Two local men charged in connection with an alleged "illegal indoor event" that took place in January during Covid-19 restrictions appeared in provincial offences court Wednesday.
Timothy Coderre, 60, and Steven Hunter, 58, face charges under the Reopening Ontario Act.
They are charged with failing to comply with an order not to host nor organize an indoor public event.
Coderre appeared in person at the court located in the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre, while Hunter phoned-in via zoom
Justice of the peace Jill Morse put their matters over to June 29 to be spoken to at that time.
The pair was charged Feb. 4 following an investigation by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and Algoma Public Health that began on Jan. 27.
The probe determined "an illegal indoor event took place that evening," city police said in a news release.
The gathering occurred at the former Sister Mary Clare elementary school on Glen Avenue.
On Jan. 25, Sootoday reported that the site, housing what was referred to as The Soo Justice Centre, would be providing food and accommodation for the so-called Freedom Convoy 22.
The convoy, involving hundreds of truckers travelling to Ottawa to protest the federal government's vaccination mandate for cross-border truckers, arrived in Sault Ste. Marie two days later.
During their first court appearance Wednesday, Coderre and Hunter were told they were being given time to obtain disclosure and to meet with the Crown for a pre-trial if they want to discuss the matter to see if it can be resolved.
If their matters are not resolved they then will proceed to trial, Morris said.
Conviction carries a minimum fine of $10,000 and a maximum penalty of $100,000.