Synagogue attacker Sean Ward was embroiled in lawsuit against military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate that forced him out

Sean Ward, the gunman who died in a shootout during “a targeted attack against the Jewish community” at an Ontario synagogue, was one of dozens of Canadian soldiers and former soldiers suing the government over directives requiring COVID-19 vaccines.

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Ward was involuntarily discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces when he was deemed “unsuitable for further service” after defying the military’s vaccine mandate during the pandemic, according to court documents. He was seeking $1,500,000 in general damages and additional compensation for a financial loss of $140,000.

The lawsuit claims Ward, 29, refused to be vaccinated “on religious grounds” but his claim for an exemption was refused by military officials.

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“He has served honourably for almost 5 years. He was told no exemption to receiving the injections would be made. Mr. Ward did not accept the injections,” the lawsuit’s statement of claim says.

The lawsuit describes Sean Douglas Reginald Ward as holding the rank of Corporal in the infantry with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.

Ward’s military training as an infantry soldier becomes particularly important as police continue to probe Sunday’s shooting at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., as about 25 people gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

On Thursday, Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said Ward came well-armed with a shotgun, other undisclosed weapons, a significant amount of ammunition, containers of gasoline and additional resources.

A Belleville police officer posted outside the synagogue, Const. Jeff Smith, was shot several times by Ward and remains in serious condition. Ward was killed in a subsequent firefight with Smith and a second officer, Const. Mike McCurdy, police said.

Rodd said a video of the attack, shown by police, reveals Ward calling out, presumably to Smith or McCurdy, saying: “You are going to die for the Jews.”

Rodd declared it a hate-motivated attack.

“This was a targeted attack against the Jewish community. The suspect had the means, the motive and the mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue,” Rodd said.

The original statement of claim in the vaccine lawsuit involving Ward was filed Sept. 27, 2023, with the Federal Court in Edmonton. It was sealed by the court and an amended claim was filed Feb. 25, 2026.

Originally named as defendants were several high-ranking military brass, other military officials and government ministers past and present.

The amended claim pared the defendants down to Wayne Eyre, the now-retired Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of National Defence and the Attorney General of Canada.

In a statement of defence filed by Department of Justice lawyers, the government and military “deny each and every allegation” in the lawsuit.

The government defended the vaccine mandates as having a primary objective “to protect the readiness, health, and safety of the Force, the entire Defence Team, as well as members of the public they may be called upon to serve.” It says “a member’s failure to comply with the Directives demonstrates an unwillingness to obey and support lawful authority.”

Ward was plaintiff number 110 in a list of 128 members and former members of the Forces claiming they were adversely hit by the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

“This mandate, implemented through a series of Directives, coerced vaccination under threat of career-ending sanctions, bypassing statutory processes and infringing fundamental rights,” the lawsuit claims.

The plaintiffs seek damages of $1 million each for negligence, Charter breaches and misuse of authority, and another $500,000 each for bad faith conduct. They also seek individualized damages for future income loss, pension loss, medical expenses and other expenses.

Apart from money, they also seek declarations from the court that the Canadian military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and that Eyre issued an unlawful order; among others.

“The Directives prioritized demonstrating leadership to encourage public vaccination uptake, a role not legislated for the CAF and secondary to operational imperatives, constituting a misuse of military authority for non-military purposes,” the lawsuit claims.

The plaintiffs complained that the military granted exemptions for medical reasons but not for ethical or philosophical reasons.

“It was grossly disproportionate, with severe sanctions like career loss and stigma outweighing benefits, rendering the ‘choice’ illusory and shocking the conscience,” the suit complains.

The lawsuit also claims the military’s grievance system was rigged against those objecting to the mandate.

The lawyer representing the plaintiffs was not available to comment on the lawsuit or on the impact Ward’s attack might have on it.

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