Police attend protest outside Alberta health minister's Calgary home, arrest 2 men

Calgary police were called to attend a protest outside a home in Varsity against Alberta's current public health orders, reportedly arresting two notorious COVID-19 rule-breakers.

Authorities told CTV News they were called to the scene at about 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 1 for reports of a disturbance outside a northwest Calgary home.

Upon arrival, police say they witnessed a group of about 50 people participating.

The protesters "began to disperse" a short time later and when they did, "officers recognized two men in attendance."

"(They) were in breach of a valid court order. The men were subsequently arrested and taken into custody," CPS said in a statement.

The men were not identified by police because charges have not been laid, but a Facebook update posted a short time after the incident suggests Artur and Dawid Pawlowski were the men arrested.

PROTEST TOOK PLACE AT JASON COPPING'S HOME

On Sunday, the Alberta government confirmed the protest took place at Health Minister Jason Copping's private home.

In a statement sent to CTV News, Premier Kenney said while Albertans have a right to conduct peaceful protests, he draws the line at situations that target public officials and their families.

"That right does not extend to trespassing at private homes and harassing the families of public officials," Kenney said. "Unfortunately, this is not the first time that fringe anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists have tried to intimidate government officials in this manner. I am sure that the vast majority of Albertans reject this kind of extremism."

The Pawlowskis were found guilty of flouting Alberta's COVID-19 rules by organizing an illegal gathering in May 2021.

In the ruling against Artur and Dawid, Justice Adam Germain said Alberta Health Services had proven both men were guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt of contempt."

The brothers avoided jail time, but were forced to pay sizeable fines and ordered by the court to follow all public health orders, stay within Alberta and ensure their views are known to be contrary to the views of health experts.

The Pawlowskis have already appealed the sanctions, claiming they are "unreasonable, excessive and violate their Charter rights."