After weeks of fighting back against COVID-19 restrictions and mandates, Iron Energy Fitness in West Kelowna has decided to close its doors as a gym.
The outspoken owners of the gym took to social media Tuesday evening to explain that they had “lost their fight to big brother” following a civil lawsuit filed against them by Interior Health.
Interior Health (IH) submitted a civil claim that the defendants are unlawfully operating in defiance of a closure order, Public Health Orders and the Public Health Act.
In the claim, the plaintiffs are seeking an injunction and an order allowing RCMP to remove those not complying with Public Health Orders.
The plaintiff claims that the defendants are in violation of the Health Act, which states that a person must not willingly cause a health hazard.
The health authority pleads that the owners and operators of the gym are guilty of causing a health hazard by continuing to operate without restrictions.
Although, Iron Energy Fitness did file a response to the civil claim served by Interior Health, stating they do not consent to the injunction and orders outlined in the suit from the health authority and environmental health officer Christopher Russell.
The defendants allege that they were not served the civil claim in accordance with the Supreme Court Civil Rules.
The claim was not delivered to the legal counsel working for Iron Energy or the owners of the gym. A binder containing the civil claim “was delivered and left at the reception of the gym with an employee who is not an officer, director or owner of Iron Energy Fitness Center,” stated the application response.
The gym is owned and operated by Brian Mark, Kristen Mark, Cole Dasilva, Morgan de la Ronde, Brett Godin, Amy Webster and Brian Ralph.
The defendants have not responded to interview requests.
In the response to the civil claim, the defendants state they were not given sufficient notice of the proposed orders.
They state that they did not have enough time to provide a response to the alleged evidence of the plaintiffs.
Because of the delivery and timeline of the civil suit, the defendants claim that they were not given the right to a fair hearing.
The fitness centre will be open to purchase swag, supplements and clothing.
Iron Energy Fitness claimed that if the gym continues to operate they could all face arrest and possible jail time.
The gym owners stated they are following legal orders and are seeking counsel on what can be done to fight against the civil suit and reopening the gym.
It’s unclear if the fitness centre lost its previous legal counsel Terry M. McCaffrey who filed a response to IH’s civil suit on Feb. 18, as one owner said on social media they are looking for a lawyer.
The gym has been fined over $7,000 by IH and $2,300 by the RCMP for failing to comply with public health orders, including indoor masking and checking the vaccination status of all gym patrons.
The violation tickets issued by the health authority have been disputed by the defendants and a decision has not yet been rendered by the provincial court.