Defending Religious Exemptions in Healthcare
On June 20th, 2016 I drove to work at my job as an Environmental Service Provider (housekeeping) at a local hospital. I thought it would be like any other day. I had worked for the organization for nearly 10 years, recently acquiring a full-time position, I was feeling good and secure in my job that had become my career. Little did I know, I would not be permitted to carry out my shift that morning; and nearly SEVEN YEARS later, I am still not permitted back to work. Why? Because I declined (which I believe was my right) to receive a series of MMR and DTaP-IPV vaccinations that contradicted my Faith.
I declined vaccinations that to my knowledge, were not required by any hospital policy or legislation, however, I was suspended for my choice anyway and remain suspended to this very day (May 4th, 2023).
I am unique in that I have NEVER received a single vaccine in my entire existence, including any childhood vaccines. I have very strong and sincere religious beliefs that prevent me from accepting vaccinations. I believe everyone should have the right to equal employment regardless of their beliefs and consequent private medical decisions. I believe Healthcare Workers should be afforded the right to choose treatments and interventions of their own will in accordance with their own conscience and religion, free from any form of coercion. I believe Informed and Voluntary Consent to medical intervention should be a protected right for the worker as well as the patient. That is why I decided to fight to maintain my position in healthcare and bring discrimination charges against my employer for not accommodating or acknowledging my religious exemption from the policy.
I have been standing, debating and defending my position for an exhausting 7 years now. My case is proceeding to a hearing, and the first step will be case management in June of 2023. My legal team has been working tirelessly and for free up to this point fielding all my questions and acting favourably on my behalf, however, entering into a lengthy and extensive court case will not be done for free and as we all know good lawyers are not cheap. It is also quite costly to recruit and retain witnesses who will need to be compensated to take time off work and possibly travel to testify on my behalf.
I hate to do it, but this is where I swallow my pride and ask you, this wonderful community of Freedom Fighters, for your help in financially supporting this case.
I believe this is the first case of it's kind as I was suspended LONG before COVID. It is a strong case due to my sincerely held beliefs and history (or lack thereof) with vaccinations. I believe this case has a very good chance of resulting in a favourable outcome to defend informed consent for healthcare workers but it will require the right legal team and expert witnesses to secure a win. With your help, we can fund that team, recruit the experts needed and bring home a win, bringing us one step closer to defending Religious Exemptions from Vaccination for Healthcare Workers and us all!
Thank you all for your spiritual, emotional and now financial support moving forward, I will never be able to express what it means to me but know you have all given me the courage and strength to continue this fight, no matter how long, no matter what it takes, we'll see it to the end!
Update:
A ruling came back from our 5 day hearing in August of 2025 which was not in our favour. Although I passed the test of sincerity which I thought was the test, the tribunal ruled I had no religious objections to vaccinations but only "personal" objections as there was no clear tenant laid out in Christianity that goes against vaccinations and therefore no discrimination or wrongdoing by the hospital. The court also determined that the Hospital had the legal authority to demand vaccinations through the Hospital's Act but this is simply not correct, the act gives authority for Testing and Surveillance NOT interventions and treatments. Given the failures for the Tribunal to apply the law properly to my case, we have officially filed for Judicial Review. If successful we win the right to have the case seen again by a different adjudicator, if we fail however, I do not know if there are any other actions I can take and there is also the possibility of being liable for the hospitals legal fees as well as my own.
Our Judicial Review hearing is currently booked for Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 commencing at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom #3, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto.
Fees have accrued to well over $50,000.00 with bills still to come as that only covered up to our last hearing date and not closing arguments or filing for Judicial Review let alone actually getting through the hearing. Judicial Review is a very involved and costly process as it takes more legal work than the first hearing. Any financial support is greatly appreciated at this time. More importantly though I need prayer for God to move in this case and defend Religious Exemptions from vaccinations if it be in His good will!
