RCMP Suspect Arson as Fire Destroys 2 Alberta Churches in Just Over an Hour

Alberta RCMP are called to a fire at the Glenrreagh Church in Barrhead County, Alta., on Dec. 7, 2023. Courtesy of Alberta RCMP

The RCMP in Alberta says it suspects 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, the 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.

No suspects have been identified, police said.

Barrhead is about 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Barrhead RCMP detachment 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.

On Dec. 31, 2022, St. Joseph Lutheran Church near the village of Hay Lakes, north of Camrose, was destroyed in a fire that officials say was arson.

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.

Alberta RCMP were called to a fire at the United Church in Barrhead County on Dec. 7, 2023. Courtesy of Alberta RCMP

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.

“To the parishioners of these churches and to the Christian community across our province, I stand in solidarity with you against all forms of hate,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“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 Alberta Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis were monitoring the situation.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also posted comments on X following news of the fires.

“These are absolutely despicable attacks on the Christian community,” he said. “Police must find and arrest the criminals responsible for setting fire to these two churches.”

Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also said he stands with the parishioners.

“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.”

Conservative MP Arnold Viersen, who represents the impacted area, called the fires “senseless” and “frustrating.”

“This is my community. I live within 30 kilometres of these churches,” he told The Epoch Times. “They’ve been part of my life, kind of my whole life sort of thing. It’s just just disconcerting for this to be happening in my constituency.”

Mr. Viersen said he visited the church sites the day after the blaze.

“I stopped by both of them and it was a steady stream of vehicle stopping. Everybody had had a bit of a connection or a story to tell about how, how these buildings have impacted their life.”

The Epoch Times reached out to the churches and Barrhead Regional Fire Services but did not hear back by publication time.