A group photo taken after the rally on April 17, 2021. (Prince Albert Ant-Lockdown Group/Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community health

Rally organizer fights $2,800 ticket

Mar 14, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A woman who helped organize an anti-mandate rally last year outside Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench is fighting the $2,800 ticket she received.

Rachel Lee Cochrane was fined for breaching the provincial health act. At the time of the rally on April 17, 2021, 14 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial health rules dictated that public gatherings be limited to 10 people or less; however the number of people who attended the rally far exceeded that.

Three dates have been set aside for Cochrane’s trial this week at Prince Albert Provincial Court. The first witness to testify was the provincial health inspector who spoke with Cochrane, both prior to the rally and at the rally itself.

He explained that he when he initially spoke with Cochrane, he had laid out the rules for holding a “safe” rally. Cochrane informed him then there would be more than 10 people attending.

A photo taken during the event. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

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The following day when he arrived to check on the rally, he said Cochrane walked up to greet him, and was “friendly.” She informed him plans for the afternoon included a number of speakers.

The health inspector then stayed on scene for two hours, and along with two community safety officers, watched the rally. He estimated there were upwards of 100 people in attendance.

“It was substantial. Definitely more than 10,” he said.

The health inspector said he observed people venting their frustrations with COVID mandates, all the while ignoring distancing rules and no one was wearing a mask.

When describing how the city and health authority came to learn about the rally, the health inspector explained the information was readily available on the group’s Facebook page, and he remarked how surprised he was that the information was “public”, thereby not hiding who was attending or what was being said about it.

In addition to a police officer who attended the rally, other witnesses this week are expected to include a health expert and Cochrane herself.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell