Calgary COVID-19 dissidents vow to resist court order

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Calgarians who have publicly resisted COVID-19 health restrictions say they won’t abide by a recent court order that’s led to a crackdown on violators.

On Saturday, city police arrested Artur Pawlowski and his brother Dawid following months of their alleged violating public health restrictions at their Calgary church.

City police said on Sunday they ticketed a third person connected to services at that church.

That move, and the arrest of defiant restaurant owner Chris Scott in the hamlet of Mirror, Alberta, came quickly in the wake of a court order granted to Alberta Health Services on Thursday targeting organizers of gatherings in breach of the health rules.

But an organizer of almost weekly demonstrations that have attracted hundreds to Calgary’s downtown and other Alberta centres said Sunday that injunction won’t halt their rallies.

“Events across Alberta will continue, we understand that the individuals arrested were named in the injunctions filed against them, thus far local protesters have not been named,” stated an email from the organizer of the so-called Walks for Freedom who wouldn’t give their name.

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“We expect Calgary police to resume giving fines, which we also expect will be thrown out in court as they have been up until now.”

Crown prosecutors say many of the fines handed out to alleged restriction scofflaws in Alberta have been tossed out due to doubts they would lead to convictions.

The demonstration organizer said their rallies will be conducted slightly differently to hobble enforcement efforts.

“We have decided to temporarily change the format of the protest, taking out the speaking portions and having a more loosely organized event to prevent perceived ‘leaders’ from being targeted by police,” said the dissident.

A protest was held in Calgary Sunday, said the organizer, as will another one planned for May 15 at Central Memorial Park.

The court order, said the organizer, will only antagonize those who contend the health measures designed to slow the spread of a surging COVID-19 violate constitutional freedoms and needlessly hurt livelihoods.

“Ultimately, I think that as the police crack down more and the violation of our fundamental rights becomes more visible, we will see increased turnouts much like in Montreal,” said the organizer.

And a Calgary church whose pastor has been served multiple fines for violating restrictions held another in-person service Sunday, said a city councillor frustrated with the flock’s activities.

New restrictions announced Tuesday limiting the number of worshippers from 15 per cent capacity to 15 people change nothing for a church that takes its cues from God rather than medical fear-mongering, said its Pastor Tim Stephens in a letter posted on Fairview Baptist Church’s website on May 5.

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“Our actions are borne out of theological commitments to the Lordship of Christ and his instruction to the church as revealed in Scripture,” wrote Stephens.

“This, above all, is the reason why we have been gathering and will continue to gather … the consequences may be severe. But we stand before Christ rather than bend before consequences.”

Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra said he’s wondering when the new court order will be applied to Fairview Baptist Church, adding he’s contacted enforcement officials about it.

City police were at the church on Sunday as worshippers gathered but there was no word on any charges.

Some of the church’s neighbours confronted its members and said they want action taken against them.

“Today is the day people who live in Fairview expect concrete action against those again defying protocols,” said resident Ken Lima-Coelho in a tweet.

RCMP shut down GraceLife Church near Edmonton last month after its leaders refused to curtail in-person services and following the detainment of its Pastor James Coates, who is currently on trial.

The new court order and seemingly tougher approach are welcome, said Carra, “but should have been done a long time ago.”

“It’s a tightening of the screws and we’ll start to see some behaviour modification.”

As for the protest marches purporting to target public health measures, many have become something else altogether, said Carra.

“I’m less and less interested in calling them anti-mask rallies — they’re more and more vehicles for white supremacy and other dark corners of our culture.”

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But he said their blatant flouting of health restrictions means they remain physically dangerous and should be confronted by legal means.

And he said their attempts to avoid arrest or charges by obscuring their leadership won’t work.

“The police are pretty aware of who their leaders are — it’s not like we’re dealing with geniuses who are able to hide themselves,” said Carra.

On Sunday, city police said they’d issued a fine to an organizer of another illegal gathering and said they’d attended protests.

“There were multiple planned protest events throughout the weekend, which all occurred without incident,” police said in a press release.

“No tickets were issued by CPS at the events, but tickets may be issued after the fact dependent on evidence gathered at the time.” 

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

on Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn