On November 14, 2025, the administration at Langara College began to put pressure on a member of the philosophy department to cancel a lecture by Richard Johns in the “Philosophers’ Jam” series. The series was meant to showcase provocative ideas, and Johns’ lecture was going to “present some of the arguments of…recent critics” of the claim that the residential schools were genocidal. This included the book Grave Error.
Below are the emails documenting the cancellation of this talk.
On Friday November 14, 2025 at 2:08 p.m., an email was sent from an administrator to a member of the Langara College philosophy department about “inquiries” concerning Richard Johns’ lecture on the residential schools.
On November 14, 2025 at 2:24 p.m. the member of the philosophy department sent an email to the administrator, copied to the administrative assistant saying he would be happy to meet.
On November 17, 2025 at 4:50 p.m. the administrator sent an email to the philosophy department member saying that a representative from the Indigenous Engagement and Initiatives office was very interested in following up with Richard Johns about participating in his lecture.
On November 17, 2025 at 18:02, the philosophy department member sent an email to the administator saying that Richard Johns was very open to the person from the Indigenous Engagement and initiatives office participating in the lecture.
The next morning (November 18 at 08:01) the administrator sent an email to the philosophy department member and Richard Johns asking to postpone the event so that the Indigenous Engagement and Initiatives office could invite other experts to ensure that it could proceed in a “good way”.
A few hours later, at 12:13 p.m., the adminstrator asked the philosophy department member and and a person from the public relations department to take down the notice of the Richard Johns lecture for the Philosophers’ Jam.
An hour later, at 13:24, the philosophy department member sends an email to the administrator, copied to Richard Johns saying that they did not agree to postpone the event, and this was not possible due to logistics and scheduling.
After a telephone call with the administrator, the philosophy department member sends a clarifying email to them at 16:23 copied to a representative from the Langara Faculty Association. The philosophy department member is seeking clarification as to whether the event is going to 1) proceed as is or 2) proceed with the participation of Indigenous Engagement or 3) be cancelled. If the event is to be cancelled, the philosophy department member wants a written directive from the administrator.
The next morning (November 19) at 9:03, the administrator sends a message to the philosophy department member and Richard Johns saying that he doesn’t understand why the event cannot be postponed because the logistics will not be an obstacle in doing this. He then implies that proceeding with the event as planned would amount to silencing oppositional voices.
This message from the administrator leads Richard Johns to write to the philosophy department member saying that the main objection to the “rescheduling” is that the administrator is proposing a much different event and Johns needs a substantial amount of time to present his ideas clearly and coherently. The format of his lecture would not work if there were several presenters. He also points out that the point of the Philosophers’ Jam is to explore provocative ideas.
Later that day, at 18:48, the philosophy department member sends an email to the administrator, copied to Richard Johns and the union representative stressing that Richard Johns has not consented to postponing the talk.
The next day, November 20, 2025 at 4:42 p.m., the administrator sends an email to the philosophy department member announcing Langara College’s decision to “postpone” the Philosophers’ Jam. The administrator asserts that he remains committed to rescheduling the event.
To this day, the administrator has not rescheduled the event. The Philosophers’ Jam remains in hiatus.
