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 乌鸦传媒渇or conducting an in-person service in contravention of the Provincial Health Order on Sunday.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淎ttendees were seen in the church without masks during the service,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淭hat was good to see,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淢y parking lot was overflowing.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just blatantly obvious,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淚 have a protocol of clients waiting in cars,乌鸦传媒� Fyfe said.

Following the issuance of the latest ticket, Fyfe has taken flak on social media.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e had people reviewing my business [online], giving it one star, calling me a 乌鸦传媒楰aren,乌鸦传媒� calling me a rat,乌鸦传媒� Fyfe related.

乌鸦传媒淭he court of public opinion is not happy.乌鸦传媒�

She is not intimidated.

乌鸦传媒淚 have a thick skin.乌鸦传媒�

However, Fyfe has decided to stop opening on Sundays because of the continuing issue of people without m masks.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just a negative environment.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淭here were some 50 pastors and elders of some 19 churches, mainly evangelical churches,乌鸦传媒� 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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乌鸦传媒淭hese fines will not be paid, but will be challenged through the court system,乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒減ublic interest, non-partisan law firm and registered charity乌鸦传媒� that aims to 乌鸦传媒渄efend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through litigation and education.乌鸦传媒�

JCCF went to court seeking a interim injunction against Alberta乌鸦传媒檚 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 乌鸦传媒渃onversion therapy.乌鸦传媒�

It乌鸦传媒檚 online mission statement says the 乌鸦传媒渕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.乌鸦传媒�

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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