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Fencing goes up around GraceLife Church west of Edmonton as AHS ‘physically closes’ facility

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Flying Eze
April 7, 2021

RCMP and members of Alberta Health Services were on scene at GraceLife Church west of Edmonton Wednesday morning to “physically close” the facility as temporary fencing was put up around the building.

Police were at the Spruce Grove church before 8 a.m. Crews could be seen putting fencing up around the building’s perimeter, as well as blocking off several parking stalls.

“Alberta Health Services physically closed GraceLife Church and has prevented access to the building until GLC can demonstrate the ability to comply with Alberta’s chief medical officer of health’s (CMOH) restrictions,” AHS said in a statement Wednesday morning.

For months, the church has been routinely holding services that violate COVID-19 restrictions.

Under Alberta’s public health orders, face masks are mandatory and churches are restricted to 15 per cent of fire code capacity.

Over Easter weekend, GraceLife Church’s parking lot was once again packed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

AHS said Wednesday that for “several months” the health authority has “attempted to work collaboratively with GLC to address the ongoing public health concerns at the site.”

According to AHS, steps taken prior to physically closing the site include:

an order issued by AHS on Dec. 17, 2020, requiring GLC to comply with CMOH restrictions
a Court of Queen’s Bench Order obtained on Jan. 21, 2021, requiring GLC to comply with the previous order
a Closure Order issued on Jan. 29, 2021, requiring closure until compliance with the restrictions was attained
on March 27, 2021, AHS sent a letter to the church’s pastor information on the continued spread of COVID-19
last week, AHS invited the pastor to meet virtually to discuss the risks presented by COVID-19, but the church has not provided any dates to meet

“GLC has decided not to follow these mandatory restrictions, nor have they attempted to work with AHS to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” AHS said.

RCMP and AHS inspectors have appeared at the church property several times during services to ensure public health measures are being followed and in previous weeks, officers have said “the church did not comply with the restrictions.”

On March 28, an AHS spokesperson said environmental public health inspectors were denied entry to the church, while noting what “appeared to be breaches of the current CMOH (chief medical officer of health) restrictions related to capacity, physical distancing and masking.”

The church, along with its pastor James Coates, are set to appear in court in May. They are charged with violating measures under the Public Health Act related to capacity limits, physical distancing and masking.

Coates was released from jail on March 22 after he breached a bail condition to stop holding services that did not follow regulations. He pleaded guilty and was fined $1,500.

AHS said between July 10, 2020, and April 6, 2021, AHS has received 105 complaints from the public about GraceLife Church. AHS inspectors have conducted 18 inspections at the site since July 10 and “violations were observed at each visit,” AHS said.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Alberta and AHS said there is an urgent need to minimize spread to protect all Albertans.