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Two more charges have been laid at the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Wheatley after a gathering there Thursday morning.
Chatham-Kent’s top administrator, Don Shropshire, confirmed the charges during a conference call with media but didn’t have any more information.
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These are the fifth charges laid against members of that Old Colony Mennonite Church under the Reopening Ontario Act.
The previous charges by Chatham-Kent police came after more than 100 people reportedly attended services on April 25, Dec. 27 and Dec. 26.
WINDSOR, ONT. Two new charges were laid under the Reopening Ontario Act after a report of another gathering at the Old Colony Mennonite Church near Wheatley on Thursday morning. “If they see a gathering, we ask they call it in, Chatham-Kent’s chief administrative officer Don Shropshire appealed to the public. He added the provincial stay-at-home orders cannot be ignored. It followed a similar gathering on April 25, and another on Dec. 26, 2020 at the church on Wheatley Road. In each instance, authorities laid separate charges for failing to comply with the Reopening Act. Under the current orders, indoor religious gatherings are capped at a maximum of 10 people, which will remain in place until at least June 2.
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Charges have been laid against three people after Leamington OPP received complaints of large public gatherings last weekend.
OPP said officers responded on Sunday to information about “several locations” in the municipality of Leamington.
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According to police, the gatherings were found to be in violation of the provincial stay-at-home order and the Reopening Ontario Act.
Leamington OPP have not disclosed the nature of the gatherings.
Three individuals have since been charged.
The accused face potential fines of $750 each for failure to comply with the order, or $1,000 fines for preventing others from following the order.
Locking or fencing off rebel churches under consideration in Chatham-Kent Lockdown Protest Sign (BlackburnNews.com photo) By Paul Pedro May 6, 2021 6:02pm Share via:
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is looking at tougher measures for repeat offenders of the Reopening Ontario Act.
Alberta Health Services closed Grace Life Church just outside of Edmonton last month and surrounded it with fencing after church officials continued to refuse to follow mandatory public health restrictions.
Shropshire said the municipality is doing everything possible to try and work with people, including education and warnings, but he reminds the public that there are increasing fines and penalties for those who continue to disregard the public health and safety rules, up to and including jail time. He said that should serve as a deterrent, if it hasn’t already.
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