Calgarians protest at the Remand Centre in support of arrested pastor
Almost two hundred people lobbied for the release of a local pastor outside of the Calgary Remand Centre on Saturday.
Tim Stephens was arrested Monday after allegedly violating a court order and holding an outdoor service that defied pandemic-related public health orders.
On Saturday, friends, family and parishioners called for him to be let go during an afternoon of song and speech.
"I think as parents, it's important for us to be role models," attendee Trey told CTV News. "Standing up for what you believe in is the most important thing."
Stephens is the pastor at Fairview Baptist Church.
Calgary Police Service and Alberta Health Services officials say Monday's arrest followed "repeated calls from concerned citizens regarding church services."
It also came after a months-long back and forth that saw authorities visit Fairview Baptist on multiple occasions and eventually order its doors closed to the public.
The southeast facility was shut down by AHS on May 17 and again on June 5 due to "ongoing public health concerns surrounding worship services during the pandemic."
According to the orders, services with upward of 150 parishioners were held at the church and physical distancing was not maintained between separate households.
Some of those in attendance were not wearing face masks, including Stephens.
Authorities argue the pastor was given plenty of opportunity to comply with orders and that he acknowledged an injunction but chose to continue to host rule-breaking services.
His supporters who gathered to protest say he should be left alone to follow a different set of rules.
"There is a book in the world, the bible, and some people are bound to this book," Oleg Schmalz told CTV News.
"He's answering to god, and it's as simple as that," Trey added.
Protest organized refused an interview request.
The pastor will remains in custody ahead of a June 28 court appearance.
This is the second time Stephens has been arrested in less than a month in connection with public health order violations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
'Trees going up like Roman candles' as wildfire season starts early in B.C.
Susanne Langan first noticed the Burgess Creek wildfire from her home in British Columbia's Cariboo region on Saturday afternoon as a distant, thin column of smoke.
3 children injured after truck and school bus collide in Russell, Ont.
Three children and a driver were taken to hospital after a school bus and a truck collided on Route 400 in Russell, Ont.
Search for missing kayakers off Vancouver Island expands into U.S.
Authorities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border resumed search efforts Monday to find two men who went missing while kayaking off Vancouver Island over the weekend.