Charges continue to be laid against members of the Old Colony Mennonite Churches in Chatham-Kent under the Reopening Ontario Act.
Chatham-Kent police charged a member of the Old Colony Mennonite Church on Grove Mills Line in Dresden on Monday. The 58-year-old Dresden man was charged with failing to comply with a continued order of the Reopening Ontario Act, which prohibits large gatherings. He was charged in connection with a gathering on May 16, 2021 where approximately 42 vehicles were spotted in the parking lot with about 50-60 people inside the church.
The latest charge follows three charges laid over the long weekend at the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Wheatley and in Dresden for allegedly holding services.
A total of 13 charges have been laid against members of the Old Colony Mennonite Churches in Chatham-Kent over the past five months. The names of those who received the tickets have never been released to the public.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby have the authority to shut down the churches but have so far not exercised that authority. Dr. Colby said there was a legal precedent recently set for continued non-compliance when a judge ordered The Church of God in Aylmer to be locked.
