By: Kirpass Kaur
On October 30, 2024, Fredericton Police released that a 49-year-old male, Joshua Burden, had been arrested for a fire that took place on October 20, 2024 at 228 Queen Street. Burden has been charged with two accounts: S. 433(a) CCC – Arson with disregard for human life, and also S. 7331(1)(a) CCC – Breach of Probation.
Fredericton Police confirmed that there were no injuries and that the fire was “contained to the rear storage section and the roof of the middle section of the building, though there is smoke damage throughout the premises.”
The said fire affected a beloved local, family-owned business in Fredericton that has been running for decades: MacTavish Source for Sports. The owner, Maggie MacTavish, recently made a Facebook post expressing her frustration at the whole incident. She mentioned that she wants to “rebuild in downtown Fredericton” but their “resources can’t take this.”
She also gave an update on the case. On November 2, 2024, Maggie MacTavish received a call that,
“Another transient man has been arrested for breaking and entering into our already destroyed and boarded up building.”.
She applauded the police for doing,
“everything they can.”.
However, she also raised concerns about the constant presence of crime in the community.
Over the years, MacTavish’s has had to deal with,
“human waste, stolen merchandise, and generally just feeling threatened in our own community.”.
With her source of living being taken away, Maggie Tavish’s concerns led her to ask the city to,
“Help the citizens who ACTUALLY contribute to what was once a great place to live and work.”.
