Repair the Church

Background: A Wave of Church Attacks and Neglect

In the summer of 2021, shocking acts of vandalism and arson swept across Canada’s churches. In a misguided response to reports of unmarked graves at a Kamloops residential school, dozens of Christian places of worship became targets of hate – nearly 70 churches were vandalized or set ablaze. These attacks shook a moral pillar that once seemed universal, and authorities and politicians offered an entirely inadequate response. Amid this climate of hostility and neglect, Rebel News journalists set out to cover the story and protect the integrity of these sacred spaces.

One of those journalists, Adam Soos, sought out Indigenous voices to hear their perspective on the church burnings. He met Ruby Starlight, a proud Tsuut’ina Nation woman working as a cultural guide at the Calgary Stampede’s Elbow River Camp. Ruby condemned the acts of hatred plaguing churches and shared her own family’s connection to the faith – her grandfather, Elder Dick Starlight, had helped build the local Catholic church on Tsuut’ina land decades ago. For Ruby and many in her community, Our Lady of Peace Church is a cherished place of worship, an anchor of hope that helped them endure the challenges of history. While this small church had thankfully not been vandalized, it was suffering from a different problem: the passage of time. On Ruby’s invitation, Rebel News visited Our Lady of Peace and found that the modest 1960s-era building was in serious disrepair. A leaking roof, pest infestations, and broken windows were jeopardizing the structure and leaving the little congregation in a tough spot. The Tsuut’ina parishioners “never had the money to renovate” the aging roof on their own, and without intervention, their beloved church’s future was uncertain.

Rebel News Steps In: Crowdfunding a New Roof

Rather than simply reporting on the problem, Rebel News decided to take action. With no help coming from the government to address the rash of church attacks or the neglect of this community church, the Rebel team felt compelled to do more than talk. Places of worship should be respected, and this was an opportunity to put that principle into practice. On August 17, 2021, Rebel News launched the “Repair the Church” campaign – a crowdfunded initiative to replace the roof on Our Lady of Peace Church, right on the Tsuut’ina Nation just outside Calgary. The goal was to raise $12,500 to pay for a brand new roof. “While progressives and radicals target places of worship, we know that our principled viewers will step up to help a church in need,” Rebel’s campaign announcement declared. The call went out to anyone who agreed that churches should be protected and preserved, asking them to contribute via RepairTheChurch.com.

Rebel News supporters answered that call with overwhelming generosity. In fact, the fundraising drive exceeded its goal in less than 24 hours. In under one day, viewers contributed nearly $25,000 – about double the original target – demonstrating an incredible outpouring of support. This meant not only could the leaky roof be replaced, but there was extra funding to tackle other problems that plagued the little church. “Not only will the Tsuut’ina Nation’s church receive a new roof, but we have also acquired pest control services… to help deal with some of the unwelcome guests… A local glass company has also volunteered to replace a broken window,” Rebel News reported gratefully once the goal was met. In the span of just a few days, everything was falling into place to rescue Our Lady of Peace from decay. The restoration work was scheduled to begin before the end of that month, and what had started as a news story was quickly becoming a story of real-life change.

A New Roof and Renewed Hope

Thanks to the compassion and activism of Rebel News viewers, the little church on Tsuut’ina Nation land soon received the care it desperately needed. From the launch of the fundraiser to the completion of repairs, the entire process took less than a month. When all was said and done, the church had a brand-new roof installed, a pest control plan in place, and even its broken windows repaired – all funded by the generosity of ordinary people. The tangible results were plain to see: no more leaks over the altar, no more critters scurrying in the sacristy, and windows tightly sealed against the harsh Alberta weather. The historic church that Dick Starlight built was now safeguarded for years to come, its future made brighter by an outpouring of love.

For the Tsuut’ina faith community, this restoration was nothing short of a godsend. Chief Roy Whitney-Onespot and many members of the Nation expressed heartfelt gratitude that “the building is receiving the care it deserves.” Parishioners, some of whom had attended Our Lady of Peace their entire lives, were overjoyed to see their prayers for help answered in such a concrete way. One year later, the church’s new roof stood as a symbol of what can be accomplished when Canadians come together to honour and protect a place of worship. In an era of negativity – with the dark legacy of residential schools on everyone’s mind and acts of arson threatening to divide communities – this little church became a beacon of hope and reconciliation instead. “With so much negativity surrounding the discoveries at residential schools and the mass arsons and vandalism plaguing Christian faith communities, we are so grateful to have been able to do something positive for the Tsuut’ina First Nations people of faith,” wrote Rebel News.

None of this would have been possible without you – the Rebel News supporters. This success has inspired us to keep taking action – whether it’s helping another church under fire or addressing other crises like the ongoing clean water issues in First Nation communities. We move forward with a renewed conviction that, with your continued support, we can shine a light in the darkest places and make a real difference. Thank you for standing with us, and with the people of Tsuut’ina, in defense of faith, hope, and community.