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IH granted injunction to close West Kelowna gym

Gym will be closed for six months, or until rules followed

A judge has granted an injunction to close a West Kelowna gym that has openly flaunted public health orders for months.

Interior Health (IH) filed a lawsuit against Iron Energy Gym in B.C. Supreme Court earlier this week, asking for a court order to close the business.

B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson granted the injunction in a Vancouver court Friday afternoon.

It comes into effect immediately and runs for six months or until the public health orders are followed. IH can apply to extend the order if it so wishes.

The injunction was adjourned against everyone else named in the lawsuit, except for the gym itself.

In the suit, IH claimed the gym owners were willfully not following public health orders to stem the spread of COVID-19, by requiring proof of vaccination and masking.

It ordered the business closed on Feb. 3, but it continued to operate.

Fines have also been levied against the business, according to the lawsuit. The claim detailed several instances of the gym owners refusing to follow public health orders, dating back to September 2021.

With the injunction in place, the operators could risk jail time if they open the gym’s doors and allow people to work out.

Published 2022-02-18 by Tyler Marr

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