New Brunswick man arrested for arson of historic Saint-Simon Church

A 68-year-old man, Gilles Mallet, has been arrested and charged with arson following the destruction of the historic Saint-Simon Church in New Brunswick, Canada. The church, which was the largest wooden church in the province, was destroyed in a fire on August 24, 2026.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that Mallet appeared in provincial court on Monday regarding the incident. The fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. in the small community of Saint-Simon. Firefighters from the Caraquet Department reported that once the flames reached the roof structure, the building became impossible to save.