Saint-Simon Catholic Church arson charge in New Brunswick

A 68-year-old man has been charged with arson following the destruction of the historic Saint-Simon Catholic Church in New Brunswick. The church, a wooden structure built in the 1910s, was considered one of the largest of its kind on the Acadian Peninsula.

The fire occurred early Monday morning in the community of Saint-Simon. Local fire officials noted that motion detectors had been triggered inside the building shortly before the flames were reported. An investigation by the RCMP and the Office of the Fire Marshal determined that the fire was set intentionally while the building was unoccupied.

Local Mayor Bernard Thériault described the event as the worst disaster in the history of the small community. The accused, a resident of Saint-Simon, remains in custody and is scheduled for a bail hearing.