Church convocation denounced by cabinet ministers

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This article was published 22/05/2021 (1312 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two cabinet ministers who have connections to Springs Church have publicly denounced an in-person convocation ceremony held for 2021 graduates of a Winnipeg college run by the congregation.

Premier Brian Pallister, however, was not as quick to condemn an event that appears to have broken several public health orders when pressed on the subject Saturday.

“I’ll certainly look forward to finding out what’s actually happened before I comment, but, obviously, if there are violations, I would expect that there would be consequences for that and it would be most unfortunate,” Pallister said during a news conference held Saturday at 11 a.m.

Photos of unmasked graduates from Springs College in close quarters — which were originally posted on the @springschurch Instagram account this week and have since been deleted — have sparked outrage on social media in recent days.

One of the images shows nearly 20 students who are not wearing masks gathered on and near an indoor stage with a graduation backdrop. Meantime, most post-secondary graduates in the province will be celebrating convocation at virtual events this spring.

The church did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the matter, but a video of pastor Leon Fontaine defending the ceremony was posted on social media late Saturday night.

In the video, Fontaine said there have been “a lot of misrepresentations and outright false statements” about the college’s drive-in graduation, owing to uncontextualized photos.

“We take the public health orders very seriously, and have done everything in our power in the 14 months to comply with the health orders,” he said, adding countless hours are spent interpreting orders.

“Members of the public were not put at risk at any time as a result of the virtual college graduation.”

Fontaine went on to explain that a class of 18 students, who had been studying together as a cohort since orientation and did not have to wear masks throughout the school year, used a private TV studio to film commencement proceedings that were later broadcast to a drive-in parking lot.

Calling herself a former member of the church, Families Minister Rochelle Squires took to Twitter earlier Saturday to share her disappointment in the congregation for hosting an event that appeared to break health orders.

“Everyone has a duty to do their part and keep one another safe. Not only is this risky behaviour but also sends a wrong message to our youth,” tweeted Squires, MLA for Riel.

As a former member of this church i am deeply disappointed that this event took place against public health orders. Everyone has a duty to do their part and keep one another safe. Not only is this risky behaviour but also sends a wrong message to our youth. pic.twitter.com/AynWPdhgUb

— Rochelle Squires (@MLASquires) May 22, 2021

Audrey Gordon, who oversees the province’s mental health and wellness portfolio, echoed those sentiments in a statement posted to her various social media channels Saturday afternoon.

“Like many Manitobans, I was very disappointed to learn of a graduation ceremony at Springs College that was held in clear violation of our public health orders,” said Gordon, who goes to the church.

The MLA for Southdale continued, “Anyone who chooses not to follow public health orders is disrespecting their family, their friends, their community and the front line health care workers who are doing everything in their power to care for those in need.”

Springs Church and its pastors were fined upwards of $32,000 for breaching public health orders, following a series of then-banned drive-in services in autumn. The church started accepting donations to pay tickets and challenge the ban, which is no longer in effect, during the second wave of the pandemic.

It remains unclear whether students, staff or the church will be fined in connection to the Springs College graduation ceremony. The next provincial enforcement update is scheduled for Wednesday.

First time offenders can be ticketed $298 fine for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, while individuals can face a fee of $1,296 for violating other public health orders.

In addition to existing orders, outdoor gatherings with anyone outside a household are banned and only one person per household is to be allowed inside a business at a time over the long weekend.

The province has warned enforcement officers will be present at any rallies, gatherings and events held this weekend, while conservation officers will monitor provincial parks for violations of public health orders.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew and Dougald Lamont, leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, expressed frustration about the graduation ceremony Saturday.

Kinew reiterated Saturday his party’s calls on the province to seek an injunction to stop an anti-restrictions rally scheduled in Winnipeg next weekend. 

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie