LeRoy St. Germaine (November 4, 1941-December 18,2023) –_R.I.P.
A free speech martyr and former political prisoner, LeRoy St.
Germaine, passed away in hospice in Toronto, December 18, at
the age of 82. The founder and publisher of Your Ward News,
he was convicted in 2019, along with editor Dr. James Sears,
under Canada’s notorious “hate law” (Sec. 319 of the Criminal
Code) for “wilful promotion of hate” against two privileged
groups, Jews and radical feminists. Being a proud Metis, Mr. St.
Germaine was entitled to a reduced sentence because of his
aboriginal background. Judge Richard Blouin urged him to
consider some form of dialogue and apology with Jews and
feminists the paper had allegedly offended. When asked Mr. St.
Germaine’s decision, his lawyer told the judge in a low voice:
“My client said ‘They can go fuck themselves!’” He was
sentenced to a year’s house arrest; editor Dr. Sears got a year in
jail, the maximum under summary conviction for this offence.
Canada’s premier censorship group, the League for Human
Rights of B’nai Brith rejoiced: “This strong sentence was
necessary to send a clear message — that repeated and
remorseless attempts to spread hate in Canadian society will not
be tolerated,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of
B’nai Brith Canada. “The punishment fits the crime, and should
help to deter similar hateful publications today and in the future.”
LeRoy St. Germaine was born in Manitoba. He held many jobs,
including working in circuses in the U.S. He was a tireless
promoter of musicians and music festivals. He was a fixture for
many years in the East End of Toronto and always promoted
local musicians. In 2011, he founded Your Ward News as a
tabloid in East End Toronto. His longtime friend and
Canadians’ Choice Party leader Bahman Yazdanfer
remembers: “The paper took strong stands on local issues and
went after certain politicians quite fiercely. LeRoy was always
cool and calm, even after antifa thugs had vandalized the Main
Street offices of Your Ward News. LeRoy was very sociable and
very generous with his friends,” Mr. Yazdanfer recalls. In 2014,
he teamed up with Dr. James Sears who took the paper in a new
direction, with wildly satirical cartoons and writing. The paper
often criticized radical feminists and the Jewish lobby in
brilliantly satirical writing reminiscent of the National
Lampoon. At its peak, YWN was distributing 350,000 copies
across Ontario and its fame was spreading. The organized
censorship lobby freaked out. Richard Warman, scribbler
Warren Kinsella and various Jewish groups complained and got
YWN’s mailing rights taken away. Shortly afterward, Mr. St.
Germaine and Dr. Sears were charged with “hate”. Mr. St.
Germaine was deeply loyal. Although in poor health, at age 79
he joined a regular CAFÉ protest outside the south Toronto jail
where Dr. Sears was imprisoned.
On his business card, he dubbed himself “Grey Wolf.”
Michelle Erstikaitis, whom he hired as a reporter, remembers: “LeRoy St. Germaine
was a man who was full of ideas. He was always planning an activity or a Blues\
Festival.. He had a musical stage production company called Infinity Productions. In
the last few months of his life he was looking forward to working with Truckers’
Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich, hoping to collaborate on a project together
he referred to mischievously as their ‘coupling’ as ‘Fellow troublemakers conspiring
together.’
Leroy’s ambition will be missed. He was certainly not a man who welcomed retirement.
Right up to the month prior to his hospitalization, he was working on organizing a ‘celebration of
life’ for his brother with whom he had been very close. who had just passed away.”
LeRoy’s wide circle of friends will miss him dearly. A celebration of his life will be held in the
New Year.
