Man charged with arson following destruction of historic New Brunswick church

A 68-year-old man, identified as Gilles Mallet, has been arrested and charged with arson following the destruction of Saint-Simon Church in New Brunswick, Canada. The historic Roman Catholic building, recognized as the largest wooden church in the province, was consumed by fire in the early hours of August 24, 2026. Firefighters were unable to save the structure after arriving to find the blaze already spreading through the roof.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the provincial Fire Marshal’s office have determined the fire was set intentionally. While authorities identified Mallet as a person of interest early in the investigation, they have not yet disclosed a motive for the act. Mallet is scheduled for a bail hearing on August 28.

Local officials, including Caraquet Mayor Bernard Theriault, expressed that the loss of the century-old landmark has devastated the small community of approximately 600 residents. The church, designed by architect Nazaire Dugas and built between 1910 and 1920, remained in active use by the local congregation until the incident.