The St. Paul RCMP is requesting public assistance with the investigation of a fire that destroyed an ATCO trailer at the Sacred Heart Cemetery on the morning of May 11.
The trailer, owned by the Acimowin Opaspiw Society, was part of ongoing residential school investigative work and was located near the historical site of the Sacred Heart Residential School.
Upon receiving the report, St. Paul RCMP officers promptly arrived at the scene, where they conducted interviews, neighborhood canvassing, and video surveillance reviews to identify potential suspects or suspect vehicles. Fire investigation and the St. Paul RCMP Forensics Identification Services also examined the scene to gather evidence.
Despite these thorough investigative efforts, the information collected so far has not been sufficient to lead to any arrests or charges. The RCMP believes the fire was started after 1:30 a.m. and is now appealing to the community for any additional information that could assist in identifying those responsible.
The RCMP acknowledges the significant impact this incident has had on the community, particularly given the historical trauma associated with residential schools. They remain confident that this case can be solved with the help of the public, as they believe crucial information may still be undisclosed.
St. Paul RCMP urges anyone who may have seen or heard anything related to the incident, regardless of how minor it may seem, to come forward. Information can be reported to the St. Paul RCMP at 780-645-8888. For those who wish to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
