Two Additional Churches in Alberta Set Ablaze, RCMP Investigating Arson as Suspected Cause
The RCMP in Alberta says they suspect arson is the cause of two fires that destroyed two churches in a community northwest of Edmonton.
Barrhead RCMP responded to the first fire at The Glenreagh Church on Range Road 40 at 7:52 p.m. Dec. 7, according to an RCMP news release. At 9 p.m., they were called to a second fire at The United Church on Range Road 54.
“RCMP and the Barrhead Fire Services continue to investigate the cause of the fires and both are being treated as arson,” the release said.
The fires were put out quickly and there were no injuries reported, RCMP said. However, both churches were “extremely damaged.”
An initial investigation by the fire examiner led officials to believe the fires were intentional, the release said.
An older model two-tonne truck was seen at the scene of The Glenreagh Church and is believed to be connected to the fires, according to the RCMP.
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No suspects have been identified, police said.
Barrhead is about 120 kilometers northwest of Edmonton.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact Barrhead RCMP at 780-674-4848, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
This is the latest in a string of church burnings since 2021.
The first wave started after the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation said in May 2021 that ground-penetrating radar had located possible burial sites of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The sites have so far not been excavated.
While police have made some arrests in relation to the burnings, many still have not resulted in arrests or convictions.
On July 1, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Lac La Biche was destroyed by fire. It followed fires in May that saw St. Bernard Catholic Church in Grouard, Alberta, and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Calgary damaged.
Two people were charged after a fire on Aug. 25, 2022, that saw the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Church burned to the ground in Fort Chipewyan. Local residents Raymond Ahyasou-Cardinal and August Tanner Marcel were charged with arson in that case.
A youth was convicted in the fire that destroyed Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church on July 9, 2021, in the Kehewin Cree Nation in northeast Alberta.
Politicians React
Several politicians took to social media to post their reactions to the Barrhead church fires.
Premier Danielle Smith said she stood in solidarity with the parishioners of the churches.
“These acts are condemned in the strongest possible terms and those perpetrating these crimes must be brought to justice.”
Ms. Smith also said that she and Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis were monitoring the situation.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also posted comments on X following news of the fires.
“I stand with their parishioners and Christians across Canada. Attacks on our majority religion are equally disgusting as attacks on minority religions. I hope those responsible are caught & prosecuted.”
Mr. Housefather was born to a Jewish family in Montreal and has been an advocate for the Israeli community in Canada.
The Epoch Times reached out to the churches and the Barrhead Fire Service but did not hear back by publication time.
