The border blockade at Coutts, Alta., in 2022 in protest of COVID-19 rules and restrictions. A truck adorned with Canadian and American flags is shown at the blockade, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (Photo: Canadian Press)

By The Canadian Press

Sentencing Delayed For Third Defendant

Two Alberta men sentenced for roles in 2022 Coutts border protest

Jan 10, 2025 | 4:31 PM

Two Alberta men have been sentenced for their roles in the illegal Coutts border blockade in 2022.

Marco Van Huigenbos was sentenced to four months in jail and Gerhard (George) Janzen received a three-month sentence to be served in the community.

Neither accused showed emotion as Justice Keith Yamauchi delivered the sentence in Court of Kings’ Bench in Lethbridge.

The pair were convicted of mischief over $5,000 for their part in the blockade, which tied up cross-border traffic with the United States for two weeks to protest COVID rules and vaccine mandates.

The judge said the illegal blockade affected the lives of many Canadians and the sentence must reflect a denunciation of such actions.

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Sentencing for a third defendant, Alex Van Herk, has been delayed because he fired his lawyer and is looking for new legal representation.

More coming.

(The Canadian Press)