Concerns about people showing up at an Orillia church on Sunday prompted a nearby resident to call police.
The resident, who didn’t want her name used, called the OPP's non-emergency line after seeing a group of people enter the Church of the Canadian Martyrs on Regent Street on Easter Sunday.
She was concerned the province’s rules around gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic were being broken as she watched a group of people she said were in close proximity to each other while waiting on the front steps to enter.
A representative from the church, who also did not want her name used, said there are no in-person masses being held, that the church is only open to confessions by appointment, with the priest seeing one person at a time, and said that is likely what was happening Sunday.
The priest who looks after the Orillia congregation could not be reached for comment.
OPP Sgt. Jason Folz confirmed police responded to a call around 9 p.m. An officer spoke with one person outside who was waiting to see the priest, and no further action was taken.
The concerned resident also contacted the City of Orillia and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The latter told her it would have a public health inspector follow up with the church. The health unit has not yet responded to an inquiry.
Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke said his office received an email about the “perceived gathering at the church without the necessary safety measures in place.”
“Our fire chief confirmed with the Orillia OPP that they, too, received a call and went to investigate. The OPP indicated once they arrived, there was only one parishioner left who advised the office that the priest was only letting one person in at a time to speak with the priest,” Clarke said.
“The city’s emergency management committee has asked one of our municipal law enforcement officers to follow up directly with the church to discuss and ensure necessary emergency measures, such as physical distancing and limiting gatherings of more than five, are being adhered to," the mayor added.
The city advises those who wish to report violations of emergency orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to call the OPP’s non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122. They can also call the city’s COVID-19 enforcement hotline at 705-325-2313 (Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
“It is critical that 9-1-1 is used for emergencies only,” the mayor said.
He said bylaw officers will follow up on complaints, and “if compliance is not obtained through dialogue and education, officers have the authority to issue charges.”
