Posted on 10/31/2010 2:27:38 PM PDT by fanfan
Edited on 12/27/2010 2:11:38 PM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
On Saturday, October 30th, the Canadian Centre for Policy Studies hosted a Tribute Dinner for Ezra Levant, with Mark Steyn as a featured guest.
Ezra Levant was the publisher of the Weekly Standard who was brought before the Alberta Human Rights Commission for daring to publish the "mohammed" cartoons in a story discussing the "mohammed" cartoons.
Presented by the CCPS president Joseph Ben-Ami, this sold out event, with two of Canada's foremost defenders of free speech, drew over 250 concerned citizens from as far as Montreal, Toronto, and London. A few Americans drove from as far as NY to attend.
A VIP reception was held, followed by the Tribute dinner.
Floralove Katz open the dinner with a moving rendition of O Canada, accompanied by the crowd. Joseph Ben-Ami welcomed everyone, spoke a bit about the institute, and the current threats to our freedom. Father Raymond J de Souza, who also writes for The National Post gave the Convocation.
After dinner, Dr.Roy Eappen offered A Loyal Toast.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyal_toast
(HT for pictures, Dr.Roy)
Mark Steyn spoke about the real meaning of freedom, using examples from the Human Rights Tribunals he and Ezra faced, and called out to bloggers in the audience (like Connie and Mark Fournier of Free Dominion) for their bravery in the face of personal attacks, and expensive law suits, etc. for continuing the fight for free speech and freedom.
Joseph Ben-Ami presented Ezra with The Maple Leaf Award.
A true fighter for freedom and Real Human Rights, Ezra Levant thanked everyone for the moral support he received when he really needed it.
The crowd gave him a standing ovation!
Same here abb. It was an honor to shake his hand. I brought a copy of his latest book that I had stopped to buy the day before, "Ethical Oil, The Case for Canada's Oil Sands", and he signed it for me, we got to speak for a while, and my hubbby took a picture of us.
:-)
Thank you!
I can always count on you Onyx!
*HUGS*
It was great MV. It was a massive room full of common sense!
thank you!!!
Thank you very much for the account. Glad you were there.
I really wish you all could have been there!
Ezra’s book Ethical Oil is a great read.
I am looking forward to reading my signed copy!
Thanks for the link.
More great pictures here: Deborah Gyapong: Mark Steyn at the Ezra Levant Tribute Dinner
You so pretty!!!
*HUG*
Hey, how does Levant rate such a beautiful Chika at his arm??? No wonder Ezra has that Mona Lisa Smile!
Looks like a great evening, wish I was there!
LOL! ;-)
Ezra was so sweet! A real gentleman, and so humble. I was honoured to meet both him and Mark.
You look terrific - a little like Sarah Palin, in fact. Not frumpy, like some of us ;-).
Silly!
It’s just the makeup.
The dress is nice, too, and your hair is styled and everything. I may be inspired to go to the hairdresser ;-).
You are so beautiful, and Mr. Fan Fan looks so proud of you (he’s a cutie). I can’t even see any dirt under your fingernails left over from autum garden clean up! That must have been quite an evening. Mark Steyn must have been like whipped cream and a cherry on top of the gathering!
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