SASKATOON Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) says it has issued 18 tickets to people violating public health orders at a rally in Kiwanis Memorial Park on Sunday. More than 100 people were congregating and disobeying current Public Health orders, SPS said in a news release. One additional ticket was issued to a participant involved in a rally on April 24. Those who received tickets were observed to have varying levels of involvement in the rally, police say. Police expect to issue more tickets as the investigation continues. “We encourage members of the public to adhere to the restrictions set out in Public Health orders and not attend future events where violations may occur.”
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Alec Couros says he was concerned, but not surprised, to see video surface on social media of what appears to be a Canadian Nationalist Party flag being waved at a so-called “freedom rally” in downtown Saskatoon over the weekend.
Couros, an expert in digital citizenship and social media at the University of Regina, says white nationalist and “freedom rally” groups often overlap in the social media channels they use, whether it’s Facebook forums or other websites. White supremacists and white nationalists have also been showing up at such protests in Canada and the United States.
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Saskatoon / 650 CKOM
May 10, 2021 | 4:26 PM
A man holds an upside-down Canadian flag ahead of a rally at Kiwanis Memorial Park on May 9, 2021.
(650 CKOM)
Saskatoon police say they have handed out 18 tickets to people who attended a so-called “freedom rally” in Kiwanis Memorial Park on Sunday.
Police say upon attending the rally, public health officials and police saw more than 100 people congregating and disobeying current public health orders.
Eighteen tickets were handed out to people violating the orders. Police say one additional ticket was issued to a participant who was also involved in a rally in the city on April 24.
In a release, police say those who were ticketed were seen to have varying levels of involvement with the rally.
Tank: Saskatoon needs to see justice for people flouting COVID-19 rules The Saskatchewan Health Authority says it is taking a new approach to cracking down on rallies that flout public health orders.
Author of the article: Phil Tank • Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Publishing date: May 06, 2021 • 9 hours ago • 3 minute read • People gather in Kiwanis Park for a children s freedom rally. The rally comes a week after attendees of a rally in Prince Albert were told to self-isolate after an attendee tested positive for COVID-19. Photo taken in Saskatoon, SK on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Photo by Matt Smith /Saskatoon StarPhoenix
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The irony runs deeper than the South Saskatchewan River: rallies and protests opposing restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 could help prolong them.
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Enforcement of restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 ramped up through the first three months of 2021 in Saskatchewan.
Ministry of Justice spokeswoman Margherita Vittorelli said in an email that 106 charges have been laid for violating public health orders dating back to mid-March of 2020.
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Try refreshing your browser, or Sask. tickets for COVID-19 infractions top 100, just five fines paid Back to video
Eleven of these ended with convictions and five fines have been paid, worth $12,000 altogether. Twelve charges were withdrawn or jurisdiction was lost; the other 83 are awaiting a date in court.