Convictions against Chilliwack pastor for in-person worship services during pandemic vacated: JCCF

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On January 8, 2026, Justice Andrea Ormiston corrected the court record after the Crown acknowledged that two tickets issued against Pastor Koopman had already been voided by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) under section 18 of the Offence Act, the JCCF said. As a result, the convictions entered on those tickets were legally invalid, and Pastor Koopman has since been relieved of $460 in fines.

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The JCC said the case shows the Crown acting responsibly to correct an error, while the British Columbia government has yet to acknowledge the serious injustice of banning worship services entirely, the JCCF claimed.

Constitutional lawyer Marty Moore said, “Sadly, we have yet to see Dr. Henry and the BC government take responsibility for the harm they caused by imposing unreasonable and overbroad Covid mandates and restrictions on British Columbians’ fundamental freedoms and liberty.”

Pastor Koopman says he welcomes the correction but indicates broader accountability remains lacking in his view.

“The Crown’s acknowledgement of their error is welcomed. Dr. Henry and the government should carefully evaluate their entire approach, for this is only one of many errors which were made, the greatest of which is the restriction of the public worship of our God,” said Pastor Koopman.