Alberta Health Services prevents access to Calgary church for COVID-19 violations
Alberta Health Services has taken action against a southeast Calgary Baptist church that it says has repeatedly violated the province's rules regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials say Fairview Baptist Church, located at 230 78 Ave. S.E., was "physically closed" on Saturday, preventing all further access to the building.
"This action was necessary as the lead pastor of the church has continued to disregard public health measures required by law under Order of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) for the protection of the public," the AHS wrote in a statement.
"This closure order will remain in place until the pastor can demonstrate the ability to comply with these restrictions."
AHS says it has received 57 Environmental Public Health complaints in regards to the church relating to services exceeding capacity, minimal to no masking and no physical distancing.
"AHS has been working closely with Calgary Police Service (CPS) on this issue, however, none of the enforcement actions taken by either AHS or CPS to date have succeeded in gaining compliance."
This is the third time that AHS has taken the step of physically blocking off a building because of repeated violations of CMOH orders in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's also the second church to have been closed because of an AHS order.
Parkland County, Alta.'s GraceLife Church was closed on April 7 for the same reason.
Inspection reports released by AHS detailed a "consistent indifference to COVID-19 safety precautions."
That church's pastor, James Coates, was ticketed in connection with the situation at GraceLife. He was also arrested and held by RCMP for a period of time.
Fairview Baptist's pastor, Tim Stephens, was also arrested for organizing a service that was in violation of public health orders on May 16.
He was released later on a promise to appear in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
China's latest EV is a 'connected' car from smart phone and electronics maker Xiaomi
Xiaomi, a well-known maker of smart consumer electronics in China, is joining the country's booming but crowded market for electric cars.