Stand for Faith. Stand for Fairness.

Stacey Anderson has worked 17 years in retail pharmacy. This is not just a job to her, but is a significant part of her life and identity.

As a Christian, Stacey holds the belief that all human life is sacred, from conception to natural death. This conviction is rooted in her faith and reflected in Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb…” and in Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.”

In 2021, Stacey requested a religious accommodation from her employer’s workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy, citing her deeply held Christian beliefs.

Because the COVID-19 vaccines were developed or tested using abortion-derived fetal cell lines, she could not in good conscience, participate in or benefit from anything connected to the taking of innocent life. This was not a decision made lightly. It came after prayer, reflection, and careful consideration of the risks and consequences.

Stacey knew accepting the vaccine would violate her faith and conscience. Today, she is standing up to protect religious freedom and human rights.

 

What Happened

After Stacey submitted her request to her employer,

  • The accommodation process was never completed and no decision was ever made;
  • She was required to attend 184 pre-shift COVID-19 tests, unpaid, even though accommodated employees would have been paid; and
  • She was denied advancement opportunities due to her vaccination status.

Stacey filed a human rights complaint to the Alberta Human Rights Commission. The Commission summarily dismissed her complaint, even though it accepted that her beliefs are sincere, because it found that her objection did not qualify for protection under Alberta human rights law.

 

Going to Court

Stacey is asking the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta to overturn that decision.

She is seeking to have the dismissal invalidated and her case sent to the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal for a full hearing – where the evidence can finally be presented, tested, and fairly assessed.

The brief has been filed with the court.

 

A Personal Appeal

Taking this to court involves legal fees, court filing fees, and other costs. For a long time, Stacey has quietly endured, without support or resources. Now, she is stepping forward and asking others to support, share, and stand with her.

Psalm 82:3:
“Vindicate the weak… Do justice and maintain the rights of the afflicted…”

Readers interested in supporting Stacey may do so here.

This article was prepared by the editorial team at Kitchen & Wells LLP
to provide general information on current legal matters.