Alberta pastor, brother, caf owner guilty of contempt for breaking COVID-19 health rules

Three Alberta men a Calgary-based street preacher, his brother and a caf owner have been found guilty of contempt for what a judge deemed "deliberate and wilful" breaches of judicial orders requiringthem to follow COVID-19 public health rules.

Pastor Artur Pawlowski of Street Church Ministriesandhis brother,Dawid Pawlowski, along withChristopher Scott, who owns the Whistle StopCafein Mirror, Alta.,"openly [flouting]the efforts of Alberta Health Services" to keep citizens safe during the third wave of the pandemicat a time when Alberta had the highest COVID-19 case counts in North America, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Adam Germainsaidin his decision, delivered in Calgary on Monday morning.

The three will face a sentencing hearing next month.

Mayoral candidate also charged

Meanwhile, a fourth man, Calgary mayoral candidate Kevin J. Johnston, will learn his fate Friday after defence lawyer Ian McCuaigcompleted arguments in his contempt case late Monday afternoon.

McCuaigpresented arguments that to find Johnston in contempt for breaching three different judges' orders would be a violation of his client's Charter protected rights to free speech.

Johnston is in trouble forthreatening AHSinspectors in several social media posts, promoting large gatherings and breaching public health orders.

In early May, the Albertagovernment introduced new measures to try to crack down onrepeated COVID-19 public health order scofflaws ascases continued to rise in the province.

Fines fordefying public health orders doubled to $2,000 and introduced what Justice Minister Kaycee Maducalled a new enforcement protocolto target people not complying with orders.

Two judges issued orders aimed at getting persistent rule-breakers under control.

Criminal charges in 3 provinces

Johnston, who has a history of belligerent and racist behaviour, has repeatedly said that if elected, he is prepared to arm himself and go to the homes of health officials to arrest those who have taken enforcement actions.

He hasposted photos of one AHS employee in particular and threatened to "dox" her and others. Doxxing is the practice of posting a person's personal information online, usually against a person's wishes.

Following the threats, Johnston became bound by a restraining order sought by the AHS, preventing him from obstructing or interfering with its employees. One of his contempt charges is in connection to allegations he breached that order.

Johnston isfacing criminal charges in three provinces: an assault charge in British Columbia,hate crimechargesin Ontario and, most recently, a charge of causing a disturbance in Alberta. He is currently behind bars after being denied bail on June 14in connection with charges of causing a disturbance and breaching a court order at the Core Mall in downtown Calgary.

AHS inspectors harassed at church

Throughout the pandemic, the Pawlowski brothers repeatedly hostedand promotedlargemaskless gatherings for church services in Calgary and alsodenied health officials entry to the church,located in the southeast neighbourhood of Dover.

Attempts by Alberta Health Services (AHS) inspectors to enter the church have been met with abusive language.

Artur Pawlowski was fined last year for failing to adhere to COVID-19 restrictionsand has drawn controversy for past comments, such aswhen he said Calgary's flooding in 2013 was caused by God's tears over homosexuality.

The Pawlowskis were arrested in early May.

Around the same time, health inspectors padlocked the Whistle Stop Cafe, whichScott had been operating for monthsin open defiance of AHSorders to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

On May 8, despite having been served with a judge's order to obey restrictions on public gatherings,Scott decided that "he would participate and incite the crowd" in goingahead with a planned large campout andanti-restriction rally, Germain said in his ruling.

Scott was arrested that weekend.

All three men were found guilty of "openly encouraging gatherings contrary to the rules," the judge said.

WATCH | Calgary street preacher, brother taken into custody:

Calgary street preacher, brother taken into custody

3 years ago

Duration 0:37

Artur and Dawid Pawlowski were arrested May 8 after flouting public health restrictions for months by holding large church gatherings indoors, without masks, in Calgary despite the pandemic. (Video: Artur Pawlowski TV/YouTube)