
But the RCMP were back at the Northcott Ranch on May 7, 2021, to serve Ty, his wife Gail, and Northcott Rodeo Inc. with summonses to appear in Court on May 17, 2021, on charges of violating the public health order.
The Justice Centre has provided legal counsel for the Northcotts.
On October 13, 2022, at the Red Deer Courthouse, all charges against Gail Northcott were dropped. The charges against the Northcott Rodeo Inc and Ty Northcott went to a trail on the facts on December 20, 2022 in the Red Deer Courthouse. The trial will continue on June 20, 2023, when the Court will hear final arguments and the Northcott’s Charter arguments. Grey Wowk Spencer LLP is defense counsel for the Northcotts.
