Thursday, June 11, 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

Politicians urged to collaborate on pandemic benefit for disabled Canadians

Politicians urged to collaborate on pandemic benefit for disabled Canadians
Federal politicians are being urged to work together to help Canadians with disabilities weather the COVID-19 crisis.

Politicians urged to collaborate on pandemic benefit for disabled Canadians

Federal prison chaplains escalate fight for collective agreement

Federal prison chaplains escalate fight for collective agreement
Federal prison chaplains are stepping up a bid to negotiate their first collective agreement to secure better wages and working conditions.

Federal prison chaplains escalate fight for collective agreement

Military spending needed more now than ever, top defence official says

Military spending needed more now than ever, top defence official says
The Defence Department's top civilian official is touting the importance of continued investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, and says she has received no indications the Liberal government is planning to cut spending because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Military spending needed more now than ever, top defence official says

Ottawa commits $133M in further aid for Indigenous businesses

Ottawa commits $133M in further aid for Indigenous businesses
Ottawa will spend a further $133 million on helping Indigenous businesses suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ottawa commits $133M in further aid for Indigenous businesses

COVID-19 cases will go up as Alberta reopens many activities: health experts

COVID-19 cases will go up as Alberta reopens many activities: health experts
Health experts say it makes sense for Alberta to take the next step in reopening its economy, but warn there will be an uptick in COVID-19 cases due to an inability to physically distance in some situations.

COVID-19 cases will go up as Alberta reopens many activities: health experts

Funeral held for young Indigenous woman shot by police in northern N.B.

Funeral held for young Indigenous woman shot by police in northern N.B.
The young Indigenous woman who was shot and killed by police in Edmundston, N.B., last week was remembered Thursday as a kind soul who united family from both sides of the country.

Funeral held for young Indigenous woman shot by police in northern N.B.