Church fined $14k now warning police, officials not to trespass

A Saskatoon church fined for allegedly exceeding gathering limits under COVID-19 public health orders now is asking government officials and police to stay away.

Fellowship Baptist Church on Taylor Street across the street from Aden Bowman Collegiate was fined $14,000 on March 11 for exceeding gathering limits at places of worship, the Ministry of Health confirmed.

Signs posted on the doors declare the church as private property with “no trespassing” printed beneath it.

“If found trespassing, you will be prosecuted under the applicable Trespass Act,” the sign reads.

Section 176 of Canada’s Criminal Code is also mentioned on the signage, a section which forbids people from disrupting worship services.

650 CKOM attempted to contact Fellowship Baptist Church pastor Steve Flippen but has yet to receive a reply.

The sign posted on the entrance of Fellowship Baptist Church on April 29, 2021. (Keenan Sorokan/650 CKOM)

In an emailed statement, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said it doesn’t disclose information about specific enforcement, but did add how enforcement has changed since the pandemic began.

“Enforcement throughout the pandemic has evolved. Early on, public health inspectors were focused on education to help individuals and organizations follow the orders and prevent transmission. Last fall, it was noted that the time for education had passed and public health officials in conjunction with law enforcement partners would be ticketing those that were found in breach of public health orders,” the statement read.

Saskatoon police said officers attended the church in February but did not issue the ticket.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said it is working with all of its partners to find a path going forward to discourage large gatherings.

“At this point in the pandemic, public health and law enforcement are observing co-ordinated efforts to undermine public health orders. As the province is currently in the third wave and the risk of community transmission is high, enforcement efforts are being reviewed to address organized events in particular,” the SHA statement continued.

“While the events vary in size, they are frequent but vary in size and there is a small, consistent group that appear to be leading nearly all rallies in the province.”

The province reduced the number of people who are able to gather at a worship service to 30 people on Nov. 27. The cap was then expanded on March 19 to allow 30 per cent capacity or 150 people, whichever is smaller.