Barry Neufeld

Served as an elected school trustee in Chilliwack, BC from 1993-2008, 2011-2022. Filed a defamation suit against Glen Hansman for calling him "transphobic" and "creating a school environment for [teachers] and students that is discriminatory and hateful.” The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the case. Saying that Hansman's "expression served a truth-seeking function, as he was contacted by the media to present an alternative perspective within a debate on a matter of public importance. In speaking out, he sought to counter expression that he and others perceived to undermine the equal worth and dignity of marginalized groups... on the whole, Mr. Hansman’s words were not a disproportionate or gratuitous response to Mr. Neufeld’s statements. When confronted with views a person believes to be discriminatory, individuals often use words such as “bigoted”, “intolerant”, or even sometimes “hateful”. I note that Mr. Hansman’s expression generally focused on the views that Mr. Neufeld expressed, and not who he is as a person" (pp 91-92).