On Sunday, April 18, 2021 around 11 a.m. Bracebridge OPP received a complaint from a member of the public for a public gathering church service inside a warehouse on Monica Lane that was violating the provincial guidelines under the Re-Opening Act Of Ontario.
Police told Muskoka411 there were about 55 people inside not wearing masks or social distancing.
Police said in a press release that attempts were made by to educate the involved people and have them disperse however, the pastor refused to co-operate and was subsequently issued a provincial offence notice for Failing to Comply with Order 10(1) under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).
Muskoka411 spoke to people outside who attended the Life Church Muskoka service that asked to remain anonymous and said they are upset that the person making the complaint did not speak directly with church officials first. They added that they were not happy with the police coming inside while the service was taking place.
Organizers have no plans to stop the regular Sunday service in the future.
The OPP is requesting that members of the public voluntarily comply with the new emergency orders and do their part to support the Government of Ontario’s health emergency declaration to limit transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
There are three completely false statements reported in this news brief.
Firstly, this is not true “Police entered the building and allegedly the Pastor told those attending that the service would continue despite the police presence.” Once the Pastor was aware of the police presence and what their requirements he immediately closed service and asked people to comply with police and leave the building.
Second, this is also not true “Organizers have no plans to stop the regular Sunday service in the future.” We were allowed by the province to hold a religious service today at 15% capacity. The order to go to only 10 people starts tomorrow. As per every other time such restrictions were in place, we would go to online only or a drive in service as allowed by the province of we could facilitate one.
As you can see by the brief from the premier that the order from the premier to reduce the capacity in religious services from 15% to 10 people does not come into effect until Monday.
“In addition, effective Monday, April 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is limiting the capacity of weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 10 people indoors or outdoors. “
Thirdly, this is not true. “There were no charges laid or tickets issued.” The Pastor was fined as the organizer of the event even though the OPP officers had stated that if everyone cooperated no one would be ticketed. They were not true to their word as when everyone left the ticket was issued.
Please make sure you report only the truth.
OPP Press Release
On April 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a complaint from a member of the public about a large gathering that was occurring at a warehouse located on Monica Lane in Bracebridge, ON. Officers attended the location and found a large group of people inside for a religious gathering, not wearing masks and not practicing social distancing. This was not in compliance with the restrictions found within the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).
Attempts were made by police to educate the involved people and have them disperse however the pastor refused to co-operate and was subsequently issued a provincial offence notice for Failing to Comply with Order 10(1) under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).
The OPP is requesting that members of the public voluntarily comply with the new emergency orders and do their part to support the Government of Ontario’s health emergency declaration to limit transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
More information about the restrictions covered by the Government of Ontario’s declared ‘State of Emergency’ and the updated enforcement provisions of EMCPA can be found https://covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions.
Waa! Waa! Waa! More reasons for me to remain atheist. Jesus would be horrified.
What Bobbi wrote above is correct because I was there as well.
Thanks for speaking up, Bobbi.
These are not all facts and present a biased report.
Check your story before misleading the public.
There was no violation of the Re-opening Act of Ontario.
This church has not been open when the rules don’t allow it.
The rules for today allow for 15% capacity.
Many churches were open today in this region. Public Health confirmed they were allowed to be.
News reporters have a responsibility to present the whole story.
What about these facts:
Fact: The OPP officers said that our Christian church service does not qualify as a “religious service” and informed our pastors that they had to stop the service and everyone had to leave.
Fact: Ontario orders for the reduction of capacity in a “funeral, wedding and religious service to a maximum of 10 people” goes into effect on Monday, April 19th.
Hence, the 15% capacity rule for church services is still in effect on Sunday, April 18th.
Fact: Ontario Provincial Police entered into a church while a worship service was taking place.
According to the marginal note in Section 176 of the Criminal Code of Canada, this is against the law.
OPP Press Release
On April 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a complaint from a member of the public about a large gathering that was occurring at a warehouse located on Monica Lane in Bracebridge, ON. Officers attended the location and found a large group of people inside for a religious gathering, not wearing masks and not practicing social distancing. This was not in compliance with the restrictions found within the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).
Attempts were made by police to educate the involved people and have them disperse however the pastor refused to co-operate and was subsequently issued a provincial offence notice for Failing to Comply with Order 10(1) under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).
The OPP is requesting that members of the public voluntarily comply with the new emergency orders and do their part to support the Government of Ontario’s health emergency declaration to limit transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
More information about the restrictions covered by the Government of Ontario’s declared ‘State of Emergency’ and the updated enforcement provisions of EMCPA can be found https://covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions.
The Nazi OPP just following orders from a canadian public that snitches on church goers. Welcome to Communist Canada.
You need a history and ideology lesson. You’re ignorance is abundant
Idiots like that should be turned away from medical help once they get covid. What they are doing is keeping this pandemic spreading.
.
Just keep copying and pasting that press release. Disregard any other side of the story.
The order came in effect on Saturday at midnight. The church was in violation. I posted a link to the Ontario government order in a comment
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/61192/ontario-strengthens-enforcement-of-stay-at-home-order
Go about halfway down the page John. It says right there in black and white. “In addition, effective Monday, April 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is limiting the capacity of weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 10 people indoors or outdoors”
“In addition, effective Monday, April 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is limiting the capacity of weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 10 people indoors or outdoors. Social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions are prohibited, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone. Drive-in services will be permitted.” (From your link. https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/61192/ontario-strengthens-enforcement-of-stay-at-home-order)
Care about your fellow citizens. Stay home as we are asked to.
Virus will spread whether its Sunday, Monday or any day. Do your part.
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.” Sort of Ezekiel. Don’t gather! Wash your hands! Give hope online, socially distanced!
Amen
You cant fix stupid. Apparently you cant quarantine or protect it either.
I guess you all think you are immune to this virus because “you have the blood of jesus” on you. Putting yourselves and everyone in your community at risk from this deadly virus is the height of christian hypocrisy!
If these nuts get sick they better not expect to take up space in an ICU ward. They can ask
their personal savior to protect and cure them instead. Believe whatever fairy tales you want,
but don’t expect science and medicine to save you after you do something so bone-headed
stupid. If you truly are in touch with the almighty, you can pray on your own, not in
big groups of people.
They should all be tested as they exit their warehouse, to see how many asymptomatic super spreaders are in attendance.
Screw the criminal govt. This is about power and control, and has absolutely nothing to do with health. Prove me wrong… Anyone!
Tell that to the people who have lost loved ones or those who have died. Tell that to the long haulers who are still very sick. Tell that to the overloaded ICUs.
You are horribly misinformed and if we just went hard on this in the beginning much like Australia we could be like Australia now with very few, an Open economy, and mostly back to normal. Instead, people like you are preventing the harsh actions that are necessary to move forward. Again I use Australia as a country that took harsh actions and saw a good results.
There is a book these people can refer to if they really need to get their fill of Jeebus, and they can all read it from the comforts of their own homes. There is no need to gather in some building and risk spreading the virus. Wise up. You can pass the plate later.
First, the new rules went into play on April 17th, so yes. This church was in violation.
Source: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwse-DBhC7ARIsAI8YcWIGMVeCG1ITYXu18c6Mp4Ck_TG25vwUBbqesEUnK9IZiRhAG6QpFsEaAs_kEALw_wcB
Next, the church website core values says: “Honor is demonstrated through consistent respect in word and action toward those we lead, follow, love and disagree with. While honor avoids controlling others, it also lovingly confronts, limits, and disciplines when necessary”
Please honor our provincial leaders and our police as well as public health. Discipline yourselves and limit your exposures to others. WEAR A MASK INDOORS.
Last, the core values also state :
“As believers, we are all in full-time ministry as God advances His Kingdom into every area of society. Our work and efforts both inside and outside the church are sacred and valuable acts of worship to God. ”
So if the ministry is everywhere, in the church and outside, then take a break, save some lives, and stop being self centered. I’m petty sure your core values also speak to not being selfish.
“In addition, effective Monday, April 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is limiting the capacity of weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 10 people indoors or outdoors. Social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions are prohibited, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone. Drive-in services will be permitted.” (From your link, emphasis mine. https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/61192/ontario-strengthens-enforcement-of-stay-at-home-order)
Please read the link that you posted supporting your claim that the Church was in violation of the new guidelines. Although some of the guidelines went into effect on April 17th the following paragraph clearly states:
“In addition, effective Monday, April 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is limiting the capacity of weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 10 people indoors or outdoors. Social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions are prohibited, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone. Drive-in services will be permitted.”
The Church was clearly not in violation of the Guidelines that were in place as far as meetings go as long as the were in compliance with 15% capacity of their building. I understand that there were approximately 55 people in the building at the time. Seated and socially distancing.
This is approximately the same number of people that are allowed in the local supermarket in my community under the guidelines. Where people are criss-crossing each other. passing each other; touching items putting them back on the shelf, and sometimes even stopping to talk with an acquaintance.
Most Pastors and Churches that I know have taken seriously their responsibility to protect people within their church community by following the guidelines and even going beyond them.
When the guidelines say shut down they shut down, when the guidelines allow for being open, like other essential service operators – supermarkets – they open, responsibly and provide a service to those who choose to attend. Which is their right to do under the laws of our land. You are free to disagree with whether you think they should or should not be open, that is your right to free speech, which is also protected under the same laws of our land.
Your church website says you honour and show respect to those you lead, follow, and disagree with in word and in action. Apparently not. I belong to a church who continues to serve its community by providing a service each week on YouTube put together by 5 dedicated people. Not that hard to do.