Bellis, Alberta, Canada, September 30, 2025
Photo: globalnews.ca
A nearly century-old Ukrainian Orthodox church in rural Alberta was completely destroyed by arson on September 21, 2025, as part of what police describe as a crime spree in the Bellis area northeast of Edmonton.
The All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish of Bellis, part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada under the Patriarchate of Constantinople, was reduced to a charred foundation and pile of ash after suspects used an accelerant to torch the historic building, according to the RCMP and fire investigation company Firestorm, reports Global Storm.
The arson occurred during a series of crimes that began with vehicle thefts in the area. Smoky Lake RCMP received reports of one attempted and one successful vehicle theft on Sunday morning. When officers attempted to stop the suspects’ vehicles, the perpetrators fled, leading to a chase involving spike belts, a ramming attack on a police car, and the deployment of bear spray. Three suspects were eventually arrested with the help of police dogs and drones, while at least one more remains at large.
Items stolen from the church were recovered from the suspect vehicle and returned to the parish. The recovered items included a chalice, paten, candleholders, and paperwork, though the church’s Gospel book was not among them.
Two adults have been charged in connection with the crimes: Sandy Dawn Marie White, 23, and Lazare Favel, 26, both of Saddle Lake First Nation. A youth who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act also faces charges. The charges include flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault on police with a weapon, break and enter, arson, and mischief to cultural property.
Annette Flack, who has served as secretary treasurer of the parish since 1989, described the loss as “utter devastation.” The small congregation of about 15 active members had deep family connections to the church, with many having been married, baptized, or buried there over the decades. Flack’s 86-year-old mother, the oldest parish member, had sung alongside priests at countless services over the years.
Due to the small membership, Flack said the congregation lacks the resources to rebuild the church, effectively ending an era for the community. The parish may continue to exist and possibly hold services in the community hall, pending approval from the diocesan authorities.
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Before the fire. Photo: globalnews.ca
The parish’s history dates back to the pioneer era, when Ukrainian settlers established a cemetery on Andrew Klymchuk’s farm in the 1920s. The cemetery was legally incorporated as the property of St. John’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church on November 25, 1927. The congregation initially worshipped in the local Ivan Franko Educational Society hall before purchasing land from the Canadian National Railway in 1932 for $100 to build their own temple. The church was consecrated on May 5, 1933, and dedicated to St. John the New of Suceava. The parish later changed its dedication to St. Demetrius in the late 1940s before finally becoming All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Bellis in 1956.
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