Pictures of maskless, indoor grad posted on social media

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This article was published 20/05/2021 (1315 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Photos of a maskless indoor graduation in Winnipeg posted on social media have caused an online uproar.

As high schools and post-secondary institutions across Manitoba hold virtual and drive-in ceremonies due to the COVID-19 crisis, images of fresh-faced, maskless young adults gathered on stage at Springs Church were shared on the internet this week.

The pictures on Springs Church’s Instagram account boasted a backdrop reading “College Graduation 2021,” along with the message: “We are so proud of this years (sic) @springscollege graduates. They have taken on challenge after challenge and found solutions.”

No one from the large non-denominational church (with locations on Lagimodiere Boulevard and Burrows Avenue in Winnipeg and one location in Calgary) responded to requests for comment.

The images were shared on Twitter and Reddit, then reportedly removed from the church’s Instagram account. It didn’t appear attendees tried to play down the ceremony.

There are photos of young people in suits and formal wear in sleeveless gowns gathered outside in the parking lot on what appears to be a warm day. One of the young women is seen holding a hand-held red smoke flare.

The Springs College ceremony’s indoor photos showed more than a dozen people on stage and several others in the audience, none of whom are wearing masks.

Manitoba public health orders that took effect May 22 say places of worship must be closed to the public. Exceptions are made for a funeral, wedding, baptism “or similar religious ceremony,” provided no more than 10 people, other than the officiant and a photographer or videographer, attend the event.

With Winnipeggers on high alert for public gatherings after high-profile anti-mask rallies, many who viewed the Springs College grad images on social media wanted to know if there were any tickets issued for violating public health orders.

A spokeswoman for Manitoba Justice wouldn’t comment Friday. Enforcement updates are usually provided on Tuesdays, but the next bulletin will be released Wednesday, due to the long weekend.

Last year, during the second wave of the pandemic, Springs Church established a war chest for online donations to pay for tickets and challenge the provincial ban on drive-in services.

Court documents showed the church received five $5,000 fines for holding drive-in services Nov. 22, Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, while pastors Leon and Zach Fontaine received six $1,296 fines.

On Dec. 5, in a rare Saturday sitting, Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench rejected the church’s request to hold drive-in services.

Public health orders were eventually rewritten with drive-in services now allowed.

The orders do not prevent the premises of a church, mosque, synagogue, temple or other place of worship from being used by a public or private school or for the delivery of health care, child care or social services.

The Springs Church website says Springs College has two programs: a full-time ministry and leadership program and a continuing education program.

The full-time program offers a combined “biblical, skills-based theoretical framework with hands-on experience to ensure that young potential leaders are given the opportunity to learn how to manage themselves, grow close to God, see beyond the superficial in our world, recognize and value the diverse talents and skills of others, build trusting relationships in teams, manage projects effectively and build positive, high-performing teams in a spirit contemporary way.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca