Kim Rosemary Bolan (born 1959)[1] is a Canadianjournalist who has been areporter at theVancouver Sun since her journalism career began in 1984. She has reported on minority, women's, education, andsocial services issues; wars inEl Salvador,Guatemala andAfghanistan;[2]Sikh extremism, and the bombing and trials related toAir India Flight 182.CBC Radio has also featured her work. On May 4, 2017, while covering a murder trial of a former leader of the UN Gang, Bolan learned that she had been the subject of a murder plot, which she reported on in an article published on May 24, 2017, in theVancouver Sun.[2]
In 2000, the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (the National Press Club of Canada) presented its 1st Press Freedom Award (1999) to Bolan for continuing her investigations after she was "...threatened with violence and placed under police protection during her investigative reporting on the Air India bombing."[8][9] Secretary of StateDavid Kilgour presented the award and concluded by saying "Today, in recognition of her strength of character, professionalism and courage to continue in her role as a leading journalist in the face of threats and other forms of extreme intimidation, the National Press Club of Canada is pleased to award the Press Freedom Award to Kim Bolan of the Vancouver Sun."[5]
In 2001, theBritish Columbia Civil Liberties Association awarded her with the Reg Robson award for her "fearless commitment to freedom of expression".[10] The award is given to honour people who have demonstrated a substantial and long-lasting contribution to civil liberties issues in British Columbia and Canada.[11]
Reporting on her speech at theFraser Institute in 2007,The Times of India reported that Bolan still received death threats over her coverage of the 1985 Air India bombing.[13]
In February 2007, Canadian Prime MinisterStephen Harper caused "a political storm" by trying to read part of a Bolan article into the record of theHouse of Commons of Canada. He was suggesting his Liberal opponents were refusing to extendanti-terrorism measures in order to protect the father-in-law of aMember of Parliament.[14]
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