Artur Pawlowski

{{Short description|Polish-Canadian evangelical street preacher}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Artur Pawlowski

| image = File:Artur Pawlowski 2014 on the Streets.jpg

| caption = Pawlowski (right), Calgary, 2014

| office = Leader of the Solidarity Movement of Alberta

| term_start = May 8, 2023

| office1 = Leader of Independence Party of Alberta

| term_start1 = September 10, 2022

| term_end1 = March 28, 2023

| predecessor1 = Victory Bayford

| successor1 = Katherine Kowalchuk

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|03|28}}

| birth_place = Kożuchów, Poland

| nationality = Polish

| citizenship = Canada (since 2004)

| party = Solidarity Movement of Alberta (since 2023)

| children = 3

| otherparty = Independence Party of Alberta (2022–2023)

| occupation = Street pastor

| known_for = Defiance of COVID-19 public health rules
Anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality rhetoric

}}

Artur Pawlowski (born March 28, 1973) is a Polish-Canadian evangelical street preacher and political activist. He is pastor of the Cave of Adullam congregation in Calgary and previously led the Kings Glory Fellowship (KGF). Pawlowski is also founder and pastor of Street Church Ministries (SCM), a group no longer recognized as a religious or charitable organization by the Canadian government.

Early life and emigration

Pawlowski was born on March 28, 1973, in Kożuchów, Poland. By 1990, he was living in Greece with his family. He emigrated to Canada in 1995 and became a Canadian citizen on February 2, 2004.Lethebo Thobejane, [https://www.latestnewssouthafrica.com/2021/05/11/poland-born-canadian-pastor-artur-pawlowski-have-been-arrested-for-holding-church-service/ "Poland born Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski have been arrested for holding church service: Who Is Pastor Artur Pawlowski"], latestnewssouthafrica.com, May 11, 2021, accessed July 16, 2021

Career

Pawlowski is a Protestant street preacher{{cite news |date=January 22, 2010 |title=Calgary church loses charitable status for its "non-partisan political activities" |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/holy-post/calgary-church-loses-charitable-status-for-its-non-partisan-political-activities |access-date=April 24, 2020}} the founder and pastor of Street Church Ministries{{cite web |title=Street Church |url=http://streetchurch.ca/ |publisher=Street Church}} and a pastor of Kings Glory Fellowship. In January 2010, the Canada Revenue Agency revoked the charitable status of Pawlowski's Kings Glory Fellowship, citing a lack of financial transparency and deeming the organization to be exceeding the CRA's cutoff for how much time charitable organizations can devote to “non-partisan political activities". Lack of clarity on how the organization spent its money was also cited as a reason for its charitable status being revoked. By 2021, Pawlowski was pastor of The Cave of Adullam congregation in Calgary and of the Street Church Ministries.{{cite news |last1=Staples |first1=Dave |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Kenney is damned if he does, but more damned if he doesn't when it comes to new lockdown restrictions |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/david-staples-kenney-is-damned-if-he-does-but-more-damned-if-he-doesnt-when-it-comes-to-new-lockdown-restrictions |access-date=April 24, 2021}}

Pawlowski was accused of several City of Calgary bylaw infractions which were struck down in December 2019 by the provincial court.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In 2012, for his support of Israel, he received the Honorary Chaplain Position for the Province of Alberta from the Christian Friends of Canadian Magen David Adom (CFMDA).{{Cite web |last=Pawlowski |first=Artur |date=June 7, 2012 |title=Artur Pawlowski receives 'Free Speech Award' |url=https://www.streetchurch.ca/journals/artur-pawlowski-receives-free-speech-award/ |access-date=June 4, 2019 |publisher=Street Church}}{{cite web |title=Honorary Chaplains |url=http://www.cmdai.org/christian-friends/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123034244/http://www.cmdai.org/christian-friends/ |archive-date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 23, 2015 |publisher=Canadian Magen David Adom for Israel}} In 2011 Bishop Dr. Gerry Kibarabara,{{cite web |title=Leadership |url=http://gospelassembliesofkenya.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123045629/http://gospelassembliesofkenya.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=2 |archive-date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 23, 2015}} the secretary general of United Christian Churches of Kenya's Supreme Council, presented Pawlowski with honorary ordination for his humanitarian work in Africa.{{Cite web |title=Street church honoured in Kenya |url=http://www.streetchurch.ca/press-coverage-topmenu-33/736-street-church-honoured-in-kenya |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123034125/http://www.streetchurch.ca/press-coverage-topmenu-33/736-street-church-honoured-in-kenya |archive-date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 23, 2015}} He is the first to hold such a position for the province of Alberta. On April 28, 2012, the Progressive Group for Independent Business (PGIB), a membership-funded conservative business group in Canada, awarded Pawlowski the 'Free Speech Award'.

As of October 2013, Pawlowski continued to hold "prayer meetings inside the Calgary City Hall's main atrium despite eight years of legal issues including "several court cases, hundreds of bylaw tickets and trespassing notices.".{{cite news |last1=Gerson |first1=Jen |title=Street preacher accuses Calgary officials of having a vendetta in eight-year battle over noise complaints |agency=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/holy-post/street-preacher-accuses-calgary-officials-of-having-a-vendetta-in-eight-year-battle-over-noise-complaints-2 |access-date=October 24, 2013}}{{cite web |last1=Levant |first1=Ezra |title=Penalties for preaching |url=http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/penalties-for-preaching/3492657636001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427030144/http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/penalties-for-preaching/3492657636001 |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |access-date=April 21, 2014 |website=Sun News}}

In 2014, Pawlowski was fined for his attempt to participate in the 2012 Calgary Stampede parade with his followers without official permission.{{cite web |title=Street Church preacher Artur Pawlowski was fined Monday for breaking a city bylaw by trying to crash the 2012 Calgary Stampede parade with a group of his parishioners. |work=calgaryherald |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/street-preacher-artur-pawlowski-fined-for-attempt-to-hijack-stampede-parade}}

In 2015, Pawlowski appeared at a press conference with a member of his congregation along with a Calgary Transit bus driver who had been fired for refusing to drive Calgary's pride-themed rainbow bus. The bus driver said he was fired for being Christian.

In September 2022, Pawlowski became the leader of the Independence Party of Alberta.{{cite web |title=2022 Leadership Contest - The Independence Party of Alberta |url=https://efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efLCContestOFS.cfm?MID=LC_2022TIP&OFSFID=91&PARTYID=18 |website=Elections Alberta |access-date=12 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Jonathan |date=14 September 2022 |title=Pawlowski wins Independence Party of Alberta leadership race |url=https://www.westernstandard.news/news/watch-pawlowski-wins-independence-party-of-alberta-leadership-race/article_d02d580e-3446-11ed-8ed9-0767f2741451.html |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=Western Standard}} He was removed as leader six months later.{{cite web |last1=Toy |first1=Adam |title=Pawlowski out as Independence Party leader in Alberta |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9589016/pawlowski-ousted-independence-party-leader-alberta/ |website=Global News |date=29 March 2023 |access-date=11 April 2023}}

In early 2023, he formed a new political party, the Solidarity Movement of Alberta. On May 8, it became a registered party with Elections Alberta.{{cite web |last1=Cournoyer |first1=Dave |title=Pastor Artur Pawlowski's Solidarity Movement of Alberta is now listed by Elections Alberta as a Registered Political Party. |url=https://twitter.com/davecournoyer/status/1655592475698905093 |website=Twitter |date=8 May 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023}}

Views

Pawlowski opposes abortion and homosexuality.{{Cite news|date=July 16, 2017|title=Rally in front of Calgary city hall turns violent|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/violent-protest-calgary-city-hall-1.4207879}} In 2014, Pawlowski endorsed Ric McIver's leadership bid of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta.{{cite web |last1=Climenhaga |first1=David |title=Anti-gay pastor, denied by Ric McIver, endorses the PC leadership candidate anyway |url=http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/djclimenhaga/2014/07/anti-gay-pastor-denied-ric-mciver-endorses-pc-leadership-candida |access-date=July 24, 2014 |website=rabble.ca|date=July 24, 2014 }} A campaign photo featuring McIver and Pawlowski with a message condemning homosexuality was on display at Pawlowski's Street Church.{{Cite news |last=Gerson |first=Jen |date=June 14, 2014 |title=Ric McIver considers Artur Pawlowski a friend |work=National Post |location=Calgary, Alberta |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/alberta-pc-leadership-candidates-ties-to-anti-gay-evangelicals-sparks-scandal |access-date=February 22, 2021}} Pawlowski stated that the 2013 Alberta floods were caused by God's vengeance over LGBTQ+ Albertans.{{Cite news| title = Driver who opposed Calgary Transit's Pride bus says he was let go|first=Erika |last=Stark | work = Calgary Herald| location = Calgary |date=September 15, 2015 |url= http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/driver-who-opposed-calgary-transits-pride-bus-says-he-was-let-go |access-date=February 22, 2021}}

Activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

In December 2020, Pawlowski was fined for failing to wear a mask and failing to have a permit for an anti-mask demonstration held in late November 2020.{{cite web | publisher = CBC |url= https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5825853?__twitter_impression=true|title=Anti-mask organizers charged for weekend rally in Calgary}}

In February 2021, Pawlowski marched in and led an anti-lockdown rally in Downtown Calgary while holding a tiki torch during the daytime.{{Cite web|date=February 27, 2021|title=Tiki torches, Trump flags, no masks: anti-lockdown protesters march in downtown Calgary|url=https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2021/02/27/anti-restriction-protest-in-calgary-one-week-after-similar-rally-in-edmonton/|access-date=May 12, 2021|website=CityNews Edmonton}}

During Easter 2021, Calgary Police were called to Pawlowski's congregation over reports that Pawlowski and his church were not following COVID-19 public health orders.{{Cite web|last=Oshin|first=Olafimihan|date=April 5, 2021|title=Calgary pastor calls police 'Nazis' for doing COVID check over Easter weekend|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/546471-calgary-pastor-calls-police-nazis-for-doing-covid-check-during-easter|url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2021|website=The Hill|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405164323/https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/546471-calgary-pastor-calls-police-nazis-for-doing-covid-check-during-easter |archive-date=April 5, 2021 }} Pawlowski compared the Calgary Police and an AHS Public Health Inspector to the Nazis and the Gestapo and demanded they leave the congregation. The police left without taking any enforcement action.{{Cite web|last=Herring|first=Jason|date=April 4, 2021|title='Don't come back': Preacher yells at police and AHS inspector, orders them out of downtown church|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/police-leave-church-issue-no-tickets-after-preacher-yells-at-them-to-leave|url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2021|website=Calgary Herald|language=en-CA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404234630/https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/police-leave-church-issue-no-tickets-after-preacher-yells-at-them-to-leave |archive-date=April 4, 2021 }}{{Cite news|last=Warmington|first=Joe|date=April 5, 2021|title=WARMINGTON: Calling them 'Nazis,' pastor kicks police out of church at Easter|url=https://torontosun.com/news/national/warmington-calling-them-nazis-pastor-kicks-police-out-of-church-at-easter|url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2021|newspaper=Toronto Sun|language=en-CA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405134048/https://torontosun.com/news/national/warmington-calling-them-nazis-pastor-kicks-police-out-of-church-at-easter |archive-date=April 5, 2021 }}{{Cite web|last=Foley|first=Ryan|date=April 7, 2021|title=Canadian pastor says attacks on church services bring back memories of communism|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/canadian-pastor-attacks-on-worship-elicit-memories-of-communism.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2021|website=Christian Post|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407201727/https://www.christianpost.com/news/canadian-pastor-attacks-on-worship-elicit-memories-of-communism.html |archive-date=April 7, 2021 }} Later, Pawlowski was arrested by the Calgary Police Service and charged for organizing, promoting and attending an illegal in-person gathering that violated evidence-based public health orders.{{Cite web|title=Calgary Pastor Accused of Organizing and Promoting Gatherings to Appear in Court|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-pastor-artur-pawlowski-court-date-arrest-health-order-1.6022364|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511190107/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-pastor-artur-pawlowski-court-date-arrest-health-order-1.6022364 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 }} Pawlowski was found guilty on June 28.{{cite news |title= Alberta pastor, brother, café owner guilty of contempt for breaking COVID-19 health rules |first=Meghan |last=Grant |newspaper=CBC News |date=June 28, 2021 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-men-contempt-covid-public-health-1.6083003 |access-date=October 13, 2021}}

On September 27, 2021, after returning from COVID-19 themed events in the United States to Canada, Pawlowski was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency at Calgary International Airport, before being released later the same day.{{Cite web|date=October 3, 2021|title=Pastor Artur Pawlowski arrested again in Calgary|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8225866/calgary-artur-pawlowski-arrested/|url-status=live|website=Global News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928022847/https://globalnews.ca/news/8225866/calgary-artur-pawlowski-arrested/ |archive-date=September 28, 2021 }}{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2021 |title=Controversial preacher arrested on Calgary tarmac for warrants after U.S. anti-vaxx speaking tour |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/artur-pawlowski-arrested-tarmac-us-tour-contempt-1.6192285 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928182304/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/artur-pawlowski-arrested-tarmac-us-tour-contempt-1.6192285 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |website=CBC.ca}} He was being charged with disobeying a court order and failing to wear a mask.

On October 13, he was sentenced for his earlier CPHO conviction, receiving a $23,000 fine and 18 months of probation. His probation conditions include being ordered to obey public health orders, to remain in Alberta, and to explain whenever they speak publicly that their views are contrary to public health experts and scientific consensus. He was also required to pay Alberta Health Services' estimated $20,000 legal costs.{{cite web |title=Calgary pastor, brother fined $33K, ordered to cover $20K in AHS legal fees |first=Ryan |last=White |newspaper=CTV News Calgary |date=October 13, 2021 |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-pastor-brother-fined-33k-ordered-to-cover-20k-in-ahs-legal-fees-1.5621579 |access-date=October 13, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=Meghan |title=Anti-mask activists ordered by Calgary judge to preach science, too |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/pawlowski-brother-street-church-christopher-scott-contempt-1.6209420 |publisher=CBC |date=13 October 2021}}

Justice Adam Germain ordered Pawlowski and his brother to add a disclaimer to any public statements criticizing COVID-19 public health measures stating that their views were "contradicted by the majority of scientific opinion."{{cite news |date=2 November 2021 |title=Calgary pastor and brother appealing sanctions for violating COVID-19 rules |publisher=Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Corus News |agency=Canadian Press |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8343991/calgary-pastor-pawlowski-appeal-violating-covid-19-rules/}} Pawlowski appealed the ruling on Charter grounds, claiming that the order violated their right to free speech. On 25 November 2021, Justice Jo-Anne Strekaf of the Alberta Court of Appeal countermanded the ruling until the case was heard on its full merits on 14 June 2022.{{cite news |title=Court of Appeal suspends punishment of Pastor Artur Pawlowski |url=https://lakesuperiornews.com/Health/court-of-appeal-suspends-punishment-of-pastor-artur-pawlowski |publisher=Lake Superior News |date=25 November 2021}} Both Fox News and the National Post called the Germain ruling a "compelled speech order".{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Jon |title=Canadian judge stays compelled speech order issued against pastor whenever he speaks publicly about COVID-19 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/judge-stays-compelled-speech-order-canadian-pastor |work=Fox News |date=3 December 2021}} The Alberta Court of Appeals subsequently suspended the sanctions due to AHS procedural issues, and considered the 3 days in prison and 10 months of probation served, as well as a $10,000 fine, as suitable punishments for the offences committed in violation of public health orders.{{cite news |title= Alberta appeal court sets aside contempt sanctions against pastor, brother and cafe owner |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6529072 |publisher=CBC News |date= July 2022}}

On 2 January 2022, Pawlowski was arrested on Crowchild Trail and "charged with one count of breaching a judge's order that restrained [Pawlowski] from attending any illegal public gathering". Authorities "confirmed a protest took place at Health Minister Jason Copping’s home on Saturday afternoon".{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Michael |title=Pawlowski brothers granted bail after protest at Alberta health minister's home |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/pawlowski-brothers-granted-bail-after-protest-at-alberta-health-ministers-home |publisher=Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc |date=3 January 2022}} The bail judge imposed "conditions that [Pawlowski has] no contact with Copping and [does] not attend his residence" while he waited for a trial on the merits.{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=Meghan |title=Controversial preacher and his brother arrested after protest at Alberta health minister's house: lawyer |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/arrest-protest-calgary-health-covid-1.6302239 |publisher=CBC |date=2 January 2022}}

Pawlowski was arrested on 7 February 2022 at the Coutts, Alberta border crossing blockade after encouraging protesters to back out of an agreement they had made with RCMP to leave the area.{{cite news |title=Controversial Calgary preacher incited violence in Coutts, prosecutor alleges at bail hearing |first=Meghan |last=Grant |newspaper=CBC News |date=9 February 2022 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/pawlowski-arrest-coutts-rcmp-charges-bail-1.6345808 |access-date=1 April 2022}} The protesters were demanding the lifting of vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers, as well as the lifting of other pandemic-related public health restrictions. Pawlowski gave a speech to protesters in Coutts a week earlier, saying that "for freedom to be preserved, people must be willing to sacrifice their lives. This is our time." He was charged with mischief over $5,000 and interrupting the operation of essential infrastructure under Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.

On 16 February, Alberta Provincial Court Judge Erin Olsen denied bail for Pawlowski, saying "there is a substantial likelihood that the accused will, if released from custody, continue on offending."{{cite news |title=Street Church minister to remain behind bars pending trial for allegedly inciting border blockade |first=Kevin |last=Martin |newspaper=Calgary Herald |publisher=PostMedia |date=16 February 2022 |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/street-church-minister-to-remain-behind-bars-pending-trial-for-allegedly-inciting-border-blockade |access-date=1 April 2022}} Olsen also clarified that inciting others to criminal activity would not be protected by the right to free speech in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

After Pawlowski's lawyers submitted a release plan to the court, Justice Gaylene Kendall overturned Olsen's ruling on 25 March and granted release conditions. Pawlowski was ordered to pay a $25,000 cash deposit, put under curfew and forbidden from attending protests, and the court required sureties from Pawlowski's wife and son.{{cite news |title=Minister accused of inciting protesters granted bail after judge overturns ruling |first=Kevin |last=Martin |newspaper=Calgary Herald |publisher=PostMedia |date=25 March 2022 |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/minister-accused-of-inciting-protesters-granted-bail-after-judge-overturns-ruling |access-date=1 April 2022}} Pawlowski remained in custody pending a bail hearing on earlier charges, but was released on 30 March.{{cite news |title=Street Church minister Artur Pawlowski released on bail on charges unrelated to Coutts border blockade |first=Kevin |last=Martin |newspaper=Calgary Herald |publisher=PostMedia |date=30 March 2022 |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/street-church-minister-artur-pawlowski-released-on-bail-on-charges-unrelated-to-coutts-border-blockade |access-date=1 April 2022}} In late July 2022, the Alberta Court of Appeal recognized procedural issues around how the public health order was applied and acknowledged that the time he had already served were sufficient punishments for ignoring public health orders, thus returning some of the fines that Pawlowski has paid.{{Cite news |last=Dryden |first=Joel |date=22 July 2022 |title=Alberta appeal court sets aside contempt sanctions against pastor, brother and cafe owner |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6529072}}

In February 2023, Pawlowski was on trial at Lethbridge Court and pled not guilty to charges of mischief, breaching a release order, and damaging or destroying essential infrastructure during the Canada convoy protest at Coutts.{{Cite news |date=3 Feb 2023 |title=Prosecutor says pastor's fiery speech at Coutts blockade was criminal |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/prosecutor-says-pastor-s-fiery-speech-at-coutts-blockade-was-criminal-1.6736725}} The charges partly relate to a speech that Pawlowski delivered on February 3, 2022 which encouraged protestors to defy police orders to clear the area. On 2 May 2023, he was found guilty of mischief and violating his release conditions. Justice Gordon Krinke did not make a ruling on the charge of breaching the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act due to a constitutional challenge submitted by Pawlowski's lawyer.{{Cite news |date=2023-05-02 |title=Calgary preacher's conviction revives political headache for Danielle Smith's UCP |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-calgary-preachers-conviction-revives-political-headache-for-danielle/ |access-date=2023-05-03}}