FILE PHOTO – Flow Academy, a martial arts studio on Sutherland Avenue.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
May 04, 2021 – 3:59 p.m.
A martial arts studio in Kelowna that refuses to obey public health orders and that operated without a business license has now been locked out by authorities.
Today, May 5th, Interior Health’s environmental health officers and bylaws changed all of the studio’s locks as the owner continues to violate public health regulations, said Lance Kayfish, risk manager for the city of Kelowna.
“Interior Health has identified violations of provincial events and gatherings and IH’s closure orders. As part of our ongoing investigation and enforcement efforts, the locks were changed today to prevent further access to the company. These actions were taken after all other compliance steps were exhausted, ”said an email from Interior Health.
READ MORE: Kelowna Martial Arts Studio Orders Shut Down; as a “public health risk”
The Flow Academy has already closed after continuing to do indoor group exercises. According to the Health Department’s order to Flow Academy owner and Tonya Aguiar, health and RCMP officials were denied access to the Sutherland Avenue building after repeated visits.
Aguiar also received a ticket for disturbing a person exercising a power under the Public Health Act on February 25 after a health officer was physically prevented from entering the building.
The final derogation from a closure warrant was issued on April 20 after Home Office officials, bylaws and RCMP officials were prevented from entering the studio while trying to execute a search warrant.
Indoor group exercises are currently banned to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The city has now issued eight tickets to operate the studio without a business license, totaling $ 4,000 in fines, Kayfish said. The studio applied for a business license in March but was denied because it was inconsistent with Interior Health’s pandemic procedures.
The Flow Academy previously posted on its website that it would not be awarding memberships to those who received COVID-19 vaccinations and started a fundraising campaign. The studio is a “private and independent company within the meaning of the Constitution Acts 1867-1982”, “and that donations are not used to pay legal fees or fines.
The studio, released on April 24th, has received $ 449 in donations.
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