In 2023, a number of professors at Mount Royal University formed “Qritical” a “queer and trans research hub”. This “research hub” claims that it is intent on “advanc[ing] knowledge”, as well as “includ[ing] students” and “collaborat[ing] with community”. There is an assumption that these goals are compatible, when they often are in contradiction. “Including students” can result in “excluding” scholars who make them feel “unsafe”, and “community collaboration” can put pressure on the university to intimidate the expression of critical perspectives and cancel dissidents.
Since 2023, the “research hub” has created three “Annual Reports”:
In looking at the three annual reports, it is not clear how “knowledge” has been “advanced”. It is noted, however, that the main reason why the “research hub” was created was because, in 2022, 60 faculty were hired and this included “many new queer and trans studies scholars”.
In 2024, the “research hub” also established itself within the “Trico Changemaker Studio”.
It is clear from the materials in the reports that the main concern with this “research hub” is to “celebrate” this “queer and trans scholarship”. “Celebration” is contrary to a culture of disputation, where ideas are held up to scrutiny. Instead, there is an effort to stop criticism as this is believed to not “affirm” and “empower” various identities that are perceived to be oppressed.
It is claimed that the “research hub” intends to “dispel mis/disinformation”, but how can this occur if no critical perspectives are permitted?
One of the main contributors to the “research hub” is Victoria Bucholtz (who goes by the drag persona Karla Marx).
Victoria Bucholtz, who was previously Matthew Bucholtz, is most well known for his attempt to force MLA Jennifer Johnson to state “trans women are women”.
In January 2024, “The Tea” was held for MRU faclty and staff to “discuss teaching and learning experiences and strategies” so as to combat “anti-gender ideologies” and “anti-2sLGBTQIA+ movements”, which are supposedly “affecting our classroom dynamics”.
The “research hub” is funded by a number of MRU entities, including Widdowson’s union, the Mount Royal Faculty Association, as well as Egale Canada.
In the 2024-2025 Annual Report, the co-leads of the “research hub” state that it is a “thriving centre for scholarly excellence”. What is the “scholarly excellence”? How can this be created when only activists are “included”?
In November 2024, another “The Tea” is offered by D.A. Dirks about “supporting trans and nonbinary people” in universities.
Dirks is known for teaching the WPATH Standards of Care in “they/them”‘s courses (Dirks is a woman who identifies as non-binary).
D.A. Dirks, who was a board member of the Mount Royal Faculty Association in the Fall of 2020, also filed a harassment complaint against Frances Widdowson in November 2020.
Scott Murray, the Chair of the Humanities Department, is Dirks’ partner and argued in September 2024 that the union should not be defending Widdowson and that she should not be reinstated because of the “harm” that she had caused. Widdowson showed up to this meeting to defend herself, but she was escorted out by union staff.
In January 2025, “History with a Drag Queen” was held with Victoria Bucholtz. Bucholtz is described as a “true treasure…at MRU”.
in December 2024, Celeste Pang and Gio Dolcecore co-authored an article criticizing the Alberta government’s legislation to keep women’s sports female only.
In this article (https://theconversation.com/albertas-proposed-fairness-and-safety-in-sport-act-is-anything-but-fair-243883), Pang and Docecore argue that it is a “myth” that “transgender women [i.e. men] have an inherent biological advantage” and assert that the “idea of two sexes…is a social construction and not a biological fact”.
To examine the claims of the article, Frances Widdowson decided ot hold a Spectrum Street Epistemology session at Mount Royal University in February 2025. She sent invitations to Celeste Pang, Gio Dolcecore, Marty Clark and Victoria Bucholtz asking them to participate.
No reply was received from Pang, Dolcecore and Clark, but Bucholtz communicated that he wanted Widdowson to declare that “trans women are women” before discussing anything.
The Spectrum Street Epistemology session was held with Brady Simpson and Morrigan Johnson, and discussed whether the “idea of two sexes…is a social construction and not a biological fact”.
In 2025-2026, the “research hub” again saw funding from the Mount Royal Faculty Association. This raises the question is whether this union would also provide funding to those faculty members critical of trans activism?
The Provost of MRU also provided a grant to develop “a series of simulation videos” to be “used in teaching”. This is somehow related to a presentation at a “Queerposium”.
The 2025-2026 Annual Report announces the “Ask a Trans Person Anything” series of events organized by Victoria Bucholtz and Fae Johnstone.
This tour involved false advertising because it blocked Frances Widdowson and Amy Hamm from attending.
