Calgary pastor headed to trial next year in Coutts protest case

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on June 7, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Calgary pastor who faces charges relating to offences he is accused of committing during the protest at the Coutts border earlier this year, is going to trial, but not until next year.
Artur Pawlowski will stand trial Feb. 2 and 3, 2023, almost a year after he was charged under the Criminal Code with breaching a release order to keep the peace, and committing mischief by inciting others to block the lawful use of public property. He is also charged with a single count under the provincial Critical Infrastructure Defence Act of willfully damaging or destroying essential infrastructure.
Pawlowski pleaded not guilty to the three charges May 6, and his lawyer, Chad Haggerty of Calgary, confirmed the trial dates Monday during a brief hearing in Lethbridge provincial court.
Pawlowski was arrested Feb. 8, only days after he attended the protest in Coutts, where he gave a speech at Smugglers Saloon and is heard in a video telling protestors to not give up the fight against government mandates.
During his bail hearing Feb. 10 – which was not subject to a publication ban - Crown Prosecutor Steven Johnston said Pawlowski’s speech is laced with threats of violence, and he repeated the accused’s comments that there weren’t enough police or a big enough army to deal with the protesters.
“He’s not talking about in any manner a peaceful protest at that point in time,” Johnston said. “He’s clearly, in the context of his speech, referencing to the notion that there would be some sort of violence.”
Johnston said the accused was prepared to be arrested for the cause and encouraged people to rise up against the rules.
“If this is our Alamo, then so be it,” Johnston quoted Pawlowski.
That comment, Johnston suggested, is a reference to the soldiers who died while defending the Alamo Mission.
“The Crown says that is not a veiled threat to violence, it’s an overt threat to violence.”
Pawlowski was denied bail Feb. 16, but released on the charges in March following a bail review in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench. He was released on $25,000 cash bail, and his wife and son, who agreed to be sureties, are on the hook for $10,000 and $2,000 respectively should Pawlowski breach his bail conditions.
Those conditions stipulate that Pawlowski must keep the peace and behave himself, attend court when required, abide by court orders, report to a probation officer as required, reside at his southeast Calgary residence, and obey a curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., except on Fridays when he attends Street Church. He can hold street church services during the week as usual, but he is prohibited from attending protests.
Pawlowski, a Polish immigrant who grew up under Communist oppression before emigrating to Canada, made international headlines after he was arrested more than a year ago for holding worship services during Calgary’s COVID lockdown. He was subsequently released, but later charged with breaching his release conditions.

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