On Friday, December 15, St. Gabriel Mission Catholic Church caught fire and was destroyed, reports Edmonton Journal.
St. Gabriel Mission is located in Janvier, Alberta and the Wood Buffalo RCMP who responded to the call at 10:30 p.m. arrived to the scene only to realize that the church was completely engulfed by the flames.
Witnesses who spoke with the police explained that there was a silver sedan seen driving away from the scene roughly around the time of the fire. The church could not be saved at all, but the fire was still put out.
The St. Gabriel Mission Church as confirmed by Bishop Gary Franken of the St. Paul Diocese was the older church of the community. The new St. Gabriel Church, which is on shared property was unaffected by the fire.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined but Coun. Shane Janvier of the Fort Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation says that it is likely arson. He condemns the actions and also states that the community must start to look out for one another.
Anyone with information asked to call Wood Buffalo RCMP (780-788-4000) or Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477).