Media coverage about church destruction

Media Coverage: St. George Coptic Orthodox Church Fire

On July 19, 2021, St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Surrey, BC was destroyed by fire, just days after an attempted arson at the same location. The incident received widespread media coverage across Canada and internationally. This page compiles news articles, videos, and other coverage related to the destruction of our church building, subsequent investigation, and rebuilding efforts.

2025

Church community raising fund to rebuild in Port Kells (April 2, 2025)

2024

Coptic Orthodox church wants to rebuild in Port Kells (September 18, 2024)

2022

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Whalley church arsonist to be sentenced April 8 (February 25, 2022)
Surrey church arsonist sentenced to four years in prison (April 8, 2022)
Global News – Woman who set fire to Surrey, B.C. church sentenced to 4 years in prison (April 8, 2022)
Surrey Now Leader – Surrey church arsonist sentenced to four years in prison (April 8, 2022)

August 2021

Suspect Charged

Surrey RCMP – Charges laid for fire that razed Coptic Orthodox Church
Global News – Woman arrested for arson after fire destroys Surrey Orthodox church
Vancouver Sun – Arson charges laid in connection with blaze that destroyed Surrey church
Al Watan – سفير مصر لدى كندا يعقد لقاءً موسعا مع الجالية المصرية في بريتيش كولومبيا
Daily Hive – 35 year old woman charged for fire that destroyed Surrey church
Squamish Chief – Surrey Mounties charge woman with arson following church burning
The Georgia Straight – Female suspect arrested and charged for fire that destroyed Surrey church
Surrey Now Leader – Woman charged with arson in fire that destroyed St. George Coptic church in Whalley
City News – Arson charge laid in connection to Surrey church fire
MSN News – Woman arrested for arson after fire destroys Surrey Orthodox church
CTV News – Arson charges laid in connection to fire that destroyed Surrey, B.C., church
Flipboard – Woman charged with arson in fire that destroyed St. George Coptic church in Whalley
Kamloops Now – UPDATE: Arson charges laid after fire razed Coptic Orthodox Church
Newsbeezer – 35-year-old woman charged with fire that destroyed Surrey Church
Daily Advent – Surrey Mounties charge woman with arson following church burning
The Post Millennial – Suspect arrested on arson charges for two fires that torched Surrey Coptic Orthodox Church
Watany – Burnt down St George Coptic church in Vancouver: suspected arsonist charged
The Indo Canadian Voice – Charges laid in Coptic Orthodox Church arson in Surrey
Vancouver Sun e-paper – Suspect charged in church fire

July 2021

Initial Coverage

Cloverdale Reporter – VIDEO/PHOTOS: Suspicious fire destroys Surrey church, site of arson attempt a week ago (July 19, 2021)
Cloverdale Reporter – Surrey church congregation heartbroken by devastating fire (July 20, 2021)
Cloverdale Reporter – Surrey RCMP recover surveillance equipment from burned Coptic church (July 23, 2021)
Egyptian government message to Bishop Mina
CTV News – ‘More than a building’: Surrey, B.C., church officials respond after building destroyed in suspicious fire
Cloverdale Reporter – VIDEO/PHOTOS: ‘Suspicious’ fire destroys Surrey church, site of arson attempt a week ago
CBC – Fire that destroyed Surrey church deemed suspicious
Global News – Suspect sought in previous arson attempt at Surrey, B.C. church that has burned down
City News 1130 – Surrey church destroyed by ‘suspicious’ fire in Whalley neighbourhood
National Post – Coptic Orthodox church destroyed by fire in Surrey, RCMP treating it as suspicious
CTV News – Surrey, B.C., church destroyed in fire; Mounties investigating suspicious circumstances
Vancouver Sun – Surrey church destroyed by fire was target of arson attempt last week
Rebel News – SAVE OUR CHURCHES: Help us stop the acts of hate against churches in Canada
Langley Advance Times – Surrey RCMP recover surveillance equipment from burned Coptic church
RCMP – Fire at Coptic Orthodox Church investigated as suspicious
Toronto Star – Church destroyed by fire in Surrey, B.C
Orthodox Media Network – ‘Suspicious’ Fire Destroys Coptic Orthodox Church in Surrey (British Columbia)
Vancouver is Awesome – Metro Vancouver police seek attempted arson suspect following devastating church fire
Aleteia – Coptic Orthodox church burns down in Western Canada
The Globe and Mail – Cause probed as Coptic Orthodox church in Surrey, B.C., destroyed by fire
BC Catholic – Torched Coptic church was haven for Surrey immigrant community
Global News – Catholic church in New Westminster defaced with paint and graffiti

International Coverage

National Review – Members of Canadian Coptic Church Shocked by Senseless Destruction
Wall Street Journal – More Canadian Churches Burn in Suspicious Fires
ME Sat – أخبار “مي سات” | حريق يلتهم كنيسة مار جرجس بمدينة فانكوفر بكندا وإجراء تحقيق بالحادث
Almasry Alyoum Newspaper – حريق فى كندا!
Article written in Al-Ahram newspaper on August 13, 2021
Catholic News Agency – Coptic Orthodox church in British Columbia destroyed in ‘suspicious’ fire
The Christian Post – Canadian Orthodox church burned in arson wave raises $700K to rebuild: ‘Huge blessing’

Church Updates and Interviews

Fr. Angelos Message (July 20, 2021)
Diocese – Financial support for St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Surrey, B.C.
Fr. Bisinty Abdelmasih Gerges interview with CTV about the burning of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church
Apple Podcasts – The Full Show: Fire incidents at churches rising across Canada
Oxygen – Interview with Fr. Bisinty, Gerges
Steve Faltas interview on Richard Syrett live show
CBNNEWS.COM – Leader of Church Destroyed in Fire Forgives Arsonists: ‘Today May Be a Day of Mourning, Tomorrow Will Be a Day of Joy’