This expensive invoice I just received from my lawyer is a stark reminder of the high cost of standing up for what’s right. I’m Carolyn Burjoski, an experienced elementary school teacher who was cancelled for protecting children. Whether you’ve been following my story or just joining, what I’m about to say affects us all, and I need your support more than ever.

In January 2022, at a Waterloo Region District School Board meeting, I raised concerns about an elementary school library book that made light of the permanent sterilization caused by puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones given to children. Four minutes into my presentation, the Board Chair cut me off, wrongly accused me of violating the Human Rights Code, and ejected me from the meeting.

The next day, I was suspended from my classroom, forbidden from contacting my students and colleagues, and subjected to a disciplinary investigation. The Board disparaged me as promoting hate speech and removed the video of my presentation so the public was not able to hear what I actually said. The stress was so overwhelming that I was hospitalized for extreme anxiety.

I refused to be silenced and launched a defamation lawsuit. The Board responded with an anti-SLAPP motion in an attempt to dismiss my case.

In November 2023, we had our first victory. Justice Ramsay of the Ontario Superior Court dismissed the Board’s anti-SLAPP motion, affirming the merit of my lawsuit and my right to free speech. It was a moment of vindication, but the battle is far from over.

The Board appealed this decision and on September 11, 2024, three justices at Osgoode Hall in Toronto heard the appeal. Now, we wait. This decision could take up to three months.

This $29,000 invoice is just for defending the anti-SLAPP appeal. My total legal costs have now reached $120,000, and we’ve barely begun the actual defamation lawsuit. After nearly three years, we’re still fighting for free speech and child protection.

This fight is about ensuring that we parents and educators can speak up whenever we are concerned about potential harm to children. We must be able to have open discussions on sensitive topics, and stand up to the institutions that silence our dissent.

If you believe in these principles, I need your support. Completing my defamation lawsuit will cost an additional $60,000. Please visit cancelledteacher.com to donate and share my story. Every contribution brings us closer to justice.

Your support means everything. Together, we will make a difference. Thank you for standing with me.