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Arson continues to be the leading cause of fires affecting Canadian 
places of worship, with up to 50 incidents a year across the country. It 
is a frightening and potentially devastating crime and when it occurs 
at a place of worship, the physical and emotional damages can be 
enormous. Damages can include the total or partial destruction of a 
heritage building; irreparable damage to furnishings, stained glass 
windows or other unique architectural elements; the destruction of 
invaluable religious items; and the temporary, or even permanent, loss 
of a community’s consecrated place to congregate. It is a sad fact that 
Canadian places of worship must be more vigilant than ever before and 
make a concerted effort to face this issue head-on