‘Painful’: Major fire destroys community arena in Berens River First Nation

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Fire crews and community volunteers battled a major blaze at an arena in Berens River First Nation on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Smoke billows from an arena in Berens River First Nation during a massive fire on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Fire crews and community volunteers battled a major blaze at an arena in Berens River First Nation on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Inside an arena in Berens River First Nation during a major fire on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Smoke billows from an arena in Berens River First Nation during a massive fire on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Smoke billows from an arena in Berens River First Nation during a massive fire on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Fire crews and community volunteers battled a major blaze at an arena in Berens River First Nation on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Fire crews and community volunteers battled a major blaze at an arena in Berens River First Nation on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Fire crews and community volunteers battled a major blaze at an arena in Berens River First Nation on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Fire crews and community volunteers battled a major blaze at an arena in Berens River First Nation on Jan. 16, 2025. (Shelly Swain)

Community members in Berens River First Nation are mourning the loss of their arena after it was destroyed in a massive fire last week.

“I feel very sad about it,” Chief Hartley Everett told CTV News in an interview Sunday. “I feel sad for the community. I feel sad for the children, and also just everyone in general that had a lot of memories in that building.”

Everett said an electrical malfunction is believed to have caused the fire, which broke out Thursday morning.

“I’m glad that there wasn’t anybody in the building when it happened,” he said.

Photos and videos shared with CTV News showed thick clouds of smoke billowing from the building as fire crews and community volunteers fought to bring the blaze under control.

After learning about the fire Thursday, Everett shared a statement on social media, calling the incident a “heartbreaking loss.”

“(Our community arena) has been a centre of joy, belonging, and opportunity for our youth, a gathering space for families and a symbol of the unity that defines us as a community,” Everett said in the statement.

“While this tragedy is painful,” Everett continued, “it is also a moment to remind ourselves of the incredible strength we hold as a community when we come together. The arena may be gone, but the spirit of what it represented … lives on in all of us.”

In the interview, Everett confirmed the arena was insured and vowed to rebuild it.

“I‘ll have to see what what we can do to have it either rebuilt or have new arena built if we can,” he said. “We’re gonna try and figure out a plan.”

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) also expressed its condolences to the community for their loss.

“Our thoughts are with Chief Hartley Everett, the Council, and all members of Berens River First Nation during this challenging time,” Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy said in a statement Friday.