Law360 Canada ( April 28, 2025, 2:11 PM EDT) -- Appeal by Neufeld from an order finding him liable in defamation to Bondar and awarding $45,000 in general and punitive damages on grounds that judge erred in concluding that impugned words were defamatory and erred in awarding more than nominal and punitive damages. Bondar had a doctorate from the Faculty of Forestry, an adjunct instructor, and had taught science, technology, engineering and math workshops to girls in the Chilliwack, B.C., school district. Bondar was elected school trustee of Chilliwack School Board. Neufeld had served multiple terms as school trustee of Chilliwack School Board. Neufeld participated in an interview for Action4Canada, which was subsequently posted online. In the interview Neufeld said, while describing candidates for the upcoming school trustee election, that Procee ran against that strip-tease artist in the by-election four years ago. This was in reference to Bondar’s science-themed parody music video in her YouTube channel. These were the impugned words that formed the basis for Bondar’s action in defamation against Neufeld. The judge found with respect to the impugned words at issue, Bondar had proven on balance of probabilities that the words would tend to lower her reputation in the eyes of a reasonable person, that they in fact referred to her, and they were communicated to at least one person other than Bondar herself....