The St. George Anglican Church was burned to the ground on Sept. 28, 2024 after standing in Loon Lake for 85 years. (submitted photo)

By Susan McNeil

Charges laid

Man charged with burning down Loon Lake church

Dec 10, 2024 | 1:34 PM

A 25-year-old man is facing a charge of arson and another for breaching a conditional sentence order in connection with the burning of a church in Loon Lake several months ago.

RCMP arrested Shandon Chief of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation on December 7 and he made his first court appearance in Meadow Lake yesterday.

In October, Mayor Brian Hirschfeld said he was ready to call a state of emergency after a rash of crime in his community that included the burning of the St. George Anglican Church.

The arson was the final straw of four months of vandalism, theft and crime for Hirschfeld.

He wrote Premier Scott Moe, NDP leader Carla Beck and MP Gary Vidal about the problem.

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“I DO NOT want this sent to some justice minister. I want you to deal with this personally. People are talking about vigilantism and that is a scary notion,” he wrote.

In addition, he asked for more RCMP officers and potentially the provincial marshal’s service that is still in the process of being created.

Since his letter, Hirschfeld says he’s met with the local NDP and MLA. He is having regular meetings with the RCMP and those tasked with developing the provincial marshal’s service.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com