Arson is the leading cause of fires affecting Canadian places of worship, according to Ecclesiastical Insurance.
Data from the insurer found that since the start of 2017, there have been at least six fires reported as suspicious or confirmed to be arson. The targets were a church and a mosque in Ontario, two churches in Alberta and two churches in British Columbia.
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“The physical and emotional damages resulting from arson can be enormous and can include the total or partial destruction of a heritage building,” Ecclesiastical Insurance said in a statement.
“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 reality that Canadian places of worship must remain vigilant and make a concerted effort to mitigate the risk of arson.”
Colin Robertson, vice-president of Operations & Risk Control, pointed out that there is a pattern of activity that could lead to arson. Repeated acts of vandalism, such as graffiti, breaking windows, tearing down signs, leaving broken bottles or trash on the property, can ultimately lead to a more serious arson attack.
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