[Editor’s note: This notice is the continuation of the dispute between GraceLife Church in Alberta, Canada, and Alberta Health Services about the advisability of the church holding worship services without getting clearance from Health Services during the COVID-19 mandated restrictions and shutdown. Read a news account of this story: Canadian Church Fenced Off by Authorities for Breaking COVID-19 Rules]

EDMONTON – Today, April 7, 2021, Alberta Health Services (AHS) physically closed GraceLife Church (GLC) 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.

For several months, AHS has attempted to work collaboratively with GLC to address the ongoing public health concerns at the site. Steps taken prior to physically closing the site include:

• An order issued by AHS on December 17th, 2020, requiring GLC to comply with CMOH restrictions.
• A Court of Queen’s Bench Order obtained on January 21st, 2021, requiring GLC to comply with the previous order.
• A Closure Order issued on January 29th, 2021, requiring closure until compliance with the restrictions was attained.
• On March 27, 2021, AHS sent a letter to Pastor Coates providing him with information on the continued spread of COVID-19. Last week, AHS invited Pastor Coates to meet virtually to discuss the risks presented by COVID-19, however 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.

With COVID-19 cases increasing and the more easily-transmitted and potentially more severe variants becoming dominant, there is urgent need to minimize spread to protect all Albertans.

From July 10, 2020 to April 6, 2021, AHS has received 105 complaints from the public about GLC. AHS inspectors have conducted 18 inspections at the site since July 10, 2020 and violations were observed at each visit.

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