Arson continues to be the leading cause of fires affecting Canadian places of worship, with up to 50 incidents a year across the country. It is a frightening and potentially devastating crime and when it occurs at a place of worship, the physical and emotional damages can be enormous. Damages can include the total or partial destruction of a heritage building; irreparable damage to furnishings, stained glass windows or other unique architectural elements; the destruction of invaluable religious items; and the temporary, or even permanent, loss of a community’s consecrated place to congregate. It is a sad fact that Canadian places of worship must be more vigilant than ever before and make a concerted effort to face this issue head-on.
