Sunday, June 7, 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

B.C. scales up response to overdose crisis

B.C. scales up response to overdose crisis
The British Columbia government says it is accelerating its response to the overdose crisis by expanding lifesaving overdose prevention, treatment and support services.

B.C. scales up response to overdose crisis

B.C. lets private pot shops sell online

B.C. lets private pot shops sell online
The British Columbia government says new rules for private cannabis retailers will allow pot to be reserved and paid for online, but customers still have to pick up their orders in person.

B.C. lets private pot shops sell online

Compensation process unfair: Meredith employees

Compensation process unfair: Meredith employees
Two women who worked for former senator Don Meredith say the independent process established by the Senate to determine compensation for Meredith's harassment victims is "totally unacceptable" and is re-victimizing them.

Compensation process unfair: Meredith employees

Canada, allies launch Arctic military exercise

Canada, allies launch Arctic military exercise
Canada and some of its closest allies have kicked off a three-week naval exercise in the Arctic that aims to send a message of unity against potential adversaries in the North without spreading COVID-19 to local communities.

Canada, allies launch Arctic military exercise

COVID-19 vaccine not a silver bullet: Tam

COVID-19 vaccine not a silver bullet: Tam
Canada's top public health doctors warned Tuesday that vaccines in development for COVID-19 provide hope but will not mean an immediate end to the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine not a silver bullet: Tam

Wildlife conservation funding for B.C.

Wildlife conservation funding for B.C.
The federal government is investing $2 million over four years to support species at risk and habitat protection in southeastern British Columbia.

Wildlife conservation funding for B.C.