VIDEO: Five arrested, 43 tickets issued after ‘Maskless Monday’ demonstration in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP arrested five people and issued 43 tickets following a “Maskless Monday” protest at The Real Canadian Superstore.

Officers attended the store at around 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 10, where RCMP say they intended to use an educational approach to convince attendees to follow public health orders or leave the store.

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Supt. Syd Lecky says in the past, some of the participants were reportedly intimidating employees and customers and approaching people and telling them to take their masks off.

“We’ve always promoted an education first approach and that will continue,” Supt. Lecky says. “We’ll do what we have to do, but we’ve always tried to show a measured approach.”

Under the Emergency Programs Act, RCMP say the ticket charges were $230.

Those who were arrested were later released, pending the investigation’s conclusion and any subsequent charge recommendations.