It is About Perception and Leadership: A Response to Leon Fontaine

It is About Perception and Leadership: A Response to Leon Fontaine

Things between Springs Church and the faith community of Winnipeg have gotten heated once again.

On Friday, May 21, Springs Church social media posted pictures of their College graduation ceremony that clearly shows students and teachers alike not distancing and not wearing masks. The images have since been removed from their social media pages but, as it is said, once something is on the internet, it never really goes away.

The pictures were met with outrage from all areas of the online community. Faith communities, especially, were calling for the leadership of Springs Church to repent and apologize for the blatant disregard for the public health policies put into place to protect Manitobans from the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

When the media was looking for comment from Springs Church, there was no response to their calls. Leon Fontaine, pastor, finally did address the backlash from the public, claiming that the graduation ceremony was order-compliant. However, his explanation does nothing to clear up the issue. Instead, it seems to muddy the lines even more.

Claim 1 – Educational Institutions can provide in-person occupancy of 50% capacity not exceeding 25.

While this is indeed a public health regulation, a graduation ceremony would not count as a period of classroom instruction.

Claim 2 – Where possible, two meters of distance must be kept between all persons.

The pictures on social media clearly show that no effort was being made to maintain such distancing rules.

Claim 3 – No masks are required during classes throughout the year because of cohort groups.

The education minister put rules in place that made wearing masks in school and on school property mandatory for grade 4 and up. There were no exceptions for cohorts being able to go mask-free while together. Creating cohorts was how Manitoba Health was able to control contact tracing and minimizing who had to isolate if positive COVID cases were discovered in the schools.

Fontaine’s response to the public outcry is that Spring Church, School, and College were following all protocols set out by the government. However, there were definitely some lines that were toed all the in the name of having the right to worship under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

While other graduates are sadly getting nothing but signs in their lawns, degree certificates sent in the mail, and no ceremony of any kind, Springs insists that they are following protocol when there is photographic proof that they were doing the exact opposite.

Why does Springs Church and all of its affiliates feel like they should have the right to be treated differently than every other school and faith community in the city, in the province?

The thing about social media is that the message is only as clear as the picture. What was seen was a graduating class getting to celebrate while others shut themselves into their homes. And the message from the College’s leader was to muddy the perspective and insist no rules were broken.

It has been a very hard year for everyone. We are all getting tired of lockdowns and rules and being told what we are and are not allowed to do. The key to getting through this, though, is to follow direction.

As Christians, our number one rule is to love the neighbour. How does finding ways to dodge the law answer that call?

I implore Pastor Leon Fontaine and the leadership of Springs Church to lead by example. Be the ones to lead the charge against breaking rules and finding loopholes. Admit that you have erred and do the work of repentance.