A charge under the Reopening Ontario Act has been laid following a COVID-19 restriction protest in Chatham on the weekend.
Chatham-Kent Police Service officials allege on Saturday, April 17, 2021 police responded to the report of a demonstration at the intersection of St. Clair Street and Grand Avenue in Chatham.
Through investigation, police observed approximately 30 people gathering in protest to the new COVID-19 restrictions announced by the Provincial Government on April 16, 2021, police officials allege.
Police spoke with the organizer of the event regarding the current restrictions surrounding social gatherings in an effort to educate everyone, police officials added.
On Sunday, April 18, 2021 police responded to the same intersection for another demonstration, this time with approximately 50 people in attendance.
Police again spoke with the same organizer, police officials allege.
Last night, the organizer, a 43-year-old Chatham woman, was charged with failing to comply with a continued 7.0.2 order as per Ontario Regulation 364/20, of the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020, section 10(1).
She will be required to attend Provincial Offences Court on May 26, 2021, police officials say.
“Our primary goal is to engage and educate our community in an effort to seek compliance with enforcement being used as a last resort,” Chief Gary Conn said in a media release.
“Gatherings such as this not only jeopardize public safety but contradict the law, therefore those responsible must be held accountable.”
