Tristin Hopper: Trespassing charges dropped against academic Frances Widdowson

Frances Widdowson speaks at a dinner awarding her the 2025 George Jonas Freedom Award from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, in Toronto on June 12, 2025. Photo by National Post

Article content

A trespassing ticket has been withdrawn against ‘unmarked graves’ former university professor Frances Widdowson, more than seven months after she was mobbed and arrested after stepping onto the campus of the University of Victoria.

Article content

Widdowson was an early critic of the 2021 claim that 215 children’s graves were found at the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Article content

Article content

Article content

In a 2025 video posted to her YouTube channel, for instance, she called the event the Kamloops Mass Grave Deception.

Article content

Article content

On Dec. 2, 2025, Widdowson was arrested by Saanich Police shortly after walking onto the UVic campus to hold an outdoor “free speech discussion about the ‘unmarked graves claim.’”

Article content

Accompanied by OneBC leader Dallas Brodie —  also a prominent critic of the unmarked graves claim — Widdowson referred to the planned event as a “street epistemology.” It’s one of a series of such events Widdowson, who was fired by Mount Royal University in 2021, has held at Canadian university campuses.

Article content

The day prior to Widdowson’s arrival, acting UVic president Robina Thomas condemned the event as a “divisive public talk” that was “not sanctioned by our university and is not authorized to take place on our campus.”

Article content

Thomas expressed condolences to those “experiencing harm” due to Widdowson’s impending arrival. “I want to assure you that the university remains steadfast in our pledge to uphold ʔetalnəw̓əl,” she wrote. According to UVic’s official strategic plan, ʔetalnəw̓əl means “respecting the rights of one another and being in right relationship with all things.”

Article content

Article content

An estimated 1,000 protesters had gathered on campus to interdict the planned discussion, which an APTN crew covering the event referred to as a “denialism rally.” APTN’s coverage showed members of Widdowson’s entourage being pelted with orange smoke bombs, being yelled at through bullhorns and having a sign reading “what remains?” stolen by a masked demonstrator.

Article content

Article content

Widdowson had barely made it to the university’s Petch Fountain before she was met by Saanich Police, who arrested her, removed her from campus and issued her a “Failure to Leave Premises” ticket under the terms of B.C.’s Trespass Act.

Article content

Last week, however, Saanich Police Inspector Andy Stuart sent Widdowson a letter saying he had requested a “stay of proceedings” on the ticket.

Article content

“You are no longer required to attend court,” it read.

Article content

As per a Wednesday statement from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which has been handling Widdowson’s case, “the stay concludes the prosecution but leaves unresolved broader questions that had been expected to arise through the litigation.”

Article content

The statement implies that lawyers had been intending to use the ticket to press a charter challenge regarding free expression on Canadian university campuses.

Article content

“Because the prosecution is being stayed, that question will not be decided in this case,” it read.

Article content