The Mission Liquor Store in Kelowna is pictured in this image from Google Street View.
Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW
January 28, 2021 - 3:44 PM
A group of aggressive anti-mask protestors harassed employees and customers at a Kelowna liquor store and staff at a medical clinic this afternoon.
Jaymie MacKenzie, a Kelowna resident, said she was in the Mission Liquor Store at roughly 11 a.m. on Jan. 28, when a small group of women entered the store.
They refused to leave, wear masks and acted aggressively towards the store manager, she said.
"She couldn't move between two aisles because of where she was positioned," MacKenzie said. "Their main point, from what I could understand from the other side of the store, was that there are injustices... against (staff and customers)."
She left the store because with the group of women who refused to leave there were too many people inside violating public heath orders.
"These women would not back down."
MacKenzie tested positive for COVID-19 in early December. She wears a mask to protect her community but said it feels like some people think they’re above the mask use.
“I felt so bad that one of these anti-maskers was probably between the age of 55 to 65 years old and I felt like she’s was so at risk and it’s so disheartening to see her fight against something that is trying to protect her,” MacKenzie said.
Masks are mandatory in all indoor public establishments as per provincial health order.
READ MORE: Refusing to wear a mask in B.C. now carries $230 fine
An employee with Mission Medical Centre, who asked not to be named as the group has been calling and harassing her by phone, said the group was “aggressive” towards her when they walked into the office at around 12 p.m.
“They would not leave, and then I went and got one of my doctors to (tell them to go). They weren’t even wanting to be seen here. It wasn’t like we were denying them our services. They were just dropping off their propaganda and refused to leave,” she said.
They told her the business could be shut down and fined and left pamphlets stating they were with Action for Canada.
The website denies COVID-19 as a serious virus, comparing it to the common cold. They’re also listed as anti-abortionists, are against 5G and against pandemic restrictions.
She said this is the first time she’s seen a group of anti maskers. A few months ago, some clients had refused to wear masks, but this is the first time she had to deal with an aggressive group. She has notified the police.
The Kelowna RCMP has responded to a complaint of a small group of people going into stores without masks, said Jocelyn Noseworthy, with the Kelowna RCMP, via email.
The report has not been completed yet, so the outcome of the incident is unknown at this time, she said.
Mission Liquor Store could not be immediately reached for comment.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2021