A 37-year-old woman has been served a $460 violation ticket for failing to follow B.C.’s public health orders at the Mt. Timothy Ski Resort.
100 Mile House RCMP Staff-Sgt. Svend Nielsen said police received a complaint on Dec. 28 in relation to a violation of the COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA). Police said the woman, known to Mt. Timothy resort staff, had attended the ski hill for recreational purposes and entered the ski lodge without wearing a mask, contrary to the business’s policy related to the ongoing public health orders.
The woman produced a medical exemption card, but police allege it lacked information to assure its validity, Nielsen said in a media release.
READ MORE: Church pastor in 105 Mile fined $2,300 in violation of public health orders
Staff asked the woman to leave and not return unless wearing a mask as per the current regulations. The woman complied with the resort’s request and left the location, at which time 100 Mile House RCMP were notified of the matter.
The RCMP did not attend the ski hill but spoke with resort staff via phone and was provided with more details. Based on information supplied by witnesses and the evidence obtained, it was determined that a violation ticket would be issued, Nielsen said.
The woman was served a violation ticket on Dec. 30 for allegedly committing two offences under the CRMA via Emergency Program Act: failure to wear face-covering in indoor public space ($230) and failure to comply with direction from an enforcement officer ($230), Nielsen said.
Mt. Timothy’s assistant general manager Launna Bell said she was surprised by this situation, noting the discussion with the woman had been civil and the woman had later called to apologize.
The ski hill has a policy that masks be worn in the lodge and in the lift lines at all times, as per the provincial health orders and requirements by the Canada West Ski Association, she added. The ski resort has clear signs advising customers that masks were mandatory inside all its buildings - policies consistent with B.C.’s public health orders. “Every ski hill has these policies,” Bell said.
When Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued the mask mandate on Nov. 19 last year, she noted people who can’t wear masks should be taken at their word. “We need to trust that people who cannot wear masks — and there are some people who cannot wear masks —we need to be able to accommodate them.”
The Free Press has reached out to the woman in this case for comment.
More to come.
newsroom@100milefreepress.net
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.