Witness Testimony

Christopher Scott testified that he purchased the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mirror, Alberta shortly before COVID-19 restrictions began and initially complied with closure orders. During lockdowns, he organized drive-in movie events to provide socially distanced community engagement, which were temporarily shut down before being permitted under specific conditions. As restrictions continued and his business finances declined, he reopened the cafe on January 24, 2021 in protest of what he described as unjustified and indefinite public health measures.
Following his reopening, Scott testified that provincial authorities undertook extensive enforcement actions, including repeated visits from RCMP and Alberta Health Services, multiple court summonses, suspension of his liquor licence, involvement of Occupational Health and Safety, seizure of liquor, attempts to interfere with his purchase agreement, physical closure of the premises, and a province-wide injunction known as the “Rook Order.” He stated that he was arrested, detained for three days, fined $30,000, placed on 18 months’ probation, restricted from leaving Alberta, and required to deliver a court-ordered public statement as part of his sentence.
Scott described significant community division, national attention, and financial support through crowdfunding initiatives that enabled him to pursue legal defense. He expressed concern regarding provincial public health legislation and emergency powers, arguing that they allow broad authority without sufficient judicial justification. He emphasized civic responsibility, peaceful assembly, and collective action as necessary responses to what he characterized as excessive government authority.