Church fires across Canada, 2021–2023

CBC News examined police, court, and media records and found 33 Canadian churches burned to the ground from May 2021 through December 2023. Investigators confirmed 24 as arson, ruled two accidental, and classified the remaining seven as suspicious or still under investigation. Fourteen of the fires were on reserves and First Nations; 13 were in small or rural towns.

The wave followed announcements of unmarked graves at former residential-school sites. This filing counts the 24 confirmed arsons, not the two accidental fires. Named losses include St. Jean Baptiste in Morinville, Alta., Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Fort Chipewyan, and St. Gregory’s on the Osoyoos Indian Band. Most cases remain unsolved.