FROM: Aylmer Police Service DATE: 27 DEC 20
Charges laid against local Church for contravention of Re-Opening Ontario Act.
On Sunday, December 27th, police received several complaints regarding a drive in Church Service taking place at a Church located on John St. N, in Aylmer. The complaint(s) were in relation to persons gathering outside vehicles for the purposes of a Religious Service.
On December 26th, 2020 at 12:01 am, the Province of Ontario implemented a Province – Wide Shut Down that resulted in further restrictions. In relation to Religious Services, the Province stated that Weddings, Funerals, and other Religious Services, rites or ceremonies, where physical distancing can be maintained, these events were restricted to:
- 10 persons indoors
- 10 persons outdoors
Drive in services, rites or ceremonies permitted subject to conditions.
Officers attended this location and found that a contravention of the continued emergency order was taking place and as a result, a summons was issued to a 37 yr old male for the charge of host an event exceeding number permitted under continued section 7.0.2 order, in addition a summons is to be served on the Church organization. These summonses are returnable to a court date later in January 2021.
At this same time, officers located numerous vehicles parked along the roadway that were peacefully demonstrating and protesting in support of the wearing of masks. Due to safety concerns and roadway congestion, police moved along 15-20 vehicles.