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By Troy Gillard

court date next week

‘No More Lockdowns Rodeo’ organizers charged for public health violation

May 11, 2021 | 2:50 PM

The organizers of an anti-lockdown rodeo held earlier this month near Bowden have been charged for violating public health orders.

Ty and Gail Northcott are to appear in Red Deer provincial court May 17 after Alberta RCMP served them with a summons on Monday for violating Section 73(1) of Alberta’s Public Health Act.

Ty Northcott addressed the matter in a Facebook video post shared Tuesday morning.

Hundreds attended May 1-2 event that was held on private land just south of Bowden after the Bowden & District Agricultural Society cancelled the permit for it to be held at its rodeo facility.

The rodeo drew harsh criticism from Premier Jason Kenney.

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“That event was organized by people who simply don’t care. Apparently, they don’t care about COVID and apparently, they don’t care about the sacrifices that millions of Albertans are making every single day,” Kenney said at a May 3 news conference. He also said it was astounding that so many people in the province still don’t believe that COVID is real or some kind of big government conspiracy or hoax.

The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, Foothills Cowboy Association and Wildrose Rodeo Association issued statements disassociating themselves from the event.

So far there are no COVID-19 cases linked directly to the rodeo, according to Alberta Health Services.

“However it is important to remember that symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure. In some cases symptoms may be mild and individuals may not seek out COVID-19 testing,” AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson said in a statement.

“COVID-19 can also be spread asymptomatically, and an individual may not know they are spreading the virus. This is why it is imperative that all Albertans continue to follow CMOH Orders to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus to others.”

Williamson says AHS has worked with RCMP, the Bowden Agriculture Society and Red Deer County to confirm the rodeo event was in violation of CMOH Orders, and attempted to work with organizers proactively to not allow the event to proceed.

“AHS Environmental Public Health continues to enforce the restrictions, in partnership with enforcement partners including but not limited to municipalities authorities, police, and RCMP,” Williamson added. “AHS does not issue tickets or fines. Tickets, fines and criminal charges are under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement.”