In the early hours of January 14, firefighters were called the former rectory residence of St. Bernard Catholic Church, as reported by CBC News.
At about 1:30 A.M. on January 14, firefighters were called to the scene at the site of the former Church, as the rectory had gone up in flames. The Meteghan RCMP have started an arson investigation. There is no ruling on whether the fire was accident. The rectory was empty and no one had been living there. There were no injuries reported. The Catholic Church itself was not damaged in any way.
In 2023 the church had been deconsecrated and the year prior the rectory had been sold by the Halifax-Yarmouth Archdiocese. The rectory property was then bought by the Nation Prospere Acadie and la Societe Heritage Saint-Bernard. The rectory property was more than 70 years old, with the first priest living in it in the year 1952.