Medicine Hat’s Tamara Lich, one of the organizers of the Freedom Convoy truckers protest that occupied Ottawa’s downtown for three weeks in February, has been awarded The George Jonas Freedom Award by the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCFF).
Lich will receive the award on June 16 at a ceremony in Toronto.
“Ms. Lich inspired Canadians to exercise their Charter rights and freedoms by participating actively in the democratic process, and took the initiative to help organize a peaceful protest and serve as one of its leaders,” said JCCF President John Carpay in a statement to the Toronto Sun.
“The resulting peaceful protest in Ottawa awakened many Canadians to the injustice of Charter-violating lockdowns and mandatory vaccination policies. Ms. Lich has suffered for the cause of freedom by spending 18 days unjustly jailed, and exemplifies courage, determination and perseverance.”
Lich was arrested in Ottawa on Feb. 17, a day before the start of a large police operation to remove protesters over several days.
Prior to her arrest, some Ottawa citizens complained about harassment and business disruptions by some protestors, while others went to court to get a 10-day injunction against the truckers blaring their horns.
Lich was charged with mischief, counselling mischief, intimidation, counselling intimidation, counselling obstruction of police and obstructing police. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Her denial of bail on Feb. 22 was overturned on March 7 on the conditions that she remain off social media, leave Ottawa within 24 hours, the province of Ontario within 72 hours, and only return to the province for court-related reasons.
Her lawyer was in court as recently as a week ago to appeal the court-imposed restrictions on social media.
The JCCF prize was named in honour of author, poet and columnist George Jonas (1935-2016) who promoted freedom throughout his life, both before and after coming to Canada from communist Hungary.
Past winners included journalist Christie Blatchford.
Website Source: https://torontosun.com/news/national/freedom-convoy-organizer-tamara-lich-to-get-award?fbclid=IwAR2TZnjYFvDnXAcCJOd8BJnfAf1QnIVs65e0bmSjnwjUODOXQZ9di4Hr5ys
