Annapolis Valley church fined second time for violating COVID-19 regulations

RCMP in Nova Scotia say they have fined a church and members of its congregation with violating health protection rules forbidding large gatherings for the second time.

Officers went to Weston Christian Fellowship Church on Brooklyn Street, outside Berwick, shortly after 11 a.m.

Officers had been called to the church on the previous two Sundays and charged the church and those in attendance on May 9.

RCMPspokesperson Cpl. Chris Marshall said officers saw people gathered for a faith-basedgathering in contravention of the Health Protection Act.

Police issued tickets to four men and three women for $2,422 and thechurch was another fined $11,622.50.

Marshall said there were children present atthe gathering but only the adultswere charged.

He said charging an organization a second time is uncommon.

"It's incredibly rare that we've charged a person or even an organization multiple times since the pandemichas started," he said.

"I can't think of any other circumstances where this has happened."

There were 26 fines issued to individuals for the May 9 gathering. The church was fined as well.