St. Pat's Church flea market remains shuttered after fire
RCMP say investigation into suspicious June 4 blaze has come to a halt
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, September 16, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It has now been more than three months since St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church on 52 Avenue was badly damaged by fire and there still does not appear to be a date as to when the parish's popular flea market will reopen.
The flea market at St. Patrick's church remains closed after a June 4 fire and an RCMP investigation into the cause of the fire has been suspended without charges. - NNSL file photo |
Susan Waddell, a pastoral assistant at the church, said that the delay in reopening the flea market has been caused mainly by the discovery of asbestos which she said was found when the reconstruction work got underway during the summer following the fire.
Waddell added that the parish hall, which houses the flea market, was built in 1977.
She said it was an addition to the church building itself which was constructed in 1958.
"Right now (Wilf's Restoration) are just doing all the asbestos removal that has to happen within the parish hall - the flea market area of the building," Waddell said. "There were asbestos tiles found in the flea market. I am not surprised that there was asbestos in the building given the era in which it was built."
Masses resumed at the church on July 23, she said. They were held at St. Patrick's High School in the interim.
Waddell said the clothes that were in the flea market at the time of the fire had to be thrown out - mainly due to smoke damage. She added relocating the flea market temporarily has not been ruled out but said they are just waiting to see how long the repairs are going to take.
A cause for the fire has not been officially determined. RCMP, the Yellowknife Fire Department and the NWT Fire Marshal's Office all agree that the fire was suspicious in nature.
Earlier this week, Marie York-Condon, civilian media liaison with the Mounties in Yellowknife, stated the investigation into who may have started the fire has come to a halt.
 | Don't think we were targeted | 
|
"All investigative leads have been exhausted. The RCMP is seeking any information the public might have to assist at this time," she stated.
Waddell said she is not surprised no one has been caught or charged in connection with the fire. She also said she does not believe that it was set for any sort of anti-religion reasons.
"I don't think we were targeted for being a church," she said.
It was about 4:30 a.m. on June 4 when firefighters responded to several calls from neighbours about a fire that appeared to have begun in the roof.
Dozens of spectators gathered around the church - but could do little other than watch as fire tore through the roof of the building. About 20 firefighters responded to the blaze along with RCMP and municipal enforcement officers.
At the time of the fire, Bernie Black, administrative pastor at the church, said although flames did not reach the inside of the church itself, smoke did enter. No monetary total for damages has ever been officially released, but Waddell said the loss has been mostly covered by insurance.
Mary O'Brien is the long-time manager of the flea market. Waddell said O'Brien was out of town and unavailable for comment as of press time.
Waddell also wanted to remind people in Yellowknife the church is unable to receive clothing donations until the church is completely restored. She is asking anyone with donations to take them to the Salvation Army.
Waddell said church officials will post on the church's website any updates on the flea market's status including when they expect it to reopen.
