Witness Testimony

Mandy Geml testified about the impact of COVID-19 mandates on her family beginning in 2020, following a difficult pregnancy and the birth of her son during early pandemic restrictions. She stated that her family initially complied with public health measures but chose not to receive COVID-19 vaccinations due to a history of severe allergies. She described increasing concern about messaging in schools and public discourse, which she felt fostered division and hostility toward unvaccinated individuals.
She reported that her teenage daughter experienced social exclusion and discrimination at school in Regina, including being removed from extracurricular activities when exposed to positive cases while vaccinated students were permitted to participate. She testified that teachers made negative remarks about unvaccinated individuals, that her daughter’s friends and their families severed contact, and that she received an anonymous hostile letter. She also described an incident in which police escorted her and her toddler from a grocery store due to mask compliance issues during a period of heightened anxiety.
Ms. Geml further testified about her mother’s mental health deterioration during lockdowns, alleging that while receiving treatment at a mental health facility she was confined under restrictive conditions and placed on high-dose medication, resulting in lasting psychological effects. She stated that the cumulative experience led to significant strain on her family’s mental health and called for greater accountability, understanding of differing personal decisions, and more balanced public discourse during times of crisis.