Thursday, June 4, 2026
ADVT 
National

Additional charges laid after Masonic hall fires

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Apr, 2021 11:58 PM
  • Additional charges laid after Masonic hall fires

Police say five more charges have been approved against a man accused of setting fire to three Masonic halls in Metro Vancouver last week.

Police say 42-year-old Benjamin Kohlman was charged Tuesday with two counts of arson and three counts of break and enter to commit arson after fires in Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Police arrested Kohlman in nearby Burnaby within a few hours of the fires.

He was charged the following day with one count of arson in relation to the fire in Vancouver, as well as one count of assaulting a police officer.

All three fires were allegedly set in the span of an hour last Tuesday.

The first call came in at around 6:45 a.m. about a fire at the Lynn Valley Lodge in North Vancouver, while a second fire reported minutes later severely damaged a Masonic centre located four kilometres away.

Fire officials said the third fire at a Masonic hall in east Vancouver was reported around 7:30 a.m. and caused little damage.

MORE National ARTICLES

Toronto to open centre for those with COVID

Toronto to open centre for those with COVID
Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Friday the federal government is providing $13.9 million to Toronto Public Health — enough to operate the 140-room isolation centre that opens this weekend for the next 12 months.

Toronto to open centre for those with COVID

Victims of ex-senator deserve better: lawyer

Victims of ex-senator deserve better: lawyer
The evaluator had been tasked to speak with six former employees in Meredith's office and review all materials from a four-year investigation by the Senate ethics officer.

Victims of ex-senator deserve better: lawyer

Ex-Liberal MP charged with fraud, breach of trust

Ex-Liberal MP charged with fraud, breach of trust
They allege the former MP for Brampton East took millions of dollars in personal loans without telling the federal ethics commissioner, and that he used his political position to solicit those loans.

Ex-Liberal MP charged with fraud, breach of trust

Gang leader to be sentenced in Surrey Six case

Gang leader to be sentenced in Surrey Six case
Jamie Bacon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to murder Corey Lal in the so-called Surrey Six case.

Gang leader to be sentenced in Surrey Six case

More smoke from U.S. wildfires to waft over B.C

More smoke from U.S. wildfires to waft over B.C
Environment Canada's air quality health index lists air quality at moderate to high risk for many parts of southern B.C., meaning those with health issues should reduce outdoor activities.

More smoke from U.S. wildfires to waft over B.C

Healthy grizzly strolls through Squamish, B.C.

Healthy grizzly strolls through Squamish, B.C.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says in a social media post that the bear has been captured in Squamish, B.C., and will be released in a location determined by wildlife biologists.

Healthy grizzly strolls through Squamish, B.C.