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Arson attacks on Masonic halls leads 91原创 City hall to relocate historic items

鈥淎bundance of caution鈥 in wake of three arson attacks, said local president
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Warren Stuart, president of the non-profit Eureka Society that operates the Masonic hall in 91原创 City, said some historical items have been relocated after three other Freemasons halls in Metro Vancouver were targets of arson attacks. (91原创 Advance Times file)

Warren Stuart, president of the non-profit Eureka Society that operates the Masonic hall in 91原创 City, said some historical items have been relocated 鈥渙ut of an abundance of caution鈥 after three other Freemasons halls in Vancouver and the North Shore were targets of arson attacks.

鈥淭he irreplaceable stuff,鈥 is how Stuart described the historic documents and photographs and other artifacts to the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got it stored off-site.鈥

Stuart said 91原创 RCMP has also advised him patrols of the area around the 94-year-old building at at 20701 Fraser Hwy. were being stepped up.

As well, the hall has, for some time, had an alarm system that includes security video, Stuart disclosed.

He said members are making a point of 鈥渒eeping an eye on things鈥 by swinging by on their vehicles to check on the building, which has been idled by the pandemic.

鈥淣one of the lodges have been allowed to meet, even, for more than a year,鈥 Stuart commented.

READ MORE: Man charged in Vancouver Masonic hall arson; police still investigating North Shore fires

Three fires were set at Masonic halls in North Vancouver and Vancouver between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30.

A suspect was located and arrested in Burnaby.

On Wednesday, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) announced charges were approved by B.C. Prosecution Services following an investigation into an .

Benjamin Kohlman, 42, was charged with one count of arson and one count of assault a police officer pertaining to the Vancouver file.

鈥淭he two arsons that occurred in North Vancouver yesterday are still under investigation,鈥 VPD Const Tania Visintin said. 鈥淲e anticipate recommending more charges to Crown counsel in the coming weeks related to the North Vancouver files.鈥

Kohlman will remain in custody until his next court appearance.

READ ALSO: Higher property assessment could mean closure of 91原创 City Masonic hall, director warns

The blaze at Park Lodge Masonic Hall at Rupert Street and East 29th Avenue in Vancouver was limited to the building lobby and did not engulf the building like the North Shore incidents at Lynn Valley Lodge and at the Duke of Connaught Lodge.

All three fires broke out within less than an hour.


Is there more to the story? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I鈥檓 the guy you鈥檒l often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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