One man has been given jail time for his role in the Coutts border blockade in Alberta in 2022, while another was sentenced to community time.
Marco Van Huigenbos was sentenced to four months in jail and Gerhard (George) Janzen received a three-month sentence, which is to be served in the community. Janzen was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service within the three months.
Both had been found guilty of mischief in April for their part in the blockade that tied up traffic at the Coutts border, about three and a half hours south of Calgary, for two weeks in early 2022.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Keith Yamauchi in Court of Kings Bench in Lethbridge, Alberta, on Jan. 10.
“The protesters and offenders thought they had a legitimate cause,” Yamauchi said. “They undertook the vigilante approach of taking over Highway 4 until their demands were met. This is a significant case of mischief and a period of incarceration is warranted.”
The protest at Coutts started around the same time as the truckers’ Freedom Convoy was encamped in Ottawa. The demonstrations began as a way to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other government measures during the pandemic. In Alberta, protesters blocked the border crossing into Montana. Similar demonstrations were held at other border crossings, including the Ambassador Bridge in Ontario and the port of entry in Emerson, Manitoba.
The Crown was seeking nine months in jail for Van Huigenbos and six months for Janzen. Van Huigenbos was seen as a spokesperson for the protesters and the Crown said he deserved more jail time for that role.
However, Van Huigenbos’s lawyer had argued for a conditional discharge, suspended sentence, or a maximum of two months to be served in the community. He said the underlying motive for his client was political advocacy and to be heard by the government. He said his client was unfairly singled out because he acted as a police liaison.
Janzen’s attorney argued his client be given an absolute discharge, fine, or suspended sentence, saying he had played a minor role in the demonstration.
Janzen apologized to the court on Jan. 9, saying the actions had been “well-intentioned” and were to “voice our concerns” on important issues. He said the blockade had “adversely affected” the daily lives of those in Coutts and Milk River.
“For this I am sincerely sorry,” Janzen said. “Laws were broken. This was not in line with our intentions to promote change through peaceful and lawful means.”
Van Huigenbos had served for six years as a councillor for the Town of Fort Macleod, but resigned in February 2024 as the case got underway.
Coutts Four
Four others—Chris Carbert, Christopher Lysak, Jerry Morin, and Anthony Olienick—were all arrested during the Coutts blockade on attempted murder charges.They were held for more than 700 days.
Olienick and Carbert were convicted in August 2024 of mischief over $5,000 and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace. Olienick was also convicted of possessing a pipe bomb.
The men were given six-and-a-half year sentences in September 2024. Both received about four years’ credit for the time they had served since their arrest.
They have appealed the decision.
Lysak and Morin, who had similar charges, including conspiracy to murder police, pleaded guilty to lesser firearms offences. They were given sentences that amounted to the time they served.
