Alberta
Two more historic churches in Canada set ablaze by arsonists

From LifeSiteNews
“These are absolutely despicable attacks on the Christian community”
Two historic Christian churches in Canada were intentionally set on fire late last week in what police said were suspected acts of arson.
The incident has Conservative political leaders calling for an end to “attacks” on Christianity after more than 100 churches having been targeted with arson or vandalism since 2021.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) say St. Aidan’s Church, known as Glenreagh Church, and Pioneer Church, a United Church, both located in Barrhead, a town 120 miles northwest of Alberta’s capital Edmonton, were destroyed by arson within only two hours of each other on the evening of December 7.
No one was reported to have been hurt in the fires, but both churches have been extensively damaged, likely beyond repair, despite the best efforts of the Barrhead Fire Services, which was onsite quickly.
Barrhead RCMP confirmed that an initial investigation has determined that both fires were intentionally set. However, an exact motive is not yet clear.
According to eyewitnesses on the ground, two older pickup trucks were seen fleeing the scene.
An initial investigation by fire examiners confirmed that both fires were deliberately set.
Local resident Edith Strawson, whose dad helped build St. Aidan’s Church over 100 years ago, and who got married in the church, as well as some of her kids, said, “We’re putting this back together.”
“We just can’t let that happen and just leave it,” she said as per a CTV report.
Attacks on Christianity ‘must’ stop say conservative leaders
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) Pierre Poilievre condemned the attacks.
“These are absolutely despicable attacks on the Christian community,” Poilievre wrote Friday on X (formerly Twitter).
“Police must find and arrest the criminals responsible for setting fire to these two churches.”
These are absolutely despicable attacks on the Christian community.
Police must find and arrest the criminals responsible for setting fire to these two churches. https://t.co/ZKUHpaLrzu pic.twitter.com/c7Xxn8qMjb
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) December 8, 2023
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the leader of the United Conservative Party, said church burnings have “no place in Alberta” and those who destroyed the churches by arson need to stand for their “crimes.”
She also confirmed that the RCMP is investigating the church fires “as suspected cases of arson.”
“Images like these have no place in Alberta,” Smith wrote Friday on X (formerly Twitter).
“To the parishioners of these churches and to the Christian community across our province, I stand in solidarity with you against all forms of hate.”
Images like these have no place in Alberta.
RCMP are investigating two churches which were destroyed by fires as suspected cases of arson.
To the parishioners of these churches and to the Christian community across our province, I stand in solidarity with you against all… pic.twitter.com/KmdQ3vc98S
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) December 8, 2023
Smith said that the church burnings “are condemned in the strongest possible terms and those perpetrating these crimes must be brought to justice.”
“I am closely monitoring this unfolding situation along with Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis,” she added.
Since the spring of 2021, well over 100 churches, most of them Catholic, but all Christian have either been burned or vandalized across Canada. The attacks on the churches came shortly after the unconfirmed discovery of “unmarked graves” at now-closed residential schools once run by the Church in parts of the country.
In 2021 and 2022, the mainstream media ran with inflammatory and dubious claims that hundreds of children were buried and disregarded by Catholic priests and nuns who ran some of the schools.
Despite the church burnings, the federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done nothing substantial to bring those responsible to justice, nor to stem the root cause of the burnings.
Instead, a little over a month ago, Liberal and NDP Members of Parliament (MPs) struck down a Conservative Party of Canada motion that would have condemned incidents of church burnings and acts of vandalism.
In August of 2022, LifeSiteNews reported about the destruction by fire of one of the oldest standing Catholic churches in Alberta. Police at the time said the fire was a “suspicious” incident.
Despite the massive number of church fires in Canada, Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez in May made a brazen suggestion recently that the recent slew of anti-Christian church burnings in Canada could be remedied through further “online” internet regulation.
Those with any information on the church fires are asked to contact Barrhead RCMP at 403-780-674-4848.
Agriculture
Lacombe meat processor scores $1.2 million dollar provincial tax credit to help expansion

Alberta’s government continues to attract investment and grow the provincial economy.
The province’s inviting and tax-friendly business environment, and abundant agricultural resources, make it one of North America’s best places to do business. In addition, the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit helps attract investment that will further diversify Alberta’s agriculture industry.
Beretta Farms is the most recent company to qualify for the tax credit by expanding its existing facility with the potential to significantly increase production capacity. It invested more than $10.9 million in the project that is expected to increase the plant’s processing capacity from 29,583 to 44,688 head of cattle per year. Eleven new employees were hired after the expansion and the company plans to hire ten more. Through the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit, Alberta’s government has issued Beretta Farms a tax credit of $1,228,735.
“The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit is building on Alberta’s existing competitive advantages for agri-food companies and the primary producers that supply them. This facility expansion will allow Beretta Farms to increase production capacity, which means more Alberta beef across the country, and around the world.”
“This expansion by Beretta Farms is great news for Lacombe and central Alberta. It not only supports local job creation and economic growth but also strengthens Alberta’s global reputation for producing high-quality meat products. I’m proud to see our government supporting agricultural innovation and investment right here in our community.”
The tax credit provides a 12 per cent non-refundable, non-transferable tax credit when businesses invest $10 million or more in a project to build or expand a value-added agri-processing facility in Alberta. The program is open to any food manufacturers and bio processors that add value to commodities like grains or meat or turn agricultural byproducts into new consumer or industrial goods.
Beretta Farms’ facility in Lacombe is a federally registered, European Union-approved harvesting and meat processing facility specializing in the slaughter, processing, packaging and distribution of Canadian and United States cattle and bison meat products to 87 countries worldwide.
“Our recent plant expansion project at our facility in Lacombe has allowed us to increase our processing capacities and add more job opportunities in the central Alberta area. With the support and recognition from the Government of Alberta’s tax credit program, we feel we are in a better position to continue our success and have the confidence to grow our meat brands into the future.”
Alberta’s agri-processing sector is the second-largest manufacturing industry in the province and meat processing plays an important role in the sector, generating millions in annual economic impact and creating thousands of jobs. Alberta continues to be an attractive place for agricultural investment due to its agricultural resources, one of the lowest tax rates in North America, a business-friendly environment and a robust transportation network to connect with international markets.
Quick facts
- Since 2023, there are 16 applicants to the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit for projects worth about $1.6 billion total in new investment in Alberta’s agri-processing sector.
- To date, 13 projects have received conditional approval under the program.
- Each applicant must submit progress reports, then apply for a tax credit certificate when the project is complete.
- Beretta Farms has expanded the Lacombe facility by 10,000 square feet to include new warehousing, cooler space and an office building.
- This project has the potential to increase production capacity by 50 per cent, thereby facilitating entry into more European markets.
Related information
Alberta
Alberta Next: Alberta Pension Plan

From Premier Danielle Smith and Alberta.ca/Next
Let’s talk about an Alberta Pension Plan for a minute.
With our young Alberta workforce paying billions more into the CPP each year than our seniors get back in benefits, it’s time to ask whether we stay with the status quo or create our own Alberta Pension Plan that would guarantee as good or better benefits for seniors and lower premiums for workers.
I want to hear your perspective on this idea and please check out the video. Get the facts. Join the conversation.
Visit Alberta.ca/next
-
Business1 day ago
Dallas mayor invites NYers to first ‘sanctuary city from socialism’
-
Agriculture2 days ago
Lacombe meat processor scores $1.2 million dollar provincial tax credit to help expansion
-
conflict2 days ago
US airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Was it obliteration?
-
Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum1 day ago
Alberta Sports Hall of Fame 2025 Inductee profiles – Alpine Skiing Athlete – Brady Leman
-
Crime1 day ago
The Left Thinks Drug Criminalization Is Racist. Minorities Disagree
-
Carbon Tax19 hours ago
Canada’s Carbon Tax Is A Disaster For Our Economy And Oil Industry
-
Daily Caller19 hours ago
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Resets The Energy Policy Playing Field
-
Disaster19 hours ago
Texas flood kills 43 including children at Christian camp