Kevin J. Johnston to pay $650,000 in damages to AHS worker

Self-proclaimed “mayor-elect” Kevin. J Johnston, who has had Alberta Health Services (AHS) in his crosshairs during his own talk show and beyond, must pay $650,000 in damages to an AHS worker.

He has also been ordered to “permanently restrain’ himself” from similar conduct and is restricted from coming within 50 metres of hospitals and AHS clinics.

Calgary police say between April 24, 2021, and May 22, 2021, an AHS employee was harassed in person and online.

He was charged with one count of criminal harassment.

Johnston has also been arrested several times, including for attempting to cross the border on foot and for violating public health rules during the pandemic.

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According to court documents submitted by Justice Colin C.J. Feasby, Johnston had “hours of content” that were representative of the tone and the content that expounded his views on AHS, specifically health care worker Sarah Nunn and her husband.

“In addition to repeatedly stating an intention to prosecute AHS employees for various crimes, Mr. Johnston indicated his desire to financially harm AHS employees. He said, ‘My goal is to bankrupt AHS members….’ He elaborated on how he was going to financially harm AHS employees at an event at the Whistle Stop Café staged to defy a public health order,” the court documents read.

On the Kevin J. Johnston Show, he said, “You AHS idiots don’t seem to realize you’re pushing way too far. Now I don’t condone violence, but when it happens to you, you’re going to deserve it.”

He also hosted controversial Calgary street pastor Artur Pawlowski, who said on Johnston’s show that AHS public health inspectors were “villains, Nazis, Gestapo, Communists, Fascists” for attempting to shut his church down.

Feasby goes on to highlight numerous comments Johnston has made on his show.

“If you’re friends with this Sarah Nunn person, when I’m mayor, you’re going to be investigated as well… I intend to make this woman’s life miserable, I intend to destroy this woman’s life like she has destroyed the lives of Calgarians. I am the only one who’s going to hit public office who’s going to fight for you, Calgary. If anyone like this person here, this useless individual, decides to go to war with a Calgary businessperson, she’s going to jail, and I’m going to gladly go see her in the jail cell and have a little chit chat with her about how and why she’s there and what we plan to do … she’s going to have to fight terrorism charges,” Johnston said.

Related Stories:

• Calgary mayoral candidate charged with criminal harassment

• Kevin J. Johnston arrested after attempting to cross U.S. border on foot

• Kevin J. Johnston sentenced to jail time, fined $20k

Feasby said Johnston would rant about Nunn and her husband, all while showing pictures of her and her family from her Facebook page. The photos of her children would be obscured.

“So let me say clearly that Mr. Johnston’s statements about Ms. Nunn are both untrue and unfair. The pictures that Mr. Johnston harvested from her social media depict a person enjoying her life with her husband, family, and friends. Nothing about the photos provides even a shred of support for the scorn heaped on Ms. Nunn by Mr. Johnston.” the document reads.

Johnston is subject to a multi-million dollar defamation damages award in Ontario, which he has not paid, Feasby said.

“The $650,000 in general and aggravated damages awarded to Ms. Nunn in the present case are unlikely to be paid. I am also concerned that a punitive damages award on top of such a significant award of general and aggravated damages would over-compensate Ms. Nunn,” he said.