Tag: James Coates

Alberta Court Strikes Down Pastor James Coates’s Charter Application

An Alberta Court has dismissed an Edmonton pastor’s claims that his Charter Rights of religious freedom were violated when he refused to comply with COVID-19 rules. Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church filed a charter application, a pre-trial motion that individuals make when seeking remedy for violations of Charter rights, regarding a Dec. 20, 2020,…


GoFundMe for Pastor Charged for Breaking COVID-19 Lockdown Orders Surpasses $41,000

A fundraising campaign to support the legal fees of Pastor James Coates, who was jailed and charged for allegedly violating Alberta’s COVID-19 rules, has exceeded $41,000 since its launch in February. The campaign, according to organizer John Klassen, was “simply hoping to in some small way be an encouragement to a brother who seemed to…


Jailed Alberta Pastor to Be Released From Jail but Must Pay $1,500 Fine

STONY PLAIN, Alta.—A judge has ruled a jailed Edmonton-area pastor can be released immediately but has to pay a $1,500 fine. Judge Jeffrey Champion says James Coates, who preaches at GraceLife Church, has to pay the fine within 12 days. Coates has been in jail for 35 days for not following a condition of his…


Alberta Pastor Jailed for Violating COVID-19 Health Orders to Be Released: Justice Centre

EDMONTON—A group that supports an Alberta pastor jailed after being charged with violating COVID-19 public-health orders says it expects him to be released in the coming days. Crown prosecutors have dropped all but one charge against James Coates and have agreed to his release without bail conditions, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said Wednesday….


Alberta Court Rules Pastor Charged With Violating COVID-19 Orders to Remain Jailed Until Trial

An Alberta court has ruled that a pastor who defied COVID-19 restrictions must remain in jail for eight weeks as he waits for his trial. Pastor James Coates of Edmonton’s GraceLife church was charged with one count of breaking the Public Health Act after continuing to hold Sunday services despite a fine to the church and…