‘I still stand by my freedom of rights’: former care home worker speaks out after losing job for attending freedom rally

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“Did I have a mask on? No, there is no mask mandate for being outside in the province,” she said.

103 strays since Jan.

LLRIB responds after dangerous dog pack draws concerns in communities

4h ago

public safety

'We have sympathy for this individual': North Battleford church responds after bear spray incident

5h ago

carbon monoxide awareness

'Henry's Law': Saskatchewan strengthens carbon monoxide monitoring after boy's death

8h ago

A photo taken of Marshall with Brent Wintringham, who coincidentally, was also fired from his job, (Submitted photo)

Explaining she had no idea pictures of her would be posted online, Marshall said she panicked when she saw them and the news article, adding her belief is the person responsible for contacting media had a personal motive for doing so. She also added in the following weeks both she and her daughter received negative backlash within the community.

“The sad part of all of this is people judge you by what they perceive. They don’t know know who I am,” she said.

On April 23, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said a person or persons attended the rally while infectious, and called on those who were at the event to self-isolate immediately.

Marshall argued that was not the case explaining after talking amongst themselves, no one at the rally said they had been tested.

“It’s already known that there is no transmission when you are outside. You have to be within minutes 15 minutes each other with a confirmed case and none of us were,” she said.

Prior to her termination, Marshall worked at the Parkland Care Home for seven years. At the time of the rally, she worked in the office area, handing phone calls and dealing with matters related to the admittance and discharge of patients, as well as booking family visits. She explained she always wore her PPE while at work and followed the rules, and so with the rally falling on her day off, she saw no issue attending.

“I still stand by my freedom of rights that you know I have the freedom to express, peacefully assemble, and to go to a rally without shame or discipline. We all do,” she said.

Jackie Marshall wants the public to know she would never intentionally try to spread the virus and was completely caught off guard by the fallout. (Submitted photo/Jackie Marshall)

Upon Marshall’s return to work after the rally, she was informed by her manager to go home and self-isolate. She then received a letter a week later, informing her that she would be on suspension while the investigation was being done. At its conclusion, she was terminated. Marshall has since filed a grievance with her union.

“Do I expect them to hire me back? I am gonna say I would not want to go back now just because there’s just too much animosity, but I will fight for my rights,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Government Employees’ Union (SGEU) confirmed for paNOW the union doesn’t comment on personnel matters related to individual members, including confirming/denying whether a grievance has been filed or the status of a member’s employment, workplace issues, etc.

Also in attendance at the Prince Albert rally, and one of the speakers, was Brent Wintringham, who was also later singled out and identified as an employee with the Saskatoon Public Schools Division. Wintringham worked as a custodian at one the city’s elementary schools, and was also later fired.

Response from Ministry of Health

paNOW reached out to the Ministry of Health to respond to Marshall’s comments. With respect to transmission outside, a spokesperson for the ministry confirmed the risk is reduced, but still possible.

“COVID-19 is spread through close contact. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets, for example, when someone coughs or sneezes,” the spokesperson said.

The Ministry also confirmed that while masks are not required outside, their use is still recommended in outdoor settings where physical distancing could not be maintained.

The full list of settings is detailed in the current public health order here: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/-/media/files/coronavirus/public-health-measures/public-health-orders/provincial-order-june-24.pdf

All measures are set to be lifted on July 11, including the mask mandate and.the public health orders

–

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell