Local Man Charged with Arson Following Destruction of Historic Saint-Simon Church

SAINT-SIMON, CANADA — A 68-year-old local resident has been arrested and formally charged with arson after a massive fire completely destroyed the historic Saint-Simon Catholic Church on New Brunswick's Acadian Peninsula.

Emergency crews responded around 4:00 a.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026, to reports of a structure fire in the small francophone community of Saint-Simon. Upon arrival, firefighters from Caraquet, Bertrand, and Shippagan found the century-old wooden church fully engulfed in flames. A motion-detection security alarm had logged movement inside the structure at 3:20 a.m., just moments before emergency dispatchers received the initial 911 calls.

Despite the efforts of responding fire crews, the 108-year-old sanctuary—considered the largest remaining wooden church in the province—was declared a total loss, leaving only remnants of its stone foundation. The building was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported among community members or emergency personnel.

Following an investigation by the Office of the Fire Marshal, authorities determined the blaze was intentionally set. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers identified and arrested 68-year-old Saint-Simon resident Gilles Mallet later that day. Mallet appeared in Bathurst Provincial Court, where he was formally charged with arson and remanded into custody.

The loss has devastated the local community. Church leaders and local officials expressed profound grief over the destruction of the historic landmark, which had served as a central gathering place for generations of local families. RCMP investigators have not publicly released a motive for the attack, and the investigation remains ongoing.

In the wake of the tragedy, Bathurst Bishop Michel Proulx released a public message offering prayers and spiritual support to the parishioners, calling the loss of the historic sanctuary "an immeasurable blow to the cultural and religious heritage of the region." Community leaders from the nearby municipality of Caraquet have begun discussing interim gathering spaces for the Saint-Simon parish to host upcoming services and community events, while RCMP officers continue to appeal to the public for any additional witness statements or security footage taken in the vicinity around the time of the fire.