Another three churches burned down in two weeks: What's really going on?
Three Christian churches have gone up in flames across Canada within a span of just two weeks, adding to concerns over the more than 130 churches burned or vandalized since 2021.
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Three Christian churches have recently gone up in flames across Canada within a short span of just two weeks. Two were in British Columbia and one was a historic church in New Brunswick.
The concerning incidents come amid more than 130 churches that have been burned or vandalized across Canada since 2021, following the Kamloops band government's claim that the remains of 215 children had been discovered in unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School — a claim that remains unsubstantiated.
In today's report, I bring you my findings after investigating the three recent fires, including travelling to Vernon Alliance Church after a significant portion of the building was damaged by fire on August 31.
Thanks to the swift work of local firefighters and a firewall inside the church, the damage wasn't even worse. The congregation has been displaced for the time being and is gathering at the nearby Creekside Conference Centre.
On the grounds, I spoke with several church members, including Bill, a former residential school student, about what they know about the fire, what the church means to them and the work it does in the surrounding community.
Thankfully, no one was hurt.
And while the cause of the Vernon fire remains under investigation, Corporal Daniel Finn of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP confirmed to Rebel News that, at this time, police do not suspect criminal activity.
The same certainty doesn't exist when it comes to another recent fire in B.C.
On August 14, the south wall and roof of Surrey Alliance Church went up in flames, causing significant damage.
That investigation has since concluded without determining a cause. Police told Rebel News there was insufficient evidence to conclude the fire had been deliberately set, with no identified suspect or person of interest. They also noted that accidental fires can include situations where someone starts a fire for warmth or while using substances.
The third fire, which destroyed the 109-year-old Saint-Simon Catholic Church in New Brunswick on August 24, is a different story.
Unlike most of the church attacks we've covered since 2021, a suspect was apprehended.
According to the New Brunswick RCMP, the Office of the Fire Marshal determined that the fire had been intentionally set. Sixty-eight-year-old Gilles Mallet was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the fire.
As Rebel News previously reported, Mallet formerly lived in British Columbia and had apparent ties to Indigenous anti-pipeline activism, including connections to individuals involved in anti-pipeline incidents.
While members of Vernon Alliance Church are relieved that, for now, the evidence doesn't point to their house of worship being deliberately targeted, I also wanted to hear what they make of the disturbing number of attacks on other Christian churches across Canada.
The members I spoke with told me about the work their church does in Vernon, from distributing food and clothing to helping people going through difficult times.
They also had some powerful thoughts about what Christians should make of the hostility directed toward churches.
“I don't know if it's targeted, if it's a specific thing that's happening out there, but I just know that the church will endure,” one member told me.
Stand with Canada's churches
If you agree that attacks on Christian churches must be taken seriously and those responsible must be held accountable, please sign our petition below.
At Rebel News, we get our boots on the ground to bring you the side of the story that the legacy media won't. If you appreciate our coverage and want to help us continue investigating church fires across Canada, please support and share our work at SaveOurChurches.ca.
Rebel News will keep sending our journalists to the small towns and forgotten communities the national media won't visit — but we can't do it alone. With your support, we can make sure these attacks are never ignored, and that Canada remains a country where religious freedom is defended.
Rebel News will keep sending our journalists to the small towns and forgotten communities the national media won't visit — but we can't do it alone. With your support, we can make sure these attacks are never ignored, and that Canada remains a country where religious freedom is defended.
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Drea Humphrey
B.C. Bureau Chief
Based in British Columbia, Drea Humphrey reports on Western Canada for Rebel News. Drea’s reporting is not afraid to challenge political correctness, or ask the tough questions that mainstream media tends to avoid.
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