Church west of Edmonton cited for public health violations, pastor ticketed

Some churches defying province health rules An Edmonton-area church was fined for breaking Alberta’s COVID-19 restrictions. Bill Fortier reports.

Edmonton — Alberta Health Services has found a church in Parkland County to be in violation of the province’s newest COVID-19 restrictions.

A health officer attended the Grace Life Church of Edmonton at 51529A Range Road 262 and cited a number of violations including:

The pastor of Grace Life Church was given a $1,200 ticket on Sunday for contravening the Public Health Act, according to the RCMP. Mounties said Alberta Health Services requested that they issue the ticket.

On Dec. 17 the church was ordered to make a number of changes, including the following:

The order said the changes were to be completed immediately.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was asked about enforcement at churches at her daily update on Monday.

“We've worked very hard to work collaboratively with faith leaders in Alberta and I will say that the majority of faith leaders have been incredibly hard working have been demonstrating leadership and caring for their communities,” she said.

“But if groups continue to make decisions that put their communities at risk, not just those who may attend those services or who attend a particular event or gathering, but those actions put their broader community at risk, then unfortunately sometimes it does need to move into an enforcement category.”