Alberta Health Services (AHS) has physically closed the Whistle Stop Café in Mirror, AB.

The closure will remain until the operator can demonstrate the ability to comply with Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and the requirements under the Alberta Public Health Act and Food Regulation. 

Chris Scott, owner of the Whistle Stop posted a formal invite for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro, Justice Minister Kaycee Madu and Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw to the business's Facebook page late Tuesday night.

The invitation followed Kenney's announcement of new restrictions which also included steeper fines for health restriction violators and greater consequences for repeat offenders.

In a Facebook live video, the owner responded to the shutdown claiming that the closure would not stop him from taking further action. The business has also been planning also a 'Save Alberta Campout Protest' on May 7th to 8th. 

The statement from AHS notes the organizations have attempted to work collaboratively with the operator of the Whistle Stop Café to address the ongoing public health concerns at the site prior to closing down the site. 

The steps taken by AHS include: 

  • A Closure Order was issued on January 22, 2021, requiring the Whistle Stop Café to comply with CMOH restrictions relating to dine-in services. 
  • A Court of Queen’s Bench Order was obtained on February 3, 2021, requiring the Whistle Stop Café to comply with the previous Closure Order, as well as CMOH orders.  
  • A Closure Order was issued on April 12, 2021, to comply with CMOH restrictions relating to dine-in services.
  • A suspension of the operator’s food handling permit was implemented on April 12, 2021, for failure to comply with CMOH orders and the Public Health Act.  
  • A full Closure Order for the facility was issued on April 15, 2021, requiring the Whistle Stop Café to cease both dine-in and take-out services because of operating without a food handling permit, which is in contravention of Alberta’s provincial Food Regulation.  
  • The operator’s food handling permit was cancelled indefinitely on April 16, 2021, for failure to comply with the previous Closure Order. 

These actions do not include any enforcement efforts undertaken by external partners, including Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), Occupational Health and Safety and RCMP. 

“Every effort has been made to work collaboratively with the operator as well as the property owner to come to a resolution before progressing to further enforcement action. At this time the operator of the Whistle Stop Cafe has decided not to follow these mandatory restrictions, despite efforts by AHS and other partners, nor have they attempted to work to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” the AHS statement reads. 

Since January 1,  AHS has received 413 complaints about the business while health inspectors have conducted several inspections and observed violations each visit. AHS is unable to issue fines or tickets.

Tickets, fines, and criminal charges fall under the responsibility of local law enforcement. 

 

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