Case information
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41832
Glacier Media Inc., et al. v. Stephen B. Pineau
(British Columbia) (Civil) (By Leave)
Docket
Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.
| Date | Proceeding | Filed By (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-18 | Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties | |
| 2025-12-18 | Judgment on leave sent to the parties | |
| 2025-12-18 |
Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia (Vancouver), Number CA49619, 2025 BCCA 101, dated March 31, 2025, is dismissed. The application for leave to cross-appeal is dismissed. Dismissed |
|
| 2025-11-10 | All material on the application for leave to cross-appeal submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court | |
| 2025-11-10 | All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court | |
| 2025-09-10 |
Reply to the memorandum in response to the argument on cross-appeal, (Letter Form), Missing: -Proof of service; (Rec'd 2025-09-12), Completed on: 2025-09-12, (Printed version filed on 2025-09-19) |
Stephen B. Pineau |
| 2025-08-28 | Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, (Book Form), Completed on: 2025-08-28, (Printed version filed on 2025-08-29) | Glacier Media Inc. |
| 2025-08-28 | Memorandum of argument in response to the cross-appeal, (Book Form), (Included in the reply to the memorandum in response to the argument on cross-appeal), Completed on: 2025-09-02 | Glacier Media Inc. |
| 2025-07-04 |
Application for leave to cross-appeal, (Book Form), Missing: -Proof of service; (Rec'd 2025-07-23), Completed on: 2025-07-23, (Printed version due on 2025-07-11) |
Stephen B. Pineau |
| 2025-07-02 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Included in the certificate (on limitations to public access)), 23B | Stephen B. Pineau |
| 2025-07-02 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), Public access to information form | Stephen B. Pineau |
| 2025-07-02 |
Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Missing: -Proof of service (Rec'd 2025-07-23) -Factum (Part 1 to V) per R. 27(2) (rec'd 2025-07-02) -Factum (Part 1 to V) per R. 27(2) - Printed version (rec'd 2025-07-28), Completed on: 2025-07-23 |
Stephen B. Pineau |
| 2025-06-05 | Lower court order - e-filing, (Letter Form), CA49619, (Printed version filed on 2025-06-06) | Glacier Media Inc. |
| 2025-06-02 | Letter acknowledging receipt of a complete application for leave to appeal, FILE OPENED | |
| 2025-05-29 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23A, (Printed version filed on 2025-06-04) | Glacier Media Inc. |
| 2025-05-29 | Notice of name, (Printed version filed on 2025-06-04) | Glacier Media Inc. |
| 2025-05-29 | Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2025-05-29, (Printed version filed on 2025-06-04) | Glacier Media Inc. |
Parties
Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.
Main parties
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Media Inc. | Applicant / Respondent on cross-appeal | Active |
| Orton, Tyler | Applicant / Respondent on cross-appeal | Active |
v.
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pineau, Stephen B. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
Counsel
Party: Glacier Media Inc.
Counsel
Jason Yamashita
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca
Party: Orton, Tyler
Counsel
Jason Yamashita
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca
Party: Pineau, Stephen B.
This party is not represented by counsel.
Summary
Keywords
Civil procedure — Pleadings — Defamation — Damages — Quantum — General and special damages awarded for defamation — Whether appellate deference is owed on judge’s decision to admit evidence — Whether pleadings rules and admissibility requirements differ for self-represented litigants and those who retain counsel.<br><br>Damages — Quantum — Defamation — General and special damages awarded for defamation — Proper interpretation of s. 11 of Libel and Slander Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 263, and how should it apply to facts of this case — Whether Court of Appeal erred in law and made palpable and overriding error in fact in its s. 11 analysis — Whether it is in interests of justice for Court to reassess the general damages in this case.<br>
Summary
Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.
This case stems from a summary trial application arising from a claim for defamation resulting from two articles. The respondent, Mr. Pineau sued the publishers and authors of the articles separately. The present case concerns Mr. Pineau’s claim arising out of the first article, which was tried second. The applicants, Glacier Media Inc. and Tyler Orton admit to the publication of the article. They also admit that the article refers to Mr. Pineau and that it is defamatory of him. The only issue for determination was the quantum of damages payable to Mr. Pineau’s for the defamation.
The Supreme Court of British Columbia ordered Glacier Media Inc. and Tyler Orton to pay Mr. Pineau $72, 000 in general damages, $180, 000 in special damages and no award for aggravated or punitive damages.
The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and cross-appeal only to the extent of setting aside the trial judge’s award of special damages in the amount of $180, 000 and substituted an award of special damages in the amount of $330, 000, reduced for mitigation pursuant to s. 11 of the Libel and Slander Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 263.
Lower court rulings
Glacier Media Inc. and Tyler Orton ordered to pay Mr. Pineau $72, 000 in general damages, $180, 000 in special damages and no award for aggravated or punitive damages.
Appeal and cross-appeal allowed only to the extent of setting aside the judge’s award of special damages in the amount of $180, 000 and substituting an award of special damages in the amount of $330, 000.
Filed documents
The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available
Related links
The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available
Related links
The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available