Peck Appeal Brief: To explain or not to explain: A case for the ayes…

RECONSTRUCTION ZONE: Essay 02/PAB

A LAY PERSON’S PERSPECTIVES ON IMPROVING EQUITY AND FAIRNESS IN ONTARIO’S JUSTICE SYSTEM

Part 2 of a series of essays derived from an appeal brief to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario regarding Notice of Inquiry, Ministry of Attorney General Appeal PA13-37 for access to contents of the Crown File for Her Majesty the Queen v. Michael James Bryant, Ontario Court of Justice Proceedings, 25 May 2010

Submitted by Allan Sheppard, 23 October 2013 | Revisited and updated by Allan Sheppard, 30 July 2020.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave…”

I began Part 1 of this thread of posts with a quotation from, The Idea of Justice, by Amartya Sen. Prof. Sen cited an eighteenth-century jurist, who advised British imperial governors to make decisions according to their sense of justice and never explain their reasons: “for your judgment will probably be right, but your reasons will certainly be wrong.” (P. 4)

Prof. Sen cites Lord Mansfield as an authority who advised against explaining decisions. But he argues to the contrary:

“(That) may be good advice for tactful governance, but it is surely no way of guaranteeing that the right things are done. Nor does it help to ensure that the people affected can see that justice is being done (which is part of the discipline of making sustainable decisions regarding justice.)” (pp., 4-5) [Emphasis added.]

Without relevant information, transparent and accountable democracy is impossible. Who could object to that notion? Not the Toronto Star’s Edward Keenan.

On 28 February 2015, an armed security guard shot two men in a Toronto McDonald’s. We know the victims’ names. Toronto Police Services (TPS) will not name their killer. Nor will they explain why they decided not to lay charges.

Were the victims armed? Did they have histories of violence? Did they attack the security guard? Or staff? Or customers? Did they know the security guard, or he, them? Why was the security guard armed? Was he trained? By whom? Were bystanders endangered—by the victims or by the shots? Was the security guard connected with the police? An informant? A moonlighting or retired cop?

Such questions are inevitable when information is withheld. Not to ask them is to acquiesce to justice, ultimately government, by decree: the rule of men, not the rule of law.

TPS Chief Mark Saunders did not explain when he met reporters on 15 July. Police had done “a very thorough investigation.” “There was not enough evidence to lay a criminal charge.” Case closed.

On 16 July Mr. Keenan wrote what probably speaks for most Canadians:

“Two people are dead, shot publicly in front of bystanders. No one is going to be held responsible for that. How can we…see the justice in that if no one will tell us what happened?

“If we can’t see justice being done, and evaluate it for ourselves, we cannot be certain injustice isn’t being covered up. If we cannot see the results of the police investigation, we cannot trust its conclusions. Without an explanation for what happened, people are left to wildly speculate.”

Right on.

But there is a problem with Mr. Keenan’s example of how to explain:

“In 2010, when an independent prosecutor announced that no charges would be pursued against former Attorney-General Michael Bryant for the automotive death of bicycle courier Darcy Alan (sic) Sheppard, he outlined a detailed theory of the events of the night and the reasoning behind dropping the case. That decision remains controversial and often lamented, but at least the reasoning is there for all to see and analyze, in both the prosecutor’s statement and a written report.”

Mr. Keenan’s intentions are laudable; his conclusions are not.

Special Prosecutor Richard Peck’s statement and written report at 25 May 2010 court proceedings grew out of two decisions, not one.

The first decision, to withdraw criminal charges against Mr. Bryant was and still is controversial and lamented. But I and most of my late son’s friends and advocates have never challenged that decision or Mr. Peck’s authority to make it. Any prosecutor would have found it difficult to refute a self-defence strategy, given my son’s background, which I know well and have never tried to minimize. I support the high bar for conviction set by the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard, even as I wish there had been a different outcome.

Mr. Peck’s second decision—to explain the reasons for his first decision—is the one I find most controversial and lamentable. Mr. Keenan approves that decision. I cannot.

Mr. Peck’s reasoning is available for analysis, but not one of the alleged facts supporting his reasoning is an established fact in Canadian law. Mr. Peck offers a theory—not facts—of the case to explain his decision, as Mr. Keenan points out.

What is a fact in Canadian law? How are facts established?

The Supreme Court of Canada examined that question in R v Daley (2007).

In analyzing their decision, Matthew Shogilev notes that all the justices of the Court agreed that judges’ instructions to juries must include eight “characteristics.” Characteristic Number 5 reads “(a judge’s instructions must include) a direction informing the jury they are the masters of the facts and it is for them to make the factual determinations.” [Emphasis added].

An alleged fact is not a fact until accepted as such by a trier of fact, normally a jury but sometimes a judge alone.

The Bryant case never went to court. There are no facts to support any theories, allegations, explanations, or reasons behind decisions on the case. It is all opinion.

Opinion is not a trustworthy foundation for explanation of or comment on a decision not to lay charges or to withdraw them.

Outside a courtroom, without a trial before a trier of fact, no one—not a judge, not a Crown or special prosecutor, not a defence lawyer, not the police, not a politician, not a media pundit or reporter, not I: no one—can claim to know or have the right to assert the facts of a case. Legally, there are no such facts, only allegations and theories.

That is not splitting hairs; it is a cornerstone of our legal system.

Chief Saunders might have made the wrong decision not to charge the security guard for two murders. We will never know. But having made that decision, he made the right decision not to explain.

Outside a trial, there can be no facts, only allegations related as hearsay (not by witnesses to the event). Allegations are assertions without proof. They are neither true nor false. Conclusions drawn from allegations might rationalize decisions on guilt or innocence, but they cannot validate them. Only a trier of fact can do that. (1)

Mr. Keenan suggests that, in choosing not to explain his decision in the McDonald’s case, Chief Saunders asks us to trust him. He is right. And he is right to suggest that the chief asks too much.

Mr. Peck also gives us no choice but to trust him. By explaining his decision on the Bryant case using information and accounts from Mr. Bryant and others that had never been put before a trier of fact he too asks too much.

My first response to that is to rephrase Mr. Keenan, as quoted above: If we can’t see justice being done (as in an open-court trial), and evaluate it for ourselves, we cannot be certain injustice isn’t being covered up. If we cannot see the results of the police (and Crown) investigation (instead of hearing them reported as hearsay), we cannot trust its conclusions. Without (the facts supporting) an explanation for what happened, people are left to wildly speculate.

Ontario’s attorney general defends Mr. Peck by withholding information he used to make his decision behind a firewall of “solicitor-client privilege.” I have been denied access to every piece of alleged evidence and facts held by the attorney general in the so-called Crown file on the case. Every piece.

The media and anyone else with legitimate claim to represent the public interest are also denied access on the same ground.

We must take Mr. Peck’s word for what is or is not in the file. His word is, in effect, law.

That might be legal. It is not just.

My son deserves better. The people of Ontario deserve better.

Edward Keenan would better serve himself, the public interest, and justice by challenging the attorney general to review the terms under which Crown prosecutors, special prosecutors, and police can withhold or withdraw charges. Such a review should consider how allegations and information that might explain such decisions can be established as fact without a trier of fact, which is the only objective fact-finding entity we have in our justice system, as I understand it.

He might start by asking the attorney general to explain (and justify) practice guidelines for prosecutors that direct them not to consider the public interest when deciding to proceed or not with criminal charges. Mr. Keenan argues the public interest when he advocates for explanations. He should take that argument forward aggressively.

There are objections to such an argument, but it is still necessary to make and debate it.

Note:
(1) Experts in the law might note here that there is another way to establish facts in our legal system: by admissions. Lawyers in pretrial and at trial can agree (stipulate, in the U.S.) to accept anticipated testimony as fact without having to call witnesses to testify under oath at trial, generally to save time. Shallow though my knowledge and understanding might be, I do not believe the concept of admissions should apply in this case and, if it does, its use is inappropriate and unjust, as I will explore in a future post.

DAS12: Remembering my son Darcy Allan Sheppard on the twelfth anniversary of his death

Edmonton, AB, 9:45 p.m. EDT, 31 August 2021

Darcy, as he was known to his family and friends in Edmonton; Al, as he was known to his colleagues and friends in Toronto’s messenger and cycling communities, died in a violent encounter with then former attorney general of Ontario (now, ironically, executive director and general counsel of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association), Michael Bryant, on 31 August 2009.

The incident took place on a high-end retail section of Toronto’s Bloor Street West, known as the Mink Mile; much more Mr. Bryant’s turf than my son’s.

I believe the prosecution of the case was also conducted on Mr. Bryant’s turf on terms more sympathetic to Mr. Bryant than my son; allowed to be conducted there and thus by the Ontario government and accepted to be so conducted most of the mainstream media.

The cream of Canada’s criminal bar officiated: Richard Peck, as special prosecutor, deemed “independent” by the government that appointed him because he is based in Vancouver (but who was available to accept the appointment on scant hours’ notice because he was already in Toronto working for the same government on a different case); Mark Sandler, as Mr. Peck’s Toronto representative, seemingly independent by presumed virtue of Mr. Peck’s “independent” direction and guidance; the redoubtable Marie Henein as defense counsel, clearly not independent (nor should she have been) but also not intimidated, or intimidatable, by the eminence of Messrs. Peck and Sandler.

Not surprisingly, some of my late son’s (and now my) friends argue that Messrs. Peck and Sandler were intimidated by Ms. Henein. Or manipulated. (Or, as they three would have it, persuaded.)

However they arrived at their decision, Mr. Peck and Mr. Sandler, as prosecutors, chose to withdraw serious criminal charges against Mr. Bryant before trial or even the preliminary hearing that I believe would have been appropriate. That was within their mandate; they had the right and, as Mr. Peck argued, the duty, to withdraw charges. I accept that. Reluctantly; but I accept it.

What I do not…still cannot…will not…accept is Mr. Peck’s decision to explain his reasons for the decision and to allow Ms. Henein to offer her own explanation of why Mr. Bryant was not only not guilty but innocent—so innocent, in fact, as to be the true and only victim in the matter. It was a process designed, despite disingenuous denials, to demonize my son and effectively sanctify Mr. Bryant.

Why do I object? Because, by explaining in the way they did, Mr. Peck and Ms. Henein indulged in a perversion of process and misleading presentations of substance that I believe amount to misconduct, at least for Mr. Peck.

Mr. Peck and Ms. Henein, did not call witnesses, as they would have, had the case gone to trial; they offered themselves as surrogate witnesses, standing in and speaking for Mr. Bryant; his wife Susan Abramovitch; six “exculpatory” witnesses who may, or in the case of five of them, may not have had prior violent encounters with my son; unnamed Crown and defence expert witnesses; and a cherry-picked (in a shameless exercise of tunnel vision) sample of unnamed eyewitnesses to the actual incident.

It is a bedrock principle of the Canadian criminal justice system that prosecutors and defence counsel do not give evidence at trial: they call witnesses to give evidence in support of theories of a case to be decided by a trier of fact, either a judge alone or a jury.

Canadian judges, in their charges to juries, always direct jurors not to accept anything trial lawyers (and judges) say as fact or evidence.

Prosecutors and defence counsel do not, cannot, must not give evidence at trial. Yet that is what Mr. Peck and Ms. Henein did—or appeared to do—at proceedings before the late Mr. Justice Paul Bentley in a Toronto courtroom on 25 May 2010, when charges were dropped.

They only appeared to give evidence, contrary to process, because the “proceedings” before Judge Bentley were not, in fact, a trial. They were not even a pretrial hearing, normally conducted in judge’s chambers, not before the media and an audience including the defendant.

Those proceedings were, to be most accurate, a show trial designed, as such things are, to give the impression that justice is being done, without the disciplines of process and substance to justify that impression.

The stratagem worked. The media, most of them, were persuaded. The public was persuaded. I was persuaded and said so, much to my later regret: I have learned better.

I now believe that Mr. Peck chose not to take the case to a preliminary hearing, where a judge would have decided whether there was enough evidence to proceed to trial, because he knew that he and Ms. Henein would not have been allowed to offer themselves to the court of public opinion as surrogate witnesses, unsworn and without cross-examination, to mouth the testimony of actual witnesses, taken without oath or cross-examination.

In a shameful exercise of arrogant hubris and a blatant inversion of noblesse oblige, Mr. Peck and Ms. Henein used their personal stature, prestige, and credibility to vouch for evidence and testimony that had never been tested in court and, as a result of their actions, probably never would or could be tested in court.

Mr. Peck, Ms. Henein, and Mr. Bryant have gone on to other, perhaps bigger and better things. Mr. Sandler continues to work, as he always has, effectively and influentially behind the scenes. If success—defined as winning—is the operative criterion, they have earned their fame and laurels. If justice, not just the appearance but the substance, is the criterion, they have not.

I do not have much life left to pursue what has so far been a futile quest (I am 83 and feeling my years), but I will do my best to tie up some loose ends while I still can. My hope is that someone will be able to use the material to take up the case I have not been able to make.

In the meantime, I want to thank my son’s and my friends and followers for their continuing support and commitment to the cause of justice that, I know, they will pursue when I am no longer able to.

Finally, a special nod in remembrance and sincere appreciation to Alan Wayne Scott, who was a valiant champion of my son’s cause and who became a dear friend until his untimely death a few months ago. He, more than anyone else, kept his, my, and our eyes on the prize—justice for Darcy Allan Sheppard.

I miss him and his principled commitment and example. We all do.

MEDIA LINKS: OPINION, ANALYSIS, COMMENT [152 entries: October 2020]

[Opinion, analysis, comment on the incident and its aftermath: mainly mainstream media, mostly Toronto-based, sorted by date but not into categories by subject or publisher.
There are some duplicates to indicate the breadth of distribution and to show the range of reader comments. 
Strikethroughs indicate broken links, often to publishers that are no longer active. I would appreciate contact from anyone who might have archived the missing stories and is willing to share the content for posting in the Media Archive section of this blog.
I have searched extensively online, but I am sure I have missed items that should be included. Again, please contact me if you have links or archived content to share.
allan sheppard
October 2020] 

1
Michael Bryant… avid cyclist? Andrew Brett, Rabble.ca, September 1, 2009
Bryant’s story shocking and sobering – but also far too common, Christie Blatchford,
Globe and Mail, September 1, 2009
The shock is universal, Adam Radwanski, Globe and Mail, September 1, 2009
Views from political circles, Toronto Star, September 2, 2009
Views from the street, Megan Ogilvie, Kenyon Wallace, Toronto Star, September 2, 2009
Showman Michael Bryant rose rapidly, Jennifer Wells, Toronto Star, September 2, 2009
An overachiever’s supreme self-confidence shattered, Globe and Mail,
Adam Radwanski, Globe and Mail, September 2, 2009
We need to share the city’s roads, Editorial, Toronto Star, September 2, 2009
Not about politics, Editorial, Globe and Mail, September 2, 2009
In a city of drivers and cyclists at odds, the one on the bike is always right,
Christie Blatchford, Globe and Mail, September 2, 2009

2
“cool heads prevail”, Joshua Errett, Now Magazine, September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant resigns, Paul Terefenko, Now Magazine, September 2, 2009
More Michael Bryant speculation, Enzo DiMatteo, Now Magazine, September 2, 2009
Wednesday WTF: Why is prior “police contact” relevant to a cycling death?
Graham F. Scott, This Magazine, September 2, 2009
Could Altercation be Bryant’s Chappaquiddick? Christina Blizzard, Sault Star,
September 2, 2009
It’s us against them, Mike Strobel, Toronto Sun, September 2, 2009
When Worlds Collide, Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun, September 2, 2009 
[Archived at DASFiles, Media Links, News]
Political dreams gone–Bryant was eyed to replace McGuinty, Christina Blizzard,
Toronto Sun, September 2, 2009
Two wheels good – National Post – September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant: The story none of us can stop talking about, Judith Timson,
Globe and Mail, September 3, 2009

3
In their conflict with cyclists, motorists have to give, John Moore, National Post,            September 3, 2009
The long road to reputation repair, Simon Houpt, Globe and Mail, September 3, 2009
The Bryant case begins to take shape, Todd Harrison, Precedent Magazine,
September 3, 2009
The Attorney-General and the Cyclist: A Rush to Judgement? neilboyd, Vancouver Sun, September 3, 2009
Drinking and biking, Adam Radwanski, Globe and Mail, September 3, 2009
The defence of Michael Bryant, Brodie Fenlon, Globe and Mail, September 3, 2009
The problem with PR: Let’s speak for ourselves, Rick Salutin, Globe and Mail,
September 3, 2009
Michael Bryant and self-defence, Editorial, Ottawa Citizen, September 3, 2009
Objects in the mirror…, Chris Bilton, Eye Weekly, September 3, 2009
[Archived to DASFiles]
The problem with PR: Let’s speak for ourselves, Rick Salutin, rabble.ca,
September 4, 2009

4
How do you prosecute your former boss? Philippe Gohier, Maclean’s,
September 4, 2009
Tension on roads: Toronto cyclists union director calls for more respect,
Yvonne Bambrick,   CBC News, September 4, 2009
Q&A: “Critical Manners” Vancouver founder aims to make streets less mean,
Graham F. Scott, This Magazine, September 4, 2009
Making sense of the Bryant – Sheppard tragedy, Examiner.com, September 4, 2009
A ‘living street’ isn’t dominated by cars, Christopher Hume, September 4, 2009
Spinning the first week of Michael Bryant’s new life, Linda Diebel, Toronto Star, 
September 5, 2009
Is Michael Bryant’s life over – or has it just begun? Lynda Hurst, Toronto Star,
September 5, 2009
Michael Bryant’s political strategy: PR 2.0, Kate Hammer, Globe and Mail,
September 8, 2009
Bryant case indeed “tragic, sad”, Editorial, North Bay Nugget, September 8, 2009
Morality play and a stampede to judgment, Margaret Wente, Globe and Mail,     
September 9, 2009

5
Silence not golden in a crisis, Howard Levitt, Financial Post, September 9, 2009
Sheppard vigil ignores reds, Neil Mercer, letter to editor Now Magazine,
September 9, 2009
Bike war or class war? Andrew Cash, Now Magazine, September 9, 2009
Cycle of conflict, Mike Smith, Now Magazine, September 9, 2009
Bryant case becomes more blurry, Paul Terefenko, Now Magazine, September 9, 2009
Menace of untreated addiction haunts deadly street encounter, Jim Coyle, Toronto Star,
September 11, 2009
How to make the roads safer for cars and bikes, Your View, Letters to the editor, Wheels, September 12, 2009
Bryant learns there’s no off switch for celebrity spotlight, John Snobelen, Toronto Sun,
September 13, 2009
Bryant’s social media campaign to clear his name could ‘backfire’, Nestor Arellano,
itbusiness.ca, September 15, 2009
Car vs Bike: How the lives of two men were destroyed by a cruel twist of fate,
Jonathon Gatehouse, Charlie Gillis, Maclean’s, September 15, 2009

6
Maybe I am a class warrior, Silhouette, September 17, 2009
Bryant and bike courier a class issue, Antonia Zerbisias, Toronto Star,
September 18, 2009
Michael Bryant’s spin class, Joe Friesen, Globe and Mail, September 18, 2009
Why licensing cyclists just won’t work, Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail, September 23, 2009
Rage against the machine, Mike Martin letter to editor, Now Magazine,
September 23, 2009
A Plea for Justice, Mark Bonokoski, Toronto Sun, September 27, 2009
An underappreciated tragedy, Enzo DiMatteo, Now Magazine, October 5, 2009
Final Arbiter, The Mark News, October 5, 2009
Opinion: How advertising became a conversation business, Max Valiquette,
Canadian Business, October 12, 2009
License to ride, Bicycling, October 12, 2009

7
Talking Head David Byrne talks bicycling, Vit Wagner, Toronto Star, October. 23, 2009
How to defend Michael Bryant, Kirk Makin, Globe and Mail, October 30, 2009
A new path to peace needed for cars, cyclists, Catherine Porter, Toronto Star,
October 31, 2009
Queen’s Park Top Ten, Andrew Steele, Globe and Mail, December 18, 2009
Newsstand: March 8, 2010, André Bovee-Begun, Torontoist, March 8, 2010
Anatomy of a Tragedy, Matthew Halliday, Ryerson Review of Journalism, April 23, 2010
Charges against Michael Bryant dropped, cyclists’ outrage not so much, Greg Hudson,     Toronto Life, May 25, 2010
Where justice and politics meet, Adam Radwanski, Globe and Mail, May 25, 2010
Michael Bryant: a good day for justice, Editorial, Globe and Mail, May 25, 2010
For Michael Bryant, an extraordinary kind of justice, Christie Blatchford, Globe and Mail,
May 25, 2010

8
Former AG Michael Bryant walks: Kuitenbrouwer’s take, Peter Kuitenbrouwer,
National Post, May 25, 2010
Michael Bryant, Darcy Allan Sheppard, and the “28 Seconds That Changed Everything” and Nothing, Todd Aalgaard, Torontoist, May 25, 2010
Steven Skurka: Did Michael Bryant get a special pass? Steven Skurka, CTV NEWS,
May 25, 2010
Justice Served, in the Michael Bryant case, Editorial, National Post, May 25, 2010
Michael Bryant should be judged on his merits, National Post, May 25, 2010
No winners in Bryant case, Ottawa Sun, May 25, 2010
Justice in Michael Bryant case, Editorial, Toronto Star, May 26, 2010
The 28 seconds that changed Michael Bryant’s life, Rosie DiManno, Toronto Star,
May 26, 2010
Michael Bryant can return to politics…eventually, experts say, Rob Ferguson,
Toronto Star, May 26, 2010
Analysis: Bryant case highlights divide between south and north, Adam McDowell,
National Post, May 26, 2010

9
Bloor Street serves as city’s dividing line, Adam McDowell, National Post, 26 May 2010 [Archived at Sylvia’s Site blog]
War on cyclists takes its toll, Catherine Porter, Toronto Star, May 26, 2010
The Bryant effect, Todd Harrison, Precedent Magazine, May 26, 2010
Setting the cycling record straight, Peter Kuitenbrouwer, National Post, May 26, 2010
Reaction roundup: Michael Bryant is tarnished but still golden, according to Toronto’s newspapers, Michael McGrath, Toronto Life, May 26, 2010
Michael Bryant’s travails forced him to reconsider who he really is, Adam Radwanski,
Globe and Mail, May 27, 2010
Bryant walks, Enzo DiMatteo, Now Magazine, May 27, 2010
Michael Bryant a wiser man after tragedy, Jim Coyle, Toronto Star, May 27, 2010
Michael Bryant and Darcy Allan Sheppard: victims of circumstance, Judith Timson,
Globe and Mail, May 27, 2010
Darcy Sheppard the wrong kind of hero for bike advocates, Marcus Gee,
Globe and Mail, May 27, 2010

10
The joys and sorrows of cycling, Albert Koehl, Toronto Star, May 27, 2010
Michael Bryant is dead in the water, Stephen Pate, Oye! Times, May 27, 2010
Bryant case: Justice served or denied? Readers’ Letters, Toronto Star, May 27, 2010
Time to wear a bike helmet, Peter Kuitenbrouwer, National Post, May 27, 2010
Case should have gone to trial, Readers’ Letters, Toronto Star, May 28, 2010
Canada’s cycle couriers: in the eyes of the law, roadkill. Bill Chidley, Guardian,
May 28, 2010
Redemption and the courier’s dad, Rick Salutin, Globe and Mail, May 28, 2010
Editorial: Bryant case a high mark for justice system, Glenn Kauth, Law Times,
May 31, 2010
Do bicyclists “glibly disobey traffic rules”? Greg Peck, GaxetteXtra, June 3, 2010
The new life of Bryant, Peter Kuitenbrouwer, National Post, August 12, 2010

11
Darcy Allen Sheppard’s dad joins memorial bike ride, calls Toronto “toxic”,
John Michael McGrath, Toronto Life, August 30, 2010
The cyclo-martyrdom of Darcy Sheppard, and the real threat to bike couriers,
Jonathan Kay, National Post, August 10, 2010
Michael Bryant’s very bad year: his life on bail, how he got off, and his surprise comeback, Leah McLaren, September 16, 2010
Bitten by pit bull ban, Michael Bryant is back in the doghouse (after potential mate refuses to throw him a doggone bone), Kevin Hamilton, Toronto Life, October 7, 2011
Michael Bryant to write book about cyclist’s death so the world can finally hear his side,
Kevin Hamilton, Toronto Life, October 18, 2011
Apparently, Toronto bachelor Michael Bryant turns to online dating to look for love, Kevin Hamilton, Toronto Life, November 11, 2011
Michael Bryant releases his tell-all book about drinking binges and the worst night of his life, Frances McInnis, Toronto Life, August 21, 2012
Throw the book at the ‘nauseating claptrap’ of Michael Bryant, Christina Blizzard,
Ottawa Sun, August 22, 2012
The 28 seconds that changed my life, Maclean’s interview, August 22, 2012
Michael Bryant’s 28-second encounter with Darcy Sheppard opened door to nightmare,
Steve Mertl, Yahoo News, August 22, 2012

12
Pampered prince, Michael Coren, Toronto Sun, August 24, 2012
Bad-mouth Bryant, Susan G. Cole, Now Magazine, August 30, 2012
Rule of Law, dandy, dandyhorse magazine, dandyARCHIVE, August 31, 2012
Michael Bryant’s healing path from hubris to humility, Dow Marmur, September 2, 2012
For Darcy, my son, Allan Sheppard, Now Magazine, September 13, 2012
Why We Booked Michael Bryant on The Agenda, Steve Paikin, TVO, September 13, 2012
A searing indictment of society’s approach to addiction, Candace Fertile,
Victoria Times Colonist, September 23, 2012
Chutzpah, thy name is Michael Bryant, Allan Sheppard, Alberta Street News,
September 2012 (Archived at Bryant Watch blog)
Exclusive book excerpt: 28 Seconds, Michael Bryant, Chatelaine, September 12, 2012
Lawyers who lunch, Diane Peters, Precedent Magazine, October 2, 2012

13
Ontario searches for renewal in some familiar faces, Dan Arnold, National Post,                October 22, 2012
Punishing the criminal, treating the addict, Barbara Kay, National Post,
November 28, 2012
How Ontario’s “Frat Boy-Savant” Made It To The Top, Bob Tarantino, C2C Journal,
February 19, 2013
DAS5: Darcy Allan Sheppard remembered, Wayne Scott, Now Magazine,
September 8, 2014
Michael Bryants political resurrection takes ironic turn, Allan Sheppard, Now Magazine,
December 29, 2014
Squeegee swipe from Ford Nation’s undead, Allan Sheppard letter to editor,
Now Magazine January 28, 2015
“Michael Bryant Killed My Son”, Interviewed by Jesse Brown, Canadaland Show,
April 5, 2015
Exclusive: Police video of eyewitness in death of Darcy Allan Sheppard, Wayne Scott,
Now Magazine, April 6, 2015
More reason to scrutinize Sheppard death, Laurie McGillivray, letter to the editor,
Now Magazine, April 15, 2015
When Prosecution Met Defence: The Michael Bryant Case, J. Mark Smith, LawNow,
May 7, 2015

14
Unhappy anniversary for father of dead cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard, Allan Sheppard,
Now Magazine, May 26, 2015
Saunders’ comments belong in a police state, Edward Keenan, Toronto Star,
July 16, 2015
The Fixer [Profile of Marie Henein], MarciMcDonald, Toronto Life, October 20, 2015
Lowering the bar on Michael Bryant, Joe Hendry, Now Magazine, October 28, 2015
Michael Bryant critics, take note, Alex Minkin, letter to the editor, Now Magazine,
November 4, 2015
Toronto’s 50 Most Influential: #34, Marie Henein, Toronto Life, November 19, 2015
Insight and Inspiration with Michael Bryant, OLIP Unplugged, March 31, 2016
How Michael Bryant ended up on this issue’s cover, Melissa Kluger,
Precedent Magazine, December 5, 2016
Whatever happened to Michael Bryant? Daniel Fish, Precedent Magazine,
December 5, 2016
Michael Bryant tells young lawyers not to become “an obsessed-with-success machine, Stephanie Philp, Precedent Magazine, June 15, 2017

15
Canadian Civil Liberties Association Appoints Michael Bryant Executive Director, Comments, rabble.ca, January 13, 2018
Memo to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association on the appointment of Michael Bryant,
Allan Sheppard, Now Magazine, January 17, 2018
Michael Bryant wrong choice to lead Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Rick Salutin,
Toronto Star February 2, 2018
Naming Michael Bryant head of Canadian Civil Liberties Association a faux pas,
Rick Salutin, rabble.ca, February 2, 2018
Only Michael Bryant knows the truth, Don Cooper, letter to the editor Now Magazine,
February 2, 2018
Michael Bryant is the right candidate to take up the civil liberties fight, Jonathan Kay,
Maclean’s, February 13, 2018
Chris Selley: Michael Bryant at the CCLA — an unlikely man for an unlikely job,
Chris Selley, National Post, December 28, 2018
MB’s second life: Once he wielded the power of the state, now he challenges it,
Sean Fine, Globe and Mail, January 6, 2019
Michael Bryant Did A TEDx Talk About How Killing My Son Helped His Personal Growth,
Allan Sheppard, Canadaland, May 23, 2019
Michael Bryant: What price influence? Allan Sheppard, Now Magazine, August 30, 2019

16
Petition: Canadian Civil Liberties Assoc rescind appointment of Michael Bryant as Executive Director, Change.org, October 2019
Michael Bryant, CCLA and criminal justice, John Howard Society of Canada, December 11, 2019

 

MEDIA LINKS: BLOGS and FORUMS [290 entries: October 2020]

[Blogs and online forums, mostly Toronto-based, sorted by date but not into categories by subject or publisher.
Strikethroughs indicate broken links, often to sites and threads that are no longer active. I would appreciate contact from anyone who may have archived the missing stories and is willing to share the content for posting in the Media Archive section of this blog.
I have searched extensively online, but I am sure I have missed items that should be included. Again, please contact me if you have links or archived content to share.
allan sheppard
October 2020]

1
Ghost Bike List, Darcy Allan Sheppard, List, n.d.
Darcy Allan Sheppard memorial photo album, Hymie Syed, Flickr, n. d.
On Streets, Nothing Comes of Nothing, David Topping, Torontoist, September 1, 2009
Fast and Furious: Ex-Ontario A.G. Charged With Killing Cyclist, Joel Zand, FindLaw,
September 1, 2009
Bizarre Dragging Death in Toronto, ipsedixit, Above Top Secret, September 1, 2009
Darcy Allan Sheppard’s Tragic + Unnecessary Death on Bloor, Toronto Mike,
September 1, 2009
Stay clear of the attorney general, mtbr, September 1, 2009
Attorney General kills Toronto cyclist, Bicycle Mechanic, September 1, 2009
Ex-Ontario AG Bryant questioned in death of cyclist, Edward, Urban Toronto,
September 1, 2009
Bryant charged with two counts in horrendous accident with cyclist, Stephen Pate,
NJN Network, September 1, 2009

2
Former Ontario Liberal Cabinet Minister in custody following death of cyclist,
Stephen Pate,   NJN Network, September 1, 2009
Mayor’s office strangely silent…, Neo Conservative, Halls of Macadamia,
September 1, 2009
deliberate hit and run, CycleBanter, September 1, 2009
Michael Bryant Charged, Calgary Grit, September 1, 2009
Former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant involved in death of Toronto cyclist, MetaFilter, September 1, 2009
Awful story out of Toronto . . ., Debbie Westwood, Steve Treible, The Two Wheel Geek, September 1, 2009
Canada – Darcy Sheppard, 33, killed in road rage incident, Toronto, 31 Aug 2009, Websleuths, September 2, 2009
Together for Al, David Topping, Torontoist, September 2, 2009
Two wheels good, four wheels bad, Ken Breadner, The Breadbin, September 2, 2009
Former Ontario attorney-general charged in road rage death of bike messenger,
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, September 2, 2009

3
Darcy Allan Sheppard memorial and protest ride, Derek Flack, BlogTO,
September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant: Did the police rush to judgement, Garry J. Wise, Wise Law Blog,
September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant & Darcy Sheppard: Fight or Flight Reflex? Bill Pappin, September 2, 2009
More than words spilt on Bloor St, Allderblob, September 2, 2009
Michael Bryants Road Rage, Kirt Vories, Pinkbike, September 2, 2009
More on the Michael Bryant incident, Quotulatiousness, September 2, 2009
Former Ontario attorney general charged in bicyclist’s death, Scott Gutierrez, Seattle PI,
September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant vs. Cyclist Darcy Sheppard – Facts Before Acts, Philip Sullivan,
Phil Loses His Mind, September 2, 2009
Toronto Auto Safety Crusader Held for Cyclist’s Death, Edward Niedermeyer,
The Truth About Card, September 2, 2009
Wednesday WTF: Why is prior “police contact” relevant to a cycling death?
Graham F. Scott, This Magazine, September 2, 2009

4
Michael Bryant & Michael Vick –- the power of public relations, dogkisser,
Me and My Dogs in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 2, 2009
Former Ontario Attorney General Faces 2 Charges For Death Of Cyclist, 
White Trash Networks, September 2, 2009
Email dump on the AG tip, big jonny, Drunk Cyclist, September 2, 2009
Drink Alcohol and Die, The non conformer’s Canadian Weblog, September 2, 2009
An inexplicable tragedy, Grumpymutterings’ Blog, September 2, 2009
News from Around the World, XUP, September 2, 2009
A Michael Bryant blogroll, Precedent, Todd Harrison, September 2, 2009
Sad News, Toronto Messenger killed, BikeBlogNYC, September 2? 2009
The Brute Power of the Car, Sarah Goodyear, Streetsblog San Francisco,
September 3, 2009
Bicyclists vs drivers, The Ryan Coke Experience, September 3, 2009

5
Simply The Best? Better Than All The Rest? David Topping, Torontoist,
September 3, 2009
Newsstand: September 3, 2009, Lori Dance, Torontoist, September 3, 2009
What Started It All? Mess Media, September 3, 2009
Déjà vu, One Bark at a time, September 3, 2009
Michael Bryant incident not about bicycles and cars, Dave, The Lazy Photographer,
September 3, 2009
Deja vu all over again, Social Mange, September 3, 2009
Darcy Allan Sheppard (Al), zydeco fish, September 3, 2009
Toronto covers up after cyclist death on “Blood” Street, Allderblob, September 4, 2009
Michael Bryant, II, Grumpymutterings’ Blog, September 4, 2009
Toronto is still going to hell, John cairns, The John Cairns Blog, September 4, 2009

6
Witnesses don’t always get it right, Ray Argyle, Wild About Writing, September 4, 2009
Car vs. bicycle: Bryant vs. Sheppard, Lloyd W. Robertson, Lloydtown, September 5, 2009
Sugar-Coating Michael Bryant, Caveat, September 5, 2009
Week Around the Ists, Brock Keeling, SFist, September 6, 2009
We need more cyclists not more car drivers, Laura Robinson, Bike Lane Diary,
September 7, 2009
Media spin makes me hurl, Social Mange, September 7, 2009
Deafening Silence, John Lorinc, Spacing Toronto, September 8, 2009
Globe and Mail Reveals Bryant’s PR Firm As Source for Stories, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, September 9, 2009
What Started It All? Bryant Watch, Mess Media, September 9, 2009
Death and Advocacy, Dave Meslin, Mez Dispenser September 9, 2009

7
Sharing time is over, Andrew Tod, Uniter, September 9, 2009
Native community remembers accident victim, Indianz, September 9, 2009
My 2 cents. Jan Pachul, Toronto Community Television, September 9, 2009
Events calendar, Darcy Allan Sheppard, localwiki, September 9? 2009
Mangling social media in a crisis—Checkmate, September 9, 2009
Witnesses to killing of Darcy Allan Sheppard By Michael Bryant, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, September 10, 2009
He has a PR firm so where is Michael Bryant’s side of the story? Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, September 10, 2009
Annotated – Toronto Cyclist Sheppard Killed – Bryant on security cameras,
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, September 10, 2009
Navigator, changing your perceptions without you even knowing it, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, September 10, 2009
Politician known for harsh motorist laws arrested in brutal hit-and-run death, auto Blog,
September 10, 2009

8
Memorial Fund set up to aid Sheppard burial costs, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,    
September 10, 2009
Death and Advocacy, Tim Burrows, Reduce Collisions, injury and Death in Toronto,
September 10, 2009
Michael Bryant and Darcy Sheppard: divided by class, Sue McPherson, Sue’s Views on the News, September 10, 2009
Bryant cyclist case a lesson for all, Kris Scheuer, News and views on life in Toronto,
September 10, 2009
The world at a glance . . . Americas, The Week, September 10, 2009
Michael Bryant’s PR firm – Navigator Ltd, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
September 11, 2009
Is the former attorney general of Ontario really guilty of the death of the bicyclist?
dahn batchelor’s opinions, September 11, 2009
St. Paul’s By-Election Throwdown, Kimahli Powell, Torontoist, September 11, 2009
Messenger Memorial: Darcy Allan Sheppard, ahalenia.com, September 11?, 2009
On The War on the Car, Michael, A Daily Ride, September 12, 2009

9
Surveillance Footage of Michael Bryant’s Recklessness Enraging Cyclist Sheppard, Toronto Mike, September 13, 2009
Is there a digital smoking gun in the Michael Bryant Case? Rob, Cancrime,
September 13, 2009
Video of Bryant-Sheppard Incident, Russ Campbell’s Blog, September 14, 2009
Bryant & Sheppard: Security video on YouTube, Brill Pappin, Nothing Everywhere,
September 14, 2009
Road rights—When worlds collide, Bob Mionske, BicycleLaw, September 16, 2009
What if Navigator was working for Darcy Allan Sheppard instead of Michael Bryant?
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, September 16, 2009
Media omits important facts– Pull a Bryant.com, September 16, 2009
Not fit to print, John Miller, Journalism Doctor, September 17, 2009
Bryant’s road rage: cycling lawyer weighs in, herb, I Bike T.O., September 17, 2009
Bryant and bike courier a class issue, Steve Barker, Chicobandido,  September 18, 2009

10
The Navigator Narrative from Michael Bryant, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
September 19, 2009
The Evidentiary Narrative, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, September 20, 2009
The Problems with Cycling in Toronto, a Manifesto of Sorts, Max Rambles,
September 20, 2009
Bike couriers association calls press conference to counter negative media portrayal of “special friend” Darcy Allan Sheppard, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, September 23, 2009
Weekend Planner: September 26–27, 2009, Alison Horn, Torontoist, September 25, 2009
Cyclist Versus Drivers – Part 1, Andrew Nause, MTBAction, September 27, 2009
MORE ROAD RAGE NEWS – Can a Powerful Canadian Lawyer “Spin” the Death of a Bike Messenger? Steve Magas, Ohio Bike Lawyer, October ?, 2009
From Wesley McLean to Darcy Allan Sheppard—A Lesson 75 years in the making, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, October 1, 2009
Looking at a long day, the Feed, Opus the Poet, Witch on a Bicycle, October 17, 2011
Did Bryant’s passenger slap him just before he purposely rammed Sheppard?
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, October 18, 2009

11
Globe and Mail “collides” with truth, honestedits, October 19, 2009
Butcher of Bloor Street’s Lawyers get their day in court, Caught in the headlights,
October 19, 2009
Lacklustre Showing for Sheppard, Alixandra Gould, Torontoist, October 20, 2009
(LEGACY) Darcy Allan Sheppard Ghost Bike, monkeys4ever, Ghost Bikes,
October 25, 2009
MORE ROAD RAGE NEWS – Can a Powerful Canadian Lawyer “Spin” the Death of a Bike Messenger? Steve Magas, Ohio Bike Lawyer, October 27, 2009
Beyond a reasonable doubt, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, November 4, 2009
Michael Bryant’s privileged class and road rage, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
November 11, 2009
Michael Bryant’s lawyers seek Crown’s case in cyclist’s death, BicycleLaw,
November 16, 2009
Michael Bryant: Toronto’s Carnell Fitzpatrick, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
November 19, 2009
Bryant’s lawyers meeting behind closed doors for pre-trial November 30, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, November 29, 2009

12
Michael Bryant quietly gets a new job, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, December 6, 2009
Darcy Allan Sheppard – A life’s last moments, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
December 7, 2009
The Facts of the Michael Bryant Case so far, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
December 9, 2009
Heroes and Villains 2009: Villains Voting, Round One, Torontoist, December 22. 2009
Michael Bryant/Darcy Allan Sheppard video, Why are we Alive? December 29, 2009
The 10 biggest news stories in Toronto from 2009, Rick McGinnis, BlogTO,
December 2009
Michael Bryant’s case returns to court January 22, 2010, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
January 15, 2010
Michael Bryant’s case put over until March 5, 2010, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
January 23, 2010
Michael Bryant Speaks (About Energy), Alixandra Gould, Torontoist, January 29, 2010
Michael Bryant’s case put over until April 14, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, March 5, 2010

13
Newsstand, André Bovee-Begun, Torontoist, March 8, 2010
Michael Bryant’s case put over again. Police re-interview witnesses, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, April 15, 2010
Charges against Michael Bryant dropped, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, May 25, 2010
Bryant and the bike courier, David Newland, Adventures in Words and Music,
May 25, 2010
“Charges against Bryant in fatal crash withdrawn” and related articles, Sylvia’s Site,
May 25, 2010
Cycling advocates decry decision to drop Bryant’s charges, Toronto Sun, May 25, 2010
[Archived at Sylvia’s Site blog]
Charges dropped against ex-AG Michael Bryant, Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 2010
[Archived at Sylvia’s Site blog]
Rider Down: Cyclist found guilty of dying under the influence, Paul Andrews,
Bike Intelligencer, May 25, 2010
Us, them, Kathryn Hunt, The Incidental Cyclist, May 25, 2010
Charges against former AG Michael Bryant dropped, James C Morton,
Morton’s Musings, May 25, 2010

14
All charges against Michael Bryant, over death of Darcy Allan Sheppard, dropped,
David Topping, Torontoist, May 25, 2010
The double tragedy of Darcy Allan Sheppard and Michael Bryant, LLB, Randall White, Counterweights, May 25, 2010
Bryant Gets Away With Murder, The Canadian Individualist, May 25, 2010
For Michael Bryant, an extraordinary kind of justice, Christie Blatchford, Globe and Mail, May. 25, 2010 [Archived from Globe and Mail]
Charges against Bryant dropped, Sam Pazzano, Don Peat, Sudbury Star, May 25, 2010
[Archived from Sudbury Star]
A cloud will hang over Bryant case: Kormos, Antonella Artuso, Toronto Sun,
May 25, 2010 [Archived from Toronto Sun]
It’s true. The former AG got off, Sylvia, Sylvia’s Site, May 25, 2010
Charges against Michael Bryant DROPPED, Christian “Independent”, May 25, 2010
And Justice For All…, Marshall Golden, The Reel, May 26, 2010
Articles re withdrawal of charges against former Ontario AG Michael Bryant,
Sylvia’s Site, May 26, 2010

15
Bryant getting back in stride, Don Peat, Toronto Sun, May 26, 2010
[Archived from Toronto Sun]
Decades-old robbery influenced Bryant case, Shannon Kari, Sylvia’s Site, May 26, 2010
[Archived from National Post]
Bloor Street serves as city’s dividing line, Adam McDowell, National Post, May 26, 2010
[Archived from National Post]
More on the Michael Bryant case, nicholas, Quotulatiousness, May 26, 2010
If Michael Bryant should be judged on his merits, shouldn’t we all? Sue McPherson,
Sue’s Views on the News, May 26, 2010
Thoughts on the Bryant/Sheppard Decision, thwap, thwap’s schoolyard, May 26, 2010
Death in the city, Snarkus Canadensis, Fillibluster, May 26, 2010
Biker Down – Where there is no reasonable prospect for conviction…, big jonny,
Drunk Cyclist, May 26, 2010
Ontario attorney general vs a bike messenger, Mike, BikePGH, May 26, 2010
Bryant charges withdrawn, Smelley Boxers, Down With McGuinty, May 26, 2010

16
Michael Bryant can return to politics…eventually, experts say, Toronto Star,
Rob Ferguson, May 26, 2010
The Killing of Darcy Alan Shepherd by Michael Bryant, A View From the Annex,
May 26, 2010
An addendum, Kathryn Hunt, The Incidental Cyclist, May 27, 2010
Bryant getting back in stride, Don Peat, Sylvia’s Site, Toronto Sun, May 27, 2010
[Archived from Toronto Sun]
Eyewitnesses Say Ex Attorney General Bryant Intentionally Killed Darcy Sheppard: Watch the shocking videos here, The Good Law Blog, May 27, 2010
The Peck Brief – Advocate for the Defence Part 1, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
May 27, 2010
Course of Justice Denied, All Fired Up In The Big Smoke, May 27, 2010
Sometimes The Dragon Wins, The Legion of Decency, May 27, 2010
The verdict is in, jnyyz, May 27, 2010
Rider Down: Why it’s always the cyclist’s fault, Paul Andrews, Bike Intelligencer,
May 27, 2010

17
I would have done the same thing, Nocturnal Lecturer, May 27, 2010
Murder is Officially Legal in Canada: How a former Attorney General got away with killing a father of four, The Good Law Blog, May 27, 2010
Toronto Cyclists Making Corrupt Politicians Look Good, jackandcokewithalime,
May 27, 2010
Michael Bryant –- Darcy Sheppard Incident Follow-up, Philip Sullivan,
Phil Loses His Mind, May 27, 2010
When Cyclists Attack, The Iceman, May 27, 2010
dear toronto star: you are kind of a piece of shit, these pamphleteers, May 27, 2010
Michael Bryant walks away, Kendall Hall, When The Kids Take Over The Kingdom,
May 27, 2010
Bryant Decision is Just, Patrick O’Neill, Patrick O’Neil’s Pointed Pen, May 27, 2010
A P.R. Blitz, Urban Sophisticat, All Fired Up In The Big Smoke, May 29, 2010
Bryant walks, Irene, Irene reads the paper, May 29, 2010

18
Darcy Allan Sheppard’s Last Words plus more, Bike Lane Diary, May 31, 2010
“Michael Bryant Killed my Son”, u/mrsisti, Reddit.com, May 2010
Keine Gerichtsverhandlung Für Generalstaatsanwalt, Der Radfahrer Getötet Hat,
Ecocreatve, n.d. (May 2010?)
Executive summary of the withdrawal of charges in the Michael Bryant case,
Bob Mionske, BicycleLaw, June 1, 2010
PR Flacks: Do The Right Thing, All Fired Up In The Big Smoke, June 6, 2010
Justice For Darcy Sheppard, Petition, June 7, 2010
Canada: This angry cyclist was no martyr, Marcus Gee, The Week, June 10, 2010
[Excerpt archived from Globe and Mail]
Our Gushing Wells Needs Capping Too, All Fired Up In The Big Smoke, June 24, 2010
Spare the rod, spoil the cyclist, Toronto City Life, July 20, 2010
Apparently (Al Sheppard) – Video and Song!, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
July 27, 2010

19
Toronto Life releases September issue trailer, Masthead, August 11, 2010
Extra, Extra: McLaren Takes on Bryant, K’naan Takes a Minute, and Kuitenbrouwer Passes on a Condo, David Topping, Torontoist, August 13, 2010
Ride of Silence and Vigil for Darcy Allan Sheppard, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
August 26, 2010
Darcy Allan Sheppard Was Killed, krillz, Smashenger, August 29, 2010
Memorial for man who died after grabbing Bryant’s car, Canadian Press, CTV News,
August 29, 2010
Apparently (Al Sheppard) – The lyrics, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, August 30, 2010
Darcy Allan Sheppard – One year later, Richard Masoner, Cyclelicio.us, August 30, 2010
Michael Bryant’s Deadly Duel: Discussion, The Portal, The Individual and Society,
September 12, 2010
Crazy Banker, yogiatlarge, grubGrob, March 17, 2011
Whatever Happened to Former AG and Murderer Mike Bryant? (You Won’t Like the Answer), lml01, 40 years of faulty wiring, July 10, 2011

20
drunk driver who killed cyclist writing a book, Dino Snider, k-w bike blog,
October 17, 2011
Whatever happened to Michael Bryant?, Reddit thread, n.d.
The Ongoing Saga of the Michael Bryant – Drug Courier Bicycle Manslaughter, lml01,
40 years of faulty wiring, November 12, 2011
Vehicular Homicide….It’s All the Rage, Marybeth Tinning, Krazy Killers, July 17, 2012
Update: Michael Bryant, Budding Semi-Fiction Author, lml01, 40 years of faulty wiring,
January 4, 2012
Racing With Justice, Amarissa Cale, Societal Controversy, The Ontario Liberal Party,
March 16, 2012
Protest Michael Bryant’s Appearance at the ROM, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
March 19, 2012
What is a Wonderwall? lml01, 40 years of faulty wiring, April 25, 2012
The Michael Bryant defence? Κυνόσαργες, Hanlon’s Razor, May 26, 2012
Bike courier was in a blind rage: Michael Bryant, South Bayview Bulldog,
August 19, 2012

21
Michael Bryant’s memoir 28 Seconds recounts tragic death of bicycle courier,
Jennifer Wells, Toronto Star, August 18, 2013 [Archived at Sylvia’s Site, August 20, 2012]
Excerpt: The 28 Seconds That Changed My Life, From Maclean’s magazine,
Speakers’ Spotlight, August 20, 2012
Former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant tries to come back from a wreck,
Eye on a Crazy Planet, August 21, 2012
Toronto’s Highest Profile Bike Accident Case back in the News: The Michael Bryant Story, Goldfinger Injury Lawyers, August 22, 2012 
Newsstand: August 22, 2012, Casey Irwin, Torontoist, August 22, 2012
Extra, Extra: Boycott, Bryant, and Historical Groceries, Hamutal Dotan, Torontoist,
August 23, 2012
Brian Crockett: not another Michael Bryant ‘justice’ story, Sue McPherson,
Sue’s Views on the News, August 24, 2012
Michael Bryant’s failure to relate to the public, Chris Tindal, August 24, 2012
CBC’s Amanda Lang refused to disclose her relationship with Ontario Liberal Michael Bryant, BC Blue, August 25, 2012
Be careful out there! Lucy Martin, The In Box, August 25, 2012

22
Michael Bryant’s complaints of harsh treatment by Toronto Police proven false,
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, August 27, 2012
Pampered prince, Michael Coren, Proud to be Canadian, August 27, 2012
Urban Planner: August 31, 2012, Steve Fisher, Torontoist, August 31, 2012
Rule of Law, dandy, Dandyhorse Magazine, August 31, 2012
Evidence contradicts Bryant, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, September 3, 2012
Protest against attempts by former MPP to repair image after cyclist death, Tim Groves, Toronto Media Co-op, September 5, 2012
Darcy Allan Sheppard Remembered at Launch of Michael Bryant’s Memoir 28 Seconds,
Carly Maga, Torontoist, September 6, 2012
Darcy (Al) Sheppard May He Rest in Peace, Handlebar Booties, September 11, 2012
For Darcy, my son, Allan Sheppard, Now Magazine, September 13, 2012
In Defence of Michael Bryant, Kate M. Daley, katemdaley.ca, October 25, 2012

23
BCP on “One Voice Radio” with Malikh Aweri and Dane Swan, Black Coffee Poet,
November 30, 2012
28 Seconds: A True Story of Addiction, Tragedy, and Hope [review], Craig Rowland,
Mississauga Library System Nonfiction Book Blog, December 3, 2012
2012 Villain: Michael Bryant, Nominated for: an astonishingly tone-deaf response to a tragic death, Carly Maga, Torontoist, December 17, 2012
Darcy Allan Sheppard Documents Revealed Through Freedom Of Information Request, The Urban Country, May 21, 2013
Police Reconstruction report shows Michael Bryant as aggressor, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, May 21, 2013
Extra, Extra: Sheppard, a Crackstarter, and Porter, Steve Kupferman, Torontoist,
May 21, 2013
Unprecedented Cooperation – Mark Sandler and Michael Bryant, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, May 23, 2013
Approaching The Heart Of The Dragon, The Legion of Decency, May 25, 2013
Was the special prosecutor’s investigation into Bryant’s charges negligent or corrupt
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, May 25, 2013
Allan Sheppard Sr says son denied a fair hearing but Crown says decision was made independently, herb, IBike T.O., May 5, 2013

24
Allan Sheppard Sr says son denied a fair hearing but Crown says decision was made independently, IBikeTO, May 23, 2013
Darcy Allan Sheppard’s father speaks, LisaKirbie.com, May 23, 2013
Eye Witness Statements in Michael Bryant, Darcy Allan Sheppard Case, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, May 25, 2013
Darcy Allan Sheppard Documents Revealed Through Freedom Of Information Request,
The Urban Country, May ?, 2013
[Part One:] The case of Michael Bryant – A thorough investigation by the prosecution to acquit the defendant, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, June 1, 2013
[Part Two:] The Phantom swing “sensed” by Michael Bryant, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
June 2, 2013
The truth emerges, BicycleLaw, June 4, 2013
Michael’s New York Minute in 28 Seconds: A book review, Barry Leach,
Rebellion Dogs Publishing, June 8, 2013
Gone in 28 seconds, Inside Halton, from Melanie Cummings,  Burlington Post,
June 18, 2013
28 Seconds and 3 years Later, Michael Bryant is a Changed Man…Maybe, lml01,
40 years of faulty wiring, October 20, 2013

25
Toronto’s Bad Year for Traffic Fatalities, David Hains, Torontoist, January 16, 2014
28 Seconds: A True Story of Addiction, Injustice and Tragedy by Michael Bryant (Review),
Olga Kwak, The Punnery, February 26, 2014
Now Toronto: Bryant’s careful comeback, Wayne Scott, Bicycle Law, February 27, 2014,
[Archived from Now Magazine]
Playing the long-game: can Rob Ford win reelection in 2014?, Matt Elliott,
Ford For Toronto, March 12, 2014
Michael Bryant’s road rage deception, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, April 30, 2014
Toronto Ride of Silence 2014, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, May 21, 2014
Conclusion of the Police Reconstruction Report – Michael Bryant, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, June 11, 2014
Collision Reconstruction Report of the killing of Darcy Allan Sheppard, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, June 11, 2014
‘It is not my practice to litigate my cases in the media’: Who is Jian Ghomeshi’s lawyer Marie Henein? Jen Gerson, Cybersmokeblog, November 26, 2014
[Archived from National Post]
Organized attempt to supress eyewitness video in Michael Bryant case, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, April 4, 2015

26
Eyewitnesses Consistently Portray Michael Bryant as Aggressor, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, April 5, 2015
Witness interview video released in Darcy Allan Sheppard’s death, City TV, April 6, 2015
Police video of eyewitness in death of Darcy Allan Sheppard, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
April 23, 2015
Bike to Work Day, Toronto, 2015, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, May 25, 2015
Help support the production of Darcy Allan Sheppard documentary, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, June 12, 2015
Open Streets TO 2015, Part Two, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, September 6, 2015
At Least He Had The Decency To Stop, ipsedixit, Above Top Secret, September 25, 2015
Michael Bryant prosecutors receive prestigious award from defence attorneys,
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, October 17, 2015
Why did Michael Bryant wait three minutes to call 911? Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
October 22, 2015
When cyclist Darcy Allen Sheppherd (sic) was killed by former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant. The testimony hidden by the police, u/bobjones50, Reddit, n.d. 2015

27
Witness against the prosecution, Part I, Enlightenment at the end of the tunnel? Or darkness? Allan Sheppard, 28 Questions, February 7, 2016
Witness against the prosecution—Part II, Enlightened justice at the end of the tunnel? Or darkness? Allan Sheppard, 28 Questions, February 10, 2016
Witness against the prosecution—Part III, Reasonable doubt? Or unreasonable certainty? Allan Sheppard, 28 Questions, March 03, 2016
Ghomeshi v Bryant, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, April 24, 2016
28 Forgotten Facts about Michael Bryant’s killing of Darcy Allan Sheppard, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, May 25, 2016
28 Forgotten Facts about Michael Bryant’s killing of Darcy Allan Sheppard,
Hoof and Cycle, May 26, 2016
Imbalance in the court room [Part 1]—Michael Bryant’s secret weapon, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, August 31, 2016
Cyclists are an insidious threat more dangerous than…, Roosh V Forum,
September 14, 2016
Special prosecutor relied upon discredited expert in Michael Bryant case, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, September 27, 2016
How Michael Bryant killed Darcy Allan Sheppard and how the justice system was manipulated to set him free, Bryant Watch, September 30, 2016

28
Richard Peck’s Propensity to Withdraw Charges, Imbalance in the court room (Part 2),
Bryant Watch, Mess Media, December 5, 2016
Case #1: RCMP Sgt. Gary Tidsbury involvement in attack on suspect in Mindy Tran’s murder, Imbalance in the court room (Part 3), Bryant Watch, Mess Media, December 5, 2016
Whatever happened to former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant? Richard K,
Eye on a crazy Planet, January 23, 2017
DAS7: a remembrance, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, May 25, 2017
Law societies must do more to help addicted, mentally ill members, Bryant urges,
Terry Davidson, The Lawyer’s Daily, October 27, 2017
Michael Bryant appointed head of Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Carol Jones,
Lawfirms in Canada, January 16, 2018
In Michael Bryant’s self-defence, Gloria Matei, Now Magazine, February 17, 2018
Letters To The Editor, Allan Sheppard, Now Magazine, February 22-28, 2018
Killers like Michael Bryant should not speak for their victims, Bryant Watch, Mess Media,
May 17, 2018
Scooter Girl, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, August 25, 2018

29
Eyewitnesses to a killing, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, August 29, 2018
Michael Bryant is the right candidate to take up the civil liberties fight, Jonathan Kay,
February 2018 [Reposted from McLean’s]
How Michael Bryant, the Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association killed Darcy Allan Sheppard and how the justice system was manipulated to set him free, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, August 30, 2018
DAS9, jnyyz, Biking in a big city, August 31, 2018
Michael Bryant, the guy that killed a cyclist and introduced the Pitbull ban is back…, u/mudgts, Reddit, 2018?
Remembering the Fallen Cyclists of Toronto, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, August 18, 2019
Newly released and unseen video statements regarding Michael Bryant’s attack and killing of Darcy Allan Sheppard, Bryant Watch, Mess Media, August 30, 2019
DAS 0 (2009), jnyzz, Biking in a Big City August 31, 2020
Just a reminder that Michael Bryant hit Metis cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard with his car…, Alicia Elliott, @WordsandGuitar, Twitter, February 28, 2020
Michael Bryant (Politician), People Pill n.d.

 

 

MEDIA LINKS: VIDEOS, BROADCASTS, PODCASTS, IMAGES; BOOKS; COURSES [75 entries: October 2020]

[Broadcast and electronic media coverage, mainly mainstream, mostly Toronto-based, sorted by date but not into categories by subject or publisher.
There are some duplicates to indicate the breadth of distribution and to show the range of reader comments. 
Strikethroughs indicate broken links, often to publishers that are no longer active. I would appreciate contact from anyone who may have archived the missing stories and is willing to share the content for posting in the Media Archive section of this blog.
I have searched extensively online, but I am sure I have missed items that should be included. Again, please contact me if you have links or archived content to share.
allan sheppard
October 2020]

ELECTRONIC MEDIA: VIDEO, PODCASTS, RADIO [38 entries: October 2020]
1
Eyewitness to Michael Bryant’s killing of Darcy Allan Sheppard in Toronto, Bryant Watch,
Mess Media, n.d.
Safe cycling in the city, Discussion, Globe and Mail, September 1, 2009
Michael Bryant charged in fatal crash, Toronto Sun, September 1, 2009
[Posted to YouTube February 28, 2018]
Scott Laurie on the charges, CTV News, September 1, 2009
Former Ontario Attorney General Questioned After Fatal Crash. CityTV,
September 1, 2009
John Vennavally-Rao on Bryant’s deadly collision, CTV News, September 1, 2009
Bike Courier Mourned, CityTV, September 1, 2009
Tom Hayes with more on the fatal Bloor St. road rage incident, CTV News,
September 2, 2009
Michael Bryant Resigns As CEO Of Invest Toronto, City TV News, September 2, 2009
Cyclists, Couriers Come Together In Protest Against Motorist, City TV News,
September 2, 2009

2
Reshmi Nair on the growing memorial for a dead cyclist, CTV News, September 3, 2009
Girlfriend Speaks About Bicycle Courier’s Death, September 3, 2009
Darcy Allan Sheppard: From One Messenger To Another, Zef Kraiker, Christopher Kaiser, Vimeo, September 3?, 2009
Does Toronto’s Michael Bryant think human beings are made out of rubber, NoltonMash, YouTube, September 13, 2009
A Twitter battle over truths, Janice Neil, J-Source, September 2009
Apparently (Al Shepard), Sunny D and David Phinn, YouTube, 2010
Apparently (Al Sheppard), Sunny D and David Phinn, YouTube, 2010 (ROUGH CLIP)
Video: Michael Bryant Recalls Fateful Night, Toronto Star, August 21, 2012
Michael Bryant on what led to, and what followed, cyclist Darcy Sheppard’s death, Canada AM, CTV August 21, 2012
Canada AM: Just 28 seconds to change a life, Canada AM, CTV, August 21, 2012

3
Amanda Lang’s full interview with former A.G. Michael Bryant, The National CBC TV, August 2012
Sheppard’s father responds, Interview with Reshmi Nair, CBC Newsnet, August 2012
Michael Bryant: 28 Seconds, Steve Paikin interview, The Agenda, TVO,
September 11, 2012
Michael Bryant’s Life in Politics, Steve Paikin interview, The Agenda, TVO,
September 12, 2012
Allan Sheppard: Darcy Allan Sheppard’s Story, Steve Paikin interview, October 26, 2012
Slain cyclist’s father still has serious concerns about the handling of his son’s case.
John Bonnar, May 23, 2013
Father of Cyclist Killed in Confrontation with Michael Bryant Calls for Review, NewsTalk1010, May 23, 2013
A Minute with Michael (Bryant), canaceHD, February 12, 2014
Michael Bryant on Rob Ford, Michael Enright Interview, Sunday Edition, CBC Radio,
May 4, 2014
“Michael Bryant Killed My Son”, Canadaland Show, Jesse Brown/Allan Sheppard,
April 5, 2015

4
Witness interview video released in Darcy Allan Sheppard’s death, Diana Pereira,
Radio 680 News, April 6, 2015
Witness interview video released in Darcy Allan Sheppard’s death, City News,
April 6, 2015
The Circumstance of Equals, Sean Robichaud, Michael Bryant, July 4, 2018
Michael Bryant on his do-over, CBC News, Interview with Matt Galloway, Metro Morning, January 10, 2018
Michael Bryant charged in fatal crash, Toronto Sun, September 1, 2009,
Posted to YouTube February 28, 2018
Behind the Scenes with Michael Bryant, TEDx Toronto, November14, 2018
Becoming who you are meant to be, Michael Bryant, TEDx Toronto, December 11, 2018

LOOSE ENDS [2 entries: October 2020]
1. Aboriginal Education in Ontario/Darcy Allan Sheppard’s Story, Sheldon Osmond, TVO, October 17, 2012 [See Note 1, below.]
This title shows on IMDB as Episode 32 of Season 7 of The Agenda With Steve Paikin, but it does not come up on YouTube or TVO’s site. Can anyone help me track it down, if it still exists (or ever did)?
2. Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant talks about the …, YouTube, n.d.
The link leads to a screen with this notice: “This content is not available in your country due to a defamation complaint.” A search using the headline text above produces the image and text below, which might still be available and accessible outside Canada. I assume the objection is to the YouTube poster’s comments, rather than to the content of the video, which was sourced from the Toronto Star. Videos posted by newspapers seem to have a short self life, and this one is no longer available on the Star’s site. I would appreciate contact from anyone who has archived the video and is willing to share it.

4:32
2012-11-24 · Here is former Attorney General Michael Bryant, talking about the night he slaughtered Darcy Allan Sheppard with his car. Bryant, an admitted alcoholic and a…
Author: OPPCriminality
Views: 544

IMAGES [8 entries: October 2020]
[Still shots offered by commercial stock sources or posted by bloggers of Michael Bryant, Darcy Allan Sheppard, cyclists protesting remembering. I welcome contributions and links from anyone with images to share.]
Darcy Allan Sheppard, Michael Bryant, Getty Images, n.d.
Darcy Allan Sheppard Memorial, Bloor Street West, Toronto Ontario Canada,
HiMY Syed, Torontopedia, September 3, 2009
A vigil for Darcy Allan Sheppard, Ryan Walker, tumblr.com, May 26?, 2010
Toronto Ride of Silence 2014, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, May 21, 2014
Bike to Work Day, Toronto, 2015, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, May 25, 2015
Open Streets TO 2015, Part Two, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, September 6, 2015
DAS7: a remembrance, jnyyz, Biking in a Big City, May 25, 2017
DAS9, jnyyz, Biking in a big city, August 31, 2018

ORPHANS [18 entries: October 2020]
[Undated headlines and titles, to items, mostly videos, that seem not to have survived the passage of a decade since the incident online. I would appreciate contact from anyone who can provide links to the missing material or who may be able to provide copies of the content to log and post to my DASFiles Media Archive.

1
Video: How the night unfolded [Globe and Mail]
Graphic: Death on Bloor Street [National Post]
Video: Witnesses describe what they saw [Globe and Mail]
Video: The fractious relationship between cyclists and drivers, [CBC News]
Video: Bryant sits in back of cruiser [Globe and Mail]
Video: Bryant facing serious charges after cyclist killed [City News]
Video: Charges laid in cyclist’s death Charges laid in cyclist’s death[Toronto Sun]
Former Ontario AG Bryant charged in cyclist’s death [CBC News]
Video: Police question Bryant in fatal incident [Globe and Mail]
Video: Former Ontario attorney general questioned after fatal crash [CityNews]

2
Video: Police tow car from scene of deadly hit and run [Globe and Mail]
Media release: Bryant’s statement from Tuesday afternoon [Newswire.ca]
Graphic: [National Post]
Timeline of events [Globe and Mail]
Dark day for rising star [National Post]
Michael Bryant in profile [Globe and Mail]
Dispute leads to death [Toronto Sun]
Former Ontario attorney general Bryant faces two charges after fatal crash
[National Post]

BOOKS, PAPERS, SCRIPTS [7 entries: October 2020]
Baldridge, Mary Humphrey, The Death of Darcy Sheppard, a play in one act, © Mary Humphrey Baldridge, 2016 [See Note 1]
Bryant, Michael, 28 Seconds: A true story of addiction, tragedy, and hope, Toronto, Viking, 2012
Reis, Martin, The Other Side of Grace, Toronto, Self-published, 2012 (fiction, based on the event)
Wells, Jennifer, The Lost Boy: The death of Darcy Allan Sheppard, Toronto Star eBook, December. 26, 2013
Henein, Marie, Split-Seconds Matter, in Christopher D. Evans and Lorene Shyba, eds., Tough Crimes: True Cases by Top Canadian Criminal Lawyers, Calgary, Alberta, Canada : Durance Vile Publications, 2014
Methot, Suzanne, Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing, Toronto: BCW Press, 2019 [Excerpt at Google Books, https://bit.ly/2ZX8nSO%5D
[Note 1: The Death of Darcy Sheppard received public readings at the Bridge Theatre, New York, August 23, 2016, presented by The Acting Studio – New York, and at the Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, Toronto, August 31, 2016, presented by members of the messenger and theatre communities on the seventh anniversary Darcy Allan Sheppard’s death.
For scripts and information about reading and performance rights, contact dinosaurlady1@gmail.com.]

COURSES [2 entries: October 2020]
Living Above the Law? The Controversy Surrounding the Michael Bryant Case, Ontario Virtual School, CLN4U, Grade 12 Canadian and International Law, 2010
Darcy Allan Shepard (sic) vs. Patriarchy, Soc 3810, University of Toronto, n.d.

ARCHIVED MEDIA: Bryant: ‘I am innocent’, Bryn Weese, Sun Media, September 3, 2009

Bryant: ‘I am innocent’
Former AG resigns from city post
By BRYN WEESE, SUN MEDIA
Toronto Sun.com_Last Updated: 3rd September 2009, 4:32am
[Not archived online by the publisher.]

The province’s former attorney general — charged Tuesday in the death of a cyclist –professed his innocence yesterday.

Offering his resignation as the CEO of Invest Toronto to Mayor David Miller, Michael Bryant said the “circumstances” of the past few days means he couldn’t devote his full attention to the newly established corporation of the city.

“Let me be clear: I am innocent of the very serious accusations made against me,” Bryant wrote. “It would, however, be unfair to you, the Board and above all to the residents of Toronto to allow this event to distract from the vital efforts of Invest Toronto.

“The CEO of Invest Toronto is a position that demands the full attention and energy of its owner. Torontonians demand no less.”

Ontario’s ministry of the attorney general is in the process of retaining independent counsel to prosecute the case, said spokesman Brendan Crawley. He declined to comment further until the details are finalized

Bryant left provincial politics at the end of May to take the plum city appointment. He was working on a strategic plan for the new corporation, which is meant to attract foreign businesses to relocate to Toronto or base their North American headquarters here.

Once up and running, Invest Toronto is expected to attract “hundreds” of high-quality jobs and “millions of dollars” in new commercial development.

“It was a huge honour to serve the City of Toronto by helping to steer Toronto’s economy through these remarkable economic times and to put together the framework for Invest Toronto,” the former Liberal MPP for Toronto’s St. Paul’s riding wrote Miller. “I am deeply grateful for your confidence and the Invest Toronto Board of Directors’ belief in my ability to take on such an important role.”

On Tuesday, Bryant was charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the death of Darcy Allan Sheppard, a bike courier who was killed near Bloor St. and Avenue Rd. Monday night.

Miller accepted Bryant’s resignation and in a statement thanked him, “for his part in getting the work of establishing Invest Toronto off the ground. “His vision for this organization was clear and his commitment obvious,” Miller said, adding Bryant is a “dedicated public servant with a unique gift.”

Some city councillors agree Bryant’s move was the right one to make, whether or not he is guilty of the charges facing him.

Bryant will appear in Old City Hall court Oct. 19.

BRYN.WEESE@SUNMEDIA.CA

ARCHIVED MEDIA: When worlds collide, Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun, September 2, 2009

When worlds collide
By JOE WARMINGTON
Toronto Sun
Last Updated: 2nd September 2009, 5:30am
(Back issues of the Sun newspapers are generally not available online.)

Former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant speaks to media after being charged for his role in a fatal incident last night that resulted in the death of a cyclist. Bryant, 43, walked out of Toronto Police traffic services this afternoon charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. He will appear in an Old City Hall courtroom on Oct. 19, Sgt. Tim Burrows said. (Alex Urosevic/SunMedia)

They are two people from different worlds who met on one stretch of road in the centre of the city.

Before their lives collided on posh Bloor St. Monday night they were on very different trails.

Now one is dead and the other upon conviction for that death could very well be politically dead.

Michael Bryant, 43, a married father of two, had been Ontario’s youngest attorney general, a tough Harvard educated lawman who brought down hard justice against street racers and banned pit bulls, is currently the Invest Toronto president for the City of Toronto and is always on every political pundit’s list as a potential candidate for mayor one day or premier.

Darcy Allan Sheppard, 33, was a hard-working bike courier who friends describe as someone “who would do anything for you,” a loving father and loads of fun.

Before Monday night they were both going on about their contrasting lives unaware of each other’s existence. That changed after an altercation between Sheppard on a bike and Bryant in his car on Bloor St.

Soon after Sheppard was dead and Bryant found himself in Toronto Police custody from which he was eventually charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

This is a very complicated case with many valid arguments on all sides.

TOOK ACTION

Ultimately Toronto Police investigators have the information and experience to know what charges were appropriate and they did take that action.

But one could also make the argument for them to not charge Bryant — or at least not charge him with the criminal negligence causing death part of it. Not to say the police were wrong because perhaps to the letter of the law they really had no choice.

However perhaps because of Bryant’s position as the former boss of Ontario justice, the optics would not have been to pretty had they not laid serious charges. His profile in essence may have worked against him. As it was there are critics complaining he does not have to go to bail court until Oct. 19.

You can imagine the outcry had there not been charges that, if proven, would land Bryant in the federal penitentiary system. Through it all Bryant was brave to face the media and give a statement of condolences when lawyers would have preferred he said nothing until after his court date Oct. 19.

In Sheppard’s memory, fellow couriers, seeming to be nice and sympathetic people, came by with flowers and notes, written poignantly on waybills saying such things as “murdered by motorist”.

“Everyone is outraged,” said Jeremy Axon, a fellow courier. “Michael Bryant passed along his condolences to the family? After he ran over him … it’s a little too late.”

CYCLISTS ANGRY

Cyclists’ anger and frustration is real and they are entitled to it. However, while it is true there is someone dead, to lay the blame completely on Bryant is simply not telling the whole story.

There were two combatants in this latest version of the bike and car war and one died.

What Bryant needs is people to have an open mind when they consider the facts — not cloud it with political partisanship or jealousy or even the bikes against cars debate. The reality is, whether or not the original collision was Bryant’s fault and no one has said it was, he was physically approached by this cyclist.

One wonders had Bryant or his wife been the one killed or hurt, what would the charges have been toward Sheppard?

When you look at the Bloor St. surveillance video Dwight Drummond on CITY-TV obtained, it shows the man on the bike being knocked over, him throwing the bike down and then heading toward the driver’s side of the car. You then see the car take off and within seconds, witnesses have indicated the Saab crossed the centre lane over to the opposite curb with the man hanging on to the car before he was dragged into a series of collisions with trees and a mail box.

“I saw the cyclist holding on to the driver,” one eyewitness told Drummond.

No one has yet said what the appropriate action here should have been. I have heard you are supposed to stop the car but this is easier to suggest not being in the heat or fear of the moment. Instead the video shows the Saab reverse, attempt to drive around the bike and then head west on Bloor with the man in tow.

How would any person in a convertible, with his wife beside him, react to an aggressive person hitting a car with a lock and forcefully coming toward the driver’s side of the car in an angry manner?

Witnesses have told reporters that from what they saw, Bryant was trying to get away from a potential assailant and that person kept catching up to him. It will be a fascinating trial.

What needs to be brought into consideration is what the two were doing prior to this incident.

HEADING HOME

Bryant, we understand, was heading to his midtown Toronto home with his lawyer wife, Susan H. Abramovitch, after an evening out and police said there was no alcohol involved.

However, Sheppard, his girlfriend has told the Sun, had been drinking earlier, had been in an altercation with a homeless man who had laughed at him falling off his bike on George St., had been in the back of a police cruiser in response to that and was in a foul mood when he left that area heading west.

Within 30 minutes, he was dead.

There are two victims in this tragic altercation and, as my editors agreed last night, the police were right in one thing and that is a courtroom is absolutely the proper place to sort it all out.

It’s never nice when someone dies in such a stupid incident.

But on the other side of it, Bryant is innocent until proven guilty, so before anybody writes off the career, political or otherwise, of this bright young man, or convicts him of being a criminal, consider the actions and intentions of the two men from different planets whose paths crossed.

—

BRYANT SPEAKS PUBLIC STATEMENT
Following his release from police custody yesterday, an unshaven, tired-looking Michael Bryant made the following statement to media:
I’m making a statement today on last night’s tragic events.
At an appropriate moment, I will of course speak to you.
I would however like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Sheppard.
To all those who have offered support to my family over the past 12 hours, thank you.
I ask that the media continue to respect my family’s need for distance and privacy for the next few days.
Thank you.

ARCHIVED MEDIA: It’s us against them, Mike Strobel, Toronto Sun, September 2, 2009

It’s us against them
Miller’s social engineering has created a recipe for disaster on city streets
By MIKE STROBEL
Toronto Sun
Last Updated: 2nd September 2009, 5:24am (p. 2)
(Back issues of the Sun newspapers are generally not available online.)

We are appalled at the tragedy of Michael Bryant and the dead cyclist — but we should not be surprised.

All wars have casualties.

One man is dead in his prime. Another’s life and career are in tatters.

Police and courts will decide who did what.

If it’s true the cyclist was dragged to his death in a burst of road rage, there’s no excuse on earth.

But the wheels, so to speak, were set in motion long ago, down at City Hall.

Few divisions in our fine city are as deep and ugly as that between drivers and cyclists.

Us against them.

Some of it is natural, territorial. We want the same piece of asphalt.

This gets real touchy when one of us is in, say, a 3,400-pound Dodge Charger and the other is on a 34-pound Raleigh.

But for eons we’ve co-existed. Simple. The 34-pounder steers clear of the 3,400-pounder and no one gets hurt.

Then, along come the social engineers at City Hall. Led by chief engineer David Raymond Miller, they are imbued with a righteous green glow.

As do most zealots, they mess with nature.

They declare war on the driver, who is just trying to get to work on time.

“Two wheels good, four wheels bad,” the politicos declare, to paraphrase George Orwell. The theory in practice takes many forms, all forced and many bizarre.

Bicycle lanes pop up like runaway toast, often in bewildering places, squeezing regular traffic.

For instance, one sprouts on Eastern Ave., a critical escape route from downtown, then suddenly disappears 10 blocks later, having gummed everything up.

Choke a rush-hour route to one lane and what do you expect?

The same exasperation will arise on such arteries as Jarvis and Roncesvalles as City Hall’s barrage on cars escalates.

What a recipe for trouble.

Listen. We drivers have nothing against bicycles. They are healthy and green. But 84% of Sun readers, in a poll last spring, say bikes are not an option for school or work.

We do not hate bike lanes, either. The more the better, if you ask me. But plunk them on streets that are wide enough — without stealing car lanes.

Or put them on grassy medians or extra broad sidewalks, away from cars. Less chance of accident or confrontation

But no. City Hall in its zeal insists on the path of most resistance.

Two wheels good, four wheels bad.

Cyclists are a militant bunch to begin with. Give them political clout and they can be insufferably demanding.

Look at ’em wrong and you risk a barrage of profanity.

Remember what happened to the denizens of Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Chaos. Rivalry. Rage.

That often happens with social engineering — the Soviet model lampooned by Orwell, or the kind extolled by Socialist Silly Hall, as our Sue-Ann Levy calls the place.

(Sue-Ann is running for the Tories in the Sept. 17 byelection in St. Paul’s, the riding vacated last spring by Bryant.)

Social engineering tears people apart. Makes ’em mad at each other. Makes ’em do bad things. Better that politicians steer clear.

I call Darren Stehr, 39. He’s with Critical Mass, a mob of bicycle fanatics who stampede through downtown streets on the last Friday of each month.

I did the ride years ago. We pedalled along Bloor, right by where former attorney general Bryant and his cyclist met Monday night.

Critical Mass is a power trip, but it’s harmless and Stehr is the sanest rad-cyclist I know.

Not all drivers are bad, says he, and cyclists could learn a thing or two about getting along.

So, where’s the peace?

“We need to respect one another,” says Stehr.

Yes we do. It’s sure tough when the mucky-mucks are war-mongers.

ARCHIVED MEDIA: Objects in the mirror…, Chris Bilton, Eye Weekly, September 3, 2009

Objects in the mirror…
by: Chris Bilton
September 3, 2009 1:24 PM
Eye Weekly [Ceased publication in 2011; no longer on line.]

Though the Darcy Allan Sheppard case is an imperfect one for cycling-safety advocacy, it still teaches us important lessons about the rules of the road

When hundreds of cyclists hoist their bikes in the air, wheels to the sky, in memory of a fallen fellow crank, there’s a palpable feeling of revolution. And when said cyclists have effectively shut down a section of Bloor Street during Wednesday afternoon-rush hour with the magnitude of their presence (and some police escorts), the collective statement is something along the lines of: “Hey motorists, do you see us now? Together, the cyclists of Toronto are clearly too many to ignore — unlike in the too-common instances where a lone cyclists gets doored, right-hooked and even killed because some driver “didn’t see them.”

Surely, it’s a different kind of ghost bike that will be laid in memory of Darcy Allan Sheppard. If in fact Sheppard was technically a pedestrian when his fatal altercation with former attorney general/Invest Toronto CEO Michael Bryant took place this past Monday night, his death is a matter of solidarity and continued concern for bike safety on the streets of Toronto, prompting so many cyclists to gather in front of the building where he was killed.

While the details of Monday night’s tragedy continue to emerge — along with a thorough background check on the slain cyclist’s past — the politicizing of such a high-profile case is just getting underway. But the media frenzy around this death has potential to do some good, rather than just sensationalize the incident. For the first time since maybe when Critical Mass took their bicycle awareness ride to the Gardiner last year, everyone seems to be talking about cycling in Toronto. And the consensus seems to be that bikes and cars still haven’t figured out how to coexist in harmony. (Nor has the city figured out how to put them together safely.)

Among the flowers and candles, and the many yellow post-it notes affixed to the mailbox where Sheppard died, the most ominous part of the makeshift memorial is the DIY bike lane laid out across a few metres of Bloor Street. Of course it’s not clear whether a bike lane on Bloor would have prevented the alleged initial situation between Bryant and Sheppard, and then there’s the drinking/belligerence factor, along with all the other what ifs.

The blow-by-blow of what actually happened will most definitely come out in court, which will open the door for more judgement about how both parties (mis)handled the situation. But more details will really only underline just how complex this incident was. All we can know for sure is that someone should have backed down from this confrontation, as with any potentially violent confrontation, whether there’s a bicycle involved or not.

All of which makes this a very imperfect case for cycling safety. And yet since most of the reports so far point to a minor bike-car collision as the trigger to this complex case, it can’t help but stir up emotions in the cycling community. At the memorial gathering in front of Sephora yesterday, it felt more like the cyclists were simply there to protect the sanctity of the event rather than to make any political statement. But cyclists taking over a busy city street can’t help but be a statement. And the death of another cyclist on a Toronto street is reason enough to explore this continued animosity in the hopes of finding a solution.

Cyclists like to feel like they are getting away with something, or at least like we are outsmarting the system. With a minor investment and your self-generated propulsion, you are free from the congestion of city living. Being stuck in traffic is for suckers, and the TTC isn’t nearly reliable enough to ever plan ahead. Plus, city hall itself is, on paper anyway, a huge proponent of cycling as a great alternative to driving. And yet until sufficient bike lane networks are available across the Toronto, it’s a little bit like those politicians in Jaws encouraging people to go swimming when they know there’s a man-eating great white shark in the water.

What motorists don’t seem to understand is that when they lane change without signalling or looking and end up cutting each other off, the worst that can happen is a few thousand dollars in bended fenders. When they do it to a cyclist, they are threatening a life. Christie Blatchford said it best when comparing what’s really at stake in any kind of car-bike altercation: “The mismatch between car and bicycle is sufficiently enormous that the cyclist is inherently always right.” Or: “For as the cyclist will always physically lose in any contest with a car, so the driver of a car always will yield the high ground to the cyclist.”

I’m not saying cyclists don’t do stupid things. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve nearly t-boned another biker because they’ve turned a corner or pulled out in front of me without looking. But since I’m already half expecting cars to make those kinds of bonehead manoeuvres, so far I’ve been alert enough to avoid any mishap.

But let’s face it: motorists are easily distracted. Driving a car is like sitting on a couch and watching television, except that you are in control of a few thousand pounds of vehicle while you doing so. The combination of sedentary travel plus the tediousness of any in-city drive breeds laziness and negligence. So that oft-heard line about the cyclist coming out of nowhere or off the side walk is no excuse. If you didn’t see the cyclist, it’s because you didn’t look. The first rule of defensive driving in the freaking Ontario Drivers Manual is about visibility: “You should always be aware of traffic in front, behind and beside you. Keep your eyes constantly moving, scanning the road ahead and to the side and checking your mirrors every five seconds or so.”

It’s called awareness. And it’s something that we all need to practice when navigating this city.

 

ARCHIVED MEDIA: In Defence of Michael Bryant, Kate M. Daley (blog post)

Kate M. Daley [Inactive blog, archived]
October 25, 2012

I started this post more than 6 weeks ago. I wanted to write it right after I finished reading Michael Bryant’s book, 28 Seconds. I think Bryant should be commended on his candor, especially when discussing his own struggles with addiction and his encounter with hubris. Bryant has been one of my favourite figures in Ontario politics since I met him briefly at an event five years ago, and I was quite upset by the events of August 2009, in which Darcy Allan Sheppard was killed and Michael Bryant was charged with dangerous driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death. Those charges would be dropped based on the evidence available.

From my perspective, that outcome seems appropriate. But this post is not about that; there has been enough commentary on that question. Since the launch of Bryant’s book, I have been unsettled by what I have seen and heard.

I have been struggling for weeks over what, precisely, I want to say about this state of affairs. I finally figured it out yesterday at an event at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. I unfortunately missed Michael Bryant’s presentation while I was in class, but I understand he largely read from his book. What I saw during the question and answer session was jarring.

The online response to the book and to Bryant had seemed overwhelmingly negative (see, for example, Steve Paikin’s response to comments on his interview with Bryant).  Many of the comments seemed extreme and hate-filled, and ranged from the disrespectful to the scary. If the online response was any indication, there are a lot of people who are angry with Michael Bryant. But online often isn’t any indication. Sometimes online anger is mostly exists online, behind the wall of anonymity. Many online comments were from people who either haven’t bothered to read the book, or who proudly refuse to read the book before commenting on it as a matter of principle.

But I started to get the sense that this anger was more than the usual online trolls. Some colleagues and friends seemed surprised and usually responded negatively when I mentioned I was reading the book, and when I expressed a fondness for Bryant as a public figure.

But none of this was anything close to what I saw at Osgoode yesterday. I have now spent more than 7 years of my life in the academy, and I love it. I have come to expect and cherish the ability to have serious debate around difficult issues, and to ask hard questions with respect.

Yesterday, I saw a number of people at a talk in a university respond with disrespect and aggression to an individual who had come forward to share his work and his record, and to face critique on both. One attendee called Bryant guilty and a murderer though he was not found to be either under our legal system, and though the talk took place at a law school. One response from Bryant was eventually drowned out with what I can only call heckling. And while I don’t particularly appreciate wanton heckling at Queen’s Park, either, I believe it has no place in the academy, regardless of how offensive one might find a speaker’s response to be.

I should emphasise that many attendees were respectful and appropriate throughout the session, and some managed to ask good questions, particularly about the legal reforms Bryant advocates in his book. But the tone in the space was decidedly aggressive.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it is about this case that makes people so angry at Michael Bryant. But the real question is what makes them so angry, period.

I’ve come to the conclusion that people are right to be angry. We should be angry about living in a world and a province where two men struggle with addition and/or mental health challenges and have such dramatically different life chances and outcomes. Michael Bryant was a white, middle class man with good social supports who became Attorney General of Ontario, and got sober. Darcy Allan Sheppard was the son of a status Indian in a family affected by residential schools, and was shuffled through 30 foster homes. Despite being lucky enough to be adopted by loving parents (his father can be heard in an interview with Steve Paikin), Sheppard had numerous interactions with the criminal justice system, and never received the treatment that he needed. In the end, Bryant would resign from his job as head of Invest Toronto and face post-traumatic stress disorder. Sheppard would end up dead.

We know that most people facing criminal charges will never, ever hope to have the expertise, support, and financial resources to deal with those charges that Michael Bryant has had. Without those, someone in Bryant’s situation could easily have faced a trial with a minimal defence that would have resulted in an unjust conviction, as many do.

So we should be angry, and we should not let that anger go. But I do not believe that we should be angry at Bryant. He is in the web of our oppressive system, as are the rest of us.

We need to get people out of the criminal justice system and into the care they need and deserve. We need law and policy in our province to ensure that people are sentenced and tried fairly, and to minimise the effects of income and status in our legal system. And we need to fight for a world that does not set people like Darcy Allan Sheppard and Michael Bryant on a collision course with no winners, where some lose much, much worse than others.

Scapegoating Michael Bryant is a distraction from the fight for that world. He has come to be seen by many as the embodiment of privilege: as a representation of a system that is unjust and makes us angry.

People in positions of privilege and power should not be excused from being aware of and taking responsibility for that power as we try to change the playing field. And people should face appropriate criticism of their actions and choices when warranted, especially for choices made in their positions as elected officials. We cannot dismantle oppression without that. But we need to take what such people say seriously, and we need to respect them enough to work with them for change. Without that, our emancipatory impulse will be quashed before it gets us anywhere.

So I won’t hide my fondness for Michael Bryant. And I won’t refuse to engage with him or with anyone else on how to build the Canada that we need and that Darcy Allan Sheppard deserved.

Please note that comments will only be open for 7 days, due to the overwhelming amount of spam I have to moderate while they are open. I welcome comments, though I ask that they be respectful and on-point.

Post navigation

← An even more ridiculous abortion debate than usual: Stephen Woodworth and M312 Speech to Regional Council on Cuts to iXpress Service →

13 thoughts on “In Defence of Michael Bryant”

1. Brad Ullner

October 25, 2012 at 2:20 pm

Great piece. I found myself agreeing enthusiastically on all points. I too, have wondered exactly what is was that has made people generally so angry. And I think you have gone a long way to separate the nuance between general anger and that anger that gets directed at specific people, such as Michael Bryant in this case. I lament the fact that there seems to be too few forums in which to have a long, detailed and nuanced discussion of much anything in this era of the Internet and the tweet. Ironically, in having made that very point, it would require a longer, more detailed and nuanced discussion than one can easily have here. Just think 28 seconds changed Michael Bryant’s life.

1. Kate

October 25, 2012 at 8:25 pm

Thanks for your feedback, Brad. It’s nice to know that there are others who are approaching this from a similar perspective.

2. Angela Gilbert

October 25, 2012 at 8:07 pm

Let me start by saying I never condone heckling or saying things that are “scary” or threatening, as those are not productive forms of communication. Having said that you are assuming that Mr. Bryant is only hated for those 28 seconds. This is not the case. Mr. Bryant made some very unpopular political decisions while he was in a position to do so. One of the many unpopular decisions he made was to ignore expert opinion and the facts and knowingly push through amendments to D.O.L.A. that included reverse onus (guilty until proven innocent), warrant-less search and seizure, and the banning of dogs based only on their appearance. This caused many dogs who happened to be short haired and mixed breed to be seized without good reason, to be confined unreasonably to leash and muzzle, and in many cases to be unfairly killed. Equally important and often ignored, it created prejudice and caused dog owners to be treated unfairly by fellow citizens for no reason other than owning a short haired dog. To call this a breed ban is a misnomer: The ban isn’t based on breed (with the exception of 3 rare purebred dogs included the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and a fictional breed Pit Bull Terrier), but rather it is based on appearance. The vague substantially similar clause has insured that any dog could be defined as a Pit Bull. http://chiantiblog.blogspot.ca/2012/09/whats-in-name.html. The fallout has been thousands of misidentified dogs sentenced to leash and muzzle and no free runs, and in some cases death for escaping a yard and nothing more, where another dog owner would face a fine at most. Ontario residents have a right to be angry with Mr. Bryant. His racism against a “type” of dog has caused some of them to face extreme and unjustified prejudice and restrictions.

I fully support your right to an opinion and to admire whomever you choose, but please understand that others have very good reasons to dislike Mr. Bryant.

2. Kate

October 25, 2012 at 8:34 pm

Thanks for taking the time to write, Angela. The issue you’ve raised is an important one, and one that’s been ongoing for years. There could have been a question raised at the session yesterday on that topic, but there wasn’t (that I recall). You’re, of course, not required to like any particular person as an individual. But when it comes to talking about matters of public policy, the focus should be on attacking the policy, not the person. And unfortunately, in response to the book, I’ve seen some remarks in online comments on Bryant from pit bull ban opponents that have clearly crossed the line into personal attacks. Some seem to be taking the opportunity to kick a person while the kicking’s good, so to speak. I’d like to think that we can be more mature than that, as a society.

2. Angela Gilbert

October 25, 2012 at 9:29 pm

I understand and agree that political debate should in theory be dispassionate and logical and not personal. Having said that when the Legislation itself is based on emotion, not logic and reason or effectiveness and when it attacks a segment of society tearing apart families I can understand why the mere mention of Bryant’s name elicits such an emotional and personal response. People with dogs live in fear, since while technically dogs are chattels, in reality they are family members. To expect someone to not become emotional at the notion of a family member suffering unfair restrictions that border on cruelty or being seized and killed on the whim of an A.C.O., targeted simply based on appearance is unreasonable. Yes it is the policy that should be discussed, but the policy that was forced on dog owners against the expert opinion is so unfair and unjust, and quite frankly un-Canadian with its reverse onus it is hard for people affected by it to remain unemotional. Mr. Bryant has never once showed empathy or kindness to those dog owners whose lives he leaves his hand on every day. The policy has been debated, and proven ineffective. There is an example of non breed specific dog legislation in Calgary that has been proven to be very effective, yet Mr. Bryant clung to B.S.L. Unfortunately he had all of the power, and taxpayer dollars. We sold t-shirts and held rallies. It was, and is, disheartening, and now after a great deal of work, Bill 16, up for 3rd reading at the Legislature, was died with the proroguing. Yes, it’s hard, after 8 years of debating a flawed policy, to stay unemotional.

2. Kate

October 25, 2012 at 10:24 pm

I would never argue that emotion doesn’t rightly have an important place in policy and politics, and I certainly understand that it’s a difficult and personal issue for many. I just don’t think it justifies poor treatment of other people in a democracy. There has to be a place beyond the lowest attacks possible.

2. Kate

October 25, 2012 at 10:29 pm

For example, sitting MPPs don’t need to mock anyone’s struggles with addiction: https://twitter.com/cheridinovo/status/238806586469019650

2. Angela Gilbert

October 26, 2012 at 10:39 am

Okay Kate, I slept on it and here’s what I’ve decided: If you can’t see that Bryant’s “policy” in this one example alone made people’s lives worse, hurt them beyond measure and was extremely personal, you will never see it. Part of Canadian politics, whether you like it or not, is mudslinging. I’m sure you’ve watch Question Period before.

Bryant lied saying “You don’t ask a Attorney General to be the dog expert….The bottom line is it’s going to be up to the experts” and then ignoring the experts. He is responsible for the death of thousands of dogs. He’s impacted people who just want to be law abiding citizens while the people who are really responsible for dog problems in society don’t bother caring about that, like this man http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/story/2012/10/24/ottawa-man-bites-dog-charges-update.html After passing legislation that kills and restricts innocent dogs and punishes innocent owners who want to be law abiding citizens, he calls it the highlight of his career. His policy, quite frankly, stinks, and the unfairness of it is personal.

“The qualities that made Mr. Bryant a media darling also made him decidedly unpopular among many senior Liberals. He was seen as too flashy, too impatient, and too superficial in the ways that he handled his files – and was said to be getting more so with his time in cabinet. There were rumblings that the attention he got for some of his showier moves, most notably the province’s controversial pit-bull ban, went to his head.” Globe & Mail

“Policy” in this case involves killing people’s pets or restricting them to a much less fulfilling lifestyle. It involves a kind of worry and stress you clearly don’t understand. Fighting it is a story of David and Goliath proportions with one side wielding all of the power and money. It marginalizes a segment of society. It’s a bully piece of legislation that hurts few enough people that it’s hard for them to fight back. It’s prejudiced, it takes away property rights, it contains reverse onus, and it’s quite simply about as undemocratic as you can get in a piece of legislation. But we’re all supposed to stay nicely civilized while it was forced on us, used as an example to the rest of Canada, and has been upheld for 8 years with the Ontario government using taxpayer dollars to support it, even though it’s completely ineffective and unfair. Now that’s personal.

Mr. Bryant wrote that book, in my opinion, to start opening the door back up to returning to his political career. To play on the sympathies of people whose sympathies are easily played and gain back favor. Obviously it’s working in your case, and that, as I’ve said, is your right. Being a Political Science student you should know though, that Politicians do sign on to be in the spotlight and face criticism. It will not always be limited to policy, and it will certainly not when a politician is unfair. There are certainly many cases in History where politicians have evoked emotions of hatred due to their unfair policies. The most obvious example of course would be Hitler.

Mr. Bryant will get no empathy, sympathy or kindness from me. He has shown none to the people he has hurt, and what he has done hurts them more than any words could hurt Mr. Bryant.

3. Angela Gilbert

October 26, 2012 at 1:38 am

I probably wouldn’t word it that way, but he does owe them an apology. Instead he calls it one of the highlights of his career. I would say he was the one who started treating people badly in the democracy. Btw, I wrote him when this started. He ignored my letters until I wrote his then boss complaining that he was ignoring letters. I’m going to go digging back through my things and find some of the things he has said and post them for you. I think you will find that Ms. DiNovo’s tweet is fairly mild. Michael Bryant is no innocent when it comes to political mudslinging or treating people badly, and quite frankly in life you tend to get back exactly what you give. It may not be what you or I would do, but it IS what Michael Bryant has done, so if he has to deflect a little mud, well, I’m not surprised.

4. Bryan Dale

October 26, 2012 at 2:38 am

I never realized Michael Bryant had problems with addition, but arithmetic aside, I think that there is no excuse for the harm he has done in killing thousands of innocent family dogs. These are people’s pets. Their owners and their children have suffered greatly. As for the 28 seconds that ended Darcy Allan Sheppard’s life, it reminds me of a case years ago of a hit and run where a man was dragged to his death in the undercarriage of the car. The killer was prosecuted and found guilty and widely vilified although he claimed to not realize what had happened. What Bryant did was far more deliberate. Out of cowardice he took off and deliberately ran his victim into lamp posts and mail boxes until he was dead. I see a pattern in his conduct of placing his own needs, be it fear of confrontation or a desire for votes, ahead of other people’s right to protect their families or even to live. I think Bryant is simply one of the slimiest human beings to ever slither across the floor of Ontario’s legislature.

4. Kate

October 26, 2012 at 9:05 am

I suggest you need to read the second link (on evidence) in my post, and consider what I’ve said in the rest of the post itself. I’m saddened but not surprised that you’ve provided an example in practice of the reaction I’ve described in the abstract. I don’t think dehumanizing comments are called for.

5. Kate

October 26, 2012 at 12:57 pm

Angela, I’m sad that we’ve so quickly gotten to Godwin’s law. I understand that you feel personally injured by this policy, and it seems that you also feel that your relationship of trust with a public official has been violated, as well. That is valid. And I’m sorry that that’s been your experience. I acknowledge in my post that people, and particularly elected officials, should face appropriate and thorough criticism of their decisions and actions. I don’t think that this means that we should excoriate people as people in public forums. And I can’t say I understand why some people advocating for changes to this particular law are using this opportunity to attack someone personally who isn’t even in a position to change it anymore. The fact that some people mudsling does not mean that anyone should, or that I have to be okay with it. I am opposing it here. And my request stands: for people to focus on the issues that matter and not the person.

6. Angela Gilbert

October 26, 2012 at 2:04 pm

I wasn’t comparing Bryant to the Hitler or the discriminatory nature of this law to the Nazis. I was pointing out that politicians evoke emotional responses when unfair, discriminatory policies are put into place and that Hitler would be a good example of a politician that evokes emotion and hatred from people. I could just have easily used other examples in more recent history as there is no shortage of prejudicial policy in today’s world. Your reference to Goodwin’s law and my reference making you sad is condescending.

I absolutely feel personally injured by this policy, although I moved to BC long before it was put into place. Someone must advocate though. For 8 years Ontario has been discriminatory. Bryant is no longer in a position to change it, you are correct, but he put it into place though he was well aware that it was the wrong thing to do. I can forgive genuine ignorance, not understanding an issue, making mistakes. I will not forgive malicious acts by bullies in power. Michael Bryant was indeed a bully. You don’t have to agree, and you can say we should just debate policy. Would you say the same about other bullies in power throughout history, or is Michael Bryant special?

Perhaps debating policy for 8 years, having to see dogs unfairly seized, seeing perfectly good dogs not allowed to ever run and play, being muzzled and then treated like vicious animals by people in the public has made me and others bitter, but we have a right to it. That man made it a personal mission to put into place a bad policy in spite of the evidence, which actually says a lot about his personal character, and we do elect people based on their character here in North America. Separating the policy from character completely is impossible in the real world.

Choose your heroes wisely. This will be my last post on this issue.

MEDIA LINKS: FOR BACKGROUND, CONTEXT, AND REFERENCE [43 entries: October 2020]

[Links to news reports and other material that does not touch directly on the incident that led to my son Darcy Allan Sheppard’s death in a 31 August 2009 altercation with Michael Bryant but which I believe informs consideration of the incident, its (in my opinion) flawed resolution, and inescapable issues of morality, ethics, justice, and democratic citizenship.
This section will grow over time, as I include material I will use for future essays I post to the site.
I welcome links and referrals to material I and others might want to read and consider.
allan sheppard
October 2020]

1
Province will “crush your car (and) the parts,” racers told, Robert Benzie, Peter Edwards,
Toronto Star, June 21, 2007
Michael Bryant sets up a sock puppet to push for his handgun ban, Steve Janke, Shotgun Blog, Western Standard, Friday, August 17, 2007
Michael Bryant appointed Invest Toronto CEO, Office of the Mayor, Toronto,
May 25, 2009
Michael Bryant: “I will keep my trap shut’, John Allemang, Globe and Mail, May 29, 2009
Michael Bryant: Tenacity and a flair for publicity, Jennifer Wells, Toronto Star,
August 2, 2009
How Much of Your Memory Is True? Kat McGowan, Discover Magazine, August 2, 2009
For Michael Bryant, Toronto is a cabaret, Adam McDowell, National Post,
August 29, 2009
Couriers share their ‘mutual hardship’, Leslie Scrivener, Toronto Star,
September 2, 2009
A glimpse at a contract photographer’s work, [Images] Toronto Star, September 2, 2009
Cyclist, 66, dies after collision with streetcar, CTV News, Canadian Press,
September 4, 2009

2
Confessions of a bicycle hoarder, Anthony Reinhart, Globe and Mail, September 7, 2009
City Councillor Wants Helmets And Licenses Made Mandatory For Cyclists, City TV News, September 14, 2009
St. Paul’s Riding Could See Two Elections In As Many Days, City TV News, September 14, 2009
Cyclist Safety Big Topic At City Hall, City TV News, September 14, 2009
Ontario Legislature Back In Session, City TV News, September 14, 2009
Is Miller stepping in for Bryant at Invest Toronto? CTV News, September 15, 2009
St. Paul’s byelection comes down to getting out vote, CTV News, September 16, 2009
Ont. Liberals pass byelection test in St. Paul’s, CTV News, Canadian Press, September 17, 2009
Liberals Win Toronto Byelection, City TV News, September 17, 2009
Liberals Hold On To Longtime Seat In Byelection, City TV News, September 18, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5
I am a messenger and I ride, David Phinne, Now Magazine, September 7, 2017
Jian Ghomeshi accuser speaks out on Harvey Weinstein, Hillary Di Menna, Now Magazine, January 3, 2018
The Role of the Attorney General and Prosecutorial Discretion, Sarah Leamon, Michael Bryant, Law and Freedom 2020, Annual conference of the Runnymede Society, March 13, 2020
Michael Bryant has deleted his dickish tweet about Atlantic Canada and replaced it with a dickish apology, Tim Bousquet, Halifax Examiner, August 6, 2020