PRETRIAL SET FOR GYM CHARGED WITH VIOLATING COVID RULES

HUF GYM CLAIMED IT WAS OPERATING UNDER DISABILITY EXEMPTION

A pretrial date for a Mississauga gym accused of violating COVID-19 lockdown restrictions has been set for Jan. 2022.

Huf Boxing Gym, which is facing six separate charges related to allegedly opening its facility last April in violation of a provincewide lockdown, will be back in provincial court Jan. 18 for pretrial proceedings.

In a Nov. 18 court session, Mississauga prosecutors said disclosure had been served to Huf coowner Teresa Heron, meaning the city has shown the gym evidence it intends to use in the proceedings.

The gym is facing six Part Three charges under the Reopening Ontario Act. Those charges could mean fines of up to $500,000 and a year in jail for establishment owners.

While the lockdown was in place, Huf Gym claimed it was operating under an exemption in the

Reopening Ontario Act allowing fitness facilities to open for use by someone with a recognized disability, such as a physical impairment, mental disorders and injuries requiring insurance benefits.

In May, Mississauga Director of Enforcement Sam Rogers said Huf Gym was "considered compliant" with regulations fol

lowing bylaw inspection and having the city verify disability exemptions was difficult.

"When you get into disabilities, there are many, many, many that are invisible and that is not our role to verify that," he said.

Huf Gym did not respond to requests for comment for this story by publication time.