Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 24, the Fort St. John RCMP received 24 COVID-19 related calls for service.

These calls ranged from a person not wearing a mask to public gatherings in households to large organized public gatherings. In most cases, these calls have been dealt with almost entirely by providing verbal warnings and educating the public, resulting in their cooperation.

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Fort St. John RCMP received a report that staff at a retail store located on Sikanni Rd, in Fort St. John, had not been wearing masks the day before while interacting with the public. This was the second report received for this location by police.

The City of Fort St John Bylaw Department had received three previous complaints about the same store and had spoken with owners and staff in each instance.

"As an enforcement agency, our initial approach is to try to educate the public to gain compliance, no matter what the situation," said Cst Chad Neustaeter, Media Relations Officer for the Fort St John RCMP. "In this instance, there has been multiple attempts by various community partners to gain compliance from this store with no lasting solutions so a violation ticket is being issued to the store."

The Fort St. John RCMP has issued the store a $2,300.00 violation ticket for Operating in Contravention of Protective Measures Order Sec 5(3) of the Emergency Program Act, which is the first of its kind issued in Fort St John.

The Fort St John RCMP wish to remind the public that businesses and organizers of events or gatherings can be issued a $2,300.00 violation ticket. Individuals can be issued $230.00 violation tickets when they are not wearing masks in public or are belligerent when asked to wear them.

Information provided by the Fort St. John RCMP.