The event took place on the corner of Thatcher Drive and Main Street on Saturday afternoon, and featured over 100 participants, the vast majority of whom refused to wear masks or attempt social distancing.
At the event itself, four tickets were issued to individuals, each with a charge of disobeying the Public Health Order to limit group sizes to 10 people or less.
This came in spite of organizer Mark Friesen of Saskatoon opening his speech at the rally by telling participants that police had told him tickets wouldn’t be handed out if people gathered in pods of 10 people. This drew laughter of derision from the crowd, and Friesen continued by saying since that order wasn’t an amendment to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, they could do with it as they wish.
Participants continued to mill about in a large, non-socially distanced crowd after the announcement.
Police said individuals ticketed were active participants in the rally — multiple people spoke at the event, including one who bragged about receiving a fine previously, saying she was a member of the ‘2800 club’, referring to the $2,800 fine issued for PHO violations.
Two of the individuals receiving $2,800 fines were from Moose Jaw, with three other individuals having being charged at previous rallies and therefore not given voluntary payment options.
Those three will be required to attend court in Moose Jaw on May 19 to speak to their matters.
The Moose Jaw Police Service remind the public to adhere to all Public Health Orders.
Their investigation continues, and further charges may be pending.
