June 4, 2021
EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services (AHS) was this morning granted an injunction in the Court of Queen’s Bench against the organizers of a rodeo planned for June 5 and 6, near Bowden.
The injunction prevents the organizers from holding any future events which do not comply with all Chief Medical Officer of Health Order (CMOH) requirements, including masking, attendance limits, and physical distancing, as well as complying with any requirements that may exist for sporting competitions or spectator events.
The injunction applies to the organizers, as well as any attendees present at any events put on by the organizers.
The injunction includes police enforcement and imposes significant consequences on the organizers or attendees of this event and deters others from organizing similar events in the future.
AHS has taken this step due to the ongoing risk to Albertans created by those breaching COVID-19 public health restrictions and advertising social gatherings which, if held, breach current and active CMOH Orders and pose a risk to public health.
Previous enforcement efforts against the organizers, as well as attempts to proactively work with them to not proceed with the event have been exhausted by AHS and law enforcement partners.
This injunction follows a pre-emptive injunction granted on May 6, 2021 against anyone who is organizing, promoting and/or attending an illegal public gathering that does not comply with COVID-19 public health orders.
AHS strongly condemns the intentional disobeying of COVID-19 public health restrictions.
It is extremely disappointing that people would knowingly put their fellow Albertans at risk by ignoring the current rules.
AHS Environmental Public Health continues to enforce the restrictions, in partnership with enforcement partners including but not limited to municipalities authorities, police, and RCMP.
AHS strongly encourages Albertans to continue to follow all CMOH restrictions.
