RED DEER: The Justice Centre announces that the trial of Ty Northcott and Northcott Rodeo Inc. will take place today in Red Deer. The determination on the constitutional issues in the case will occur at a later date.
The Northcott family has a long history in the rodeo stock business. Despite the fact that rodeos occur outdoors, they were also subject to the government’s lockdowns. In protest, the Northcotts organized a freedom rodeo rally protest on their own property beside the QEII highway for the May 1-2 weekend, 2021. The event was named, “No More Lockdowns Rodeo Rally.”
Thousands came out to the rally over the two days. Between events, numerous speakers, including Mr. Northcott himself, spoke out against government lockdowns and the violation of Canadians’ rights and freedoms. There was a police presence around the rodeo rally, which included a a Sunday morning “Cowboy Church”.
On May 7, 2021, the RCMP came back to the Northcott Ranch 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. Stephen Whitehead of Grey Wowk Spencer LLP is defense counsel for the Northcotts.
“The right to gather peacefully in protest is expressly protected by the Charter, and the Northcotts’ protest rodeo rally engages that protection,” states Marty Moore, a Justice Centre lawyer involved in the case. “The right to gather outdoors to protest government violations of Canadians’ rights must be defended against continued prosecution by the Crown.”