A Langley church has been fined a second time for defying provincial orders against large gatherings during the pandemic.
Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Largy said a ticket was issued against the Riverside Calvary Church in the 9600-block of 201st Street on Sunday, Jan. 3 B次元官网网址渇or conducting an in-person service in contravention of the Provincial Health Order on Sunday.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎ttendees were seen in the church without masks during the service,B次元官网网址� Largy added.
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It was a welcome development for Dena Fyfe, owner of the Buhf Beauty Boutique, which is located in the same building complex as the church.
B次元官网网址淭hat was good to see,B次元官网网址� Fyfe told the Langley Advance Times.
She had just had another morning of clients complaining that they had to walk past groups of people heading to the church without masks.
B次元官网网址淢y parking lot was overflowing.B次元官网网址�
Fyfe said she made repeated phone calls to police about the church services, because she could easily see the people crossing in front of her business without masks.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just blatantly obvious,B次元官网网址� Fyfe commented.
And frustrating for the business owner, who follows COVID guidelines that include requiring masks, physical distancing, hand sanitizers, and a limit on the number of people in her business.
B次元官网网址淚 have a protocol of clients waiting in cars,B次元官网网址� Fyfe said.
Following the issuance of the latest ticket, Fyfe has taken flak on social media.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had people reviewing my business [online], giving it one star, calling me a B次元官网网址楰aren,B次元官网网址� calling me a rat,B次元官网网址� Fyfe related.
B次元官网网址淭he court of public opinion is not happy.B次元官网网址�
She is not intimidated.
B次元官网网址淚 have a thick skin.B次元官网网址�
However, Fyfe has decided to stop opening on Sundays because of the continuing issue of people without m masks.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a negative environment.B次元官网网址�
The first fine against the Riverside Calvary church was levied after RCMP were called to the chapel on Sunday, Nov. 29, to investigate a report that in-person services were being held.
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As many as 19 churches in the Fraser Valley have been holding in-person services in defiance of a provincial ban ordered to slow the spread of COVID-19.
As reported in a church bulletin sent to members of the Free Reformed Church (FRC) of Langley at 20757 80th Avenue, there was a meeting of pastors and elders from churches in the Fraser Valley in mid-December, where they discussed the fines that have been levied against several of them.
B次元官网网址淭here were some 50 pastors and elders of some 19 churches, mainly evangelical churches,B次元官网网址� the bulletin reported.
As of that meeting, it was estimated that six to 10 churches in the region have been fined for defying the Nov. 19 order from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry that banned such gatherings in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
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B次元官网网址淭hese fines will not be paid, but will be challenged through the court system,B次元官网网址� the bulletin reported, with the help of the Justice Centre of Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) and advice from the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA).
Calgary-based JCCF describes itself as a B次元官网网址減ublic interest, non-partisan law firm and registered charityB次元官网网址� that aims to B次元官网网址渄efend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through litigation and education.B次元官网网址�
JCCF went to court seeking a interim injunction against AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 restrictions, including bans on gatherings and mandatory mask-wearing, but the application was dismissed in December, with the judge ruling the restrictions can remain in place until a full hearing of the challenge is heard.
ARPA has campaigned against rainbow flags and legislation that bans so-called B次元官网网址渃onversion therapy.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 online mission statement says the B次元官网网址渕ission of ARPA Canada is to educate, equip, and encourage reformed Christians to political action, and to bring a biblical perspective to our civil authorities.B次元官网网址�
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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