A Day Well Spent at Rebel News LIVE!

It's always a fun time

Yesterday, I got to attend Rebel News LIVE! for the second year in a row. I was on the fence about going for a few weeks because yesterday I also hit 36 weeks of my pregnancy, so I was worried about being uncomfortable. Despite some minor complaints, it was a wonderful day and I am so glad I made myself go. I think I would have sorely regretted it if I hadn’t.

The day started off with the one and only Tamara Lich singing O Canada—the original version. If you didn’t know, she sings in a cover rock band (as if she could get any cooler).

Then it was straight into a fireside chat between Ezra Levant and Premier Danielle Smith. The two covered a variety of topics about politics in Alberta and what Smith’s UCP has its sights on for the coming legislative session. Of interest to most of my readers I am sure is the proposed legislation on trans and gender issues. The Premier went over the proposed policies and some of the thinking behind them.

If you want to know more, I encourage you to watch this excellent video she put out last week, which I don’t think could have struck a better tone on this very sensitive topic. Of course, the media has been busy demonizing her and spinning a horrible narrative about how hateful the proposed legislation is, when it is anything but. Anyone who watches this video without a prior desire to attack Smith would be able to see that.

I’ll be writing more about the legislation later this month.

After the Premier’s chat, I had to get up because the baby had been headbutting my bladder the whole time. I was walking around the venue and ran into some friends, new and old. A highlight was getting to chat with my favorite lawyer, the fantastic Mr. Marty Moore of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. Marty has done so much amazing work on the gender issue and I was glad I got the chance to let him know how much I appreciate it.

I also got a picture with the lovely Sheila Gunn Reid, who apparently already knew who I was, and I was very flattered by that!

I didn’t actually get a chance to go back and see more of the speakers until after lunch, when my dear friend April Hutchinson took to the stage. April is an amazing advocate for women’s sports and I got to speak alongside her on a panel this past March at the Reality Based Women Unite! event. This time, I was happy to be a member of the audience so I could sit back and watch her kill it!

For more of April’s story, check out her interview with Megyn Kelly!

Next was Robbie Picard, an advocate for Alberta’s energy sector. Robbie was hilarious and highly entertaining, and he even presented Tamara Lich with an incredible painting done by the artist (whose name I very regrettably forget—I will update this post as soon as I find out!) who he had on the stage with him.

Robbie was an early victim of cancel culture when the internet exploded over an image he posted to his pro-oilsands Facebook page in 2016:

I mean, he’s got a point.

Finally, Tamara Lich herself took to the stage, and she was shortly joined by Chris Barber. At this point, I was fading, but I am so glad I stuck around to see them. Chris and Tamara talked about the freedom convoy and its aftermath, including their endless trial.

Despite everything they have been put through, their attitude and outlook were inspiring. Tamara encouraged everyone in the audience to find something they were passionate about and fight for it, and I felt very grateful to have found my Something in this crazy gender fight.

The last segment of the day was a panel of excellent Rebel News journalists. I wasn’t able to stick around much longer after that, but I have a great respect and admiration for these people. They tell stories that often no one else will touch, and often at great personal risk. I watched as much as I could outside in the lobby before my ride arrived.

Thankfully, I was also able to catch April again before I left to say goodbye until next time (which hopefully isn’t going to be too far away!).

It was a really good day, and I’m glad I got to go out and about while I still can! I even got some cool swag out of it to get ready for winter.

But the highlight was, of course, spending the day with so many like-minded people and so many who are working—with great success!—to change things for the better. Maybe things aren’t quite so bleak after all.