Fired Calgary professor fights to be reinstated at Mount Royal University

Dr. Frances Widdowson was suspended, then fired by Calgary's Mount Royal University in 2021 over a conflict she engaged in with other faculty at the school. Her lawyer said a board decision over her job has opened the door to her possible reinstatement.

A political scientist who was fired from her position at Calgary’s Mount Royal University is fighting to get her job back, CTV News has learned.

Speaking with CTV News after Dr. Frances Widdowson’s arrest by the Lethbridge Police Service for trespassing on the University of Lethbridge campus, her lawyers revealed an arbitration decision found her firing was disproportionate.

The outcome of that decision provided an award, but she was not reinstated at MRU.

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Her lawyers say she wants her job back, but the board decision ruled against it.

“Given her implacable views and attitude, reinstating her would not be a ‘lasting and final solution’,” the Alberta Grievance Arbitration Awards’ (AB GAA) 2024 decision said.

“This is an appropriate case in which to substitute a monetary payment rather than reinstatement with lesser penalties.”

Widdowson’s counsel went on to say that decision was overturned by the Alberta Labour Relations Board, which found earlier this month that the decision not to reinstate her was not justified.

Widdowson was first hired by MRU in 2008 and granted tenure in 2011 as an associate professor of economics, justice and policy studies.

Her primary field of expertise is Indigenous Peoples’ Policy and Indigenous Affairs.

Conflict results in termination

In 2020, she alerted MRU administration about a “Twitter War” between herself and several other faculty members.

That conflict related to statements from other staff about Widdowson and her views relating to her work, while she made comments that “were inappropriate and unacceptable” about others.

Widdowson was first suspended for her actions from May 17 to 28, 2021, the AB GAA decision says.

Following further complaints made about her, MRU terminated her employment on Dec. 20, 2021.

In the termination letter, the school said there were complaints about her from students, staff and “external parties” on social media.

“An investigator has found that your continued conduct has harmed the reputation of Mount Royal University,” her termination letter reads.

“You have been found to have contributed significantly to a harassing and toxic workplace environment.”

The whole matter has now been returned to an arbitrator, Widdowson’s lawyer says.

In a statement, MRU said the whole situation has had an impact on faculty, students and staff.

“While the formal process continues, we will have no further comment,” the school said.