The Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre, after the fire started. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Not guilty pleas entered in Senator Bird arson case

Nov 1, 2022 | 11:53 AM

The woman accused of setting the fire that destroyed the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre in Prince Albert, has pleaded not guilty to her charges.

Gina Pearl Beatty, 24, appeared by video when her matters were spoken to Tuesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court. Also in the courtroom was Beatty’s mother who later told paNOW she was not surprised by her daughter’s pleas.

“There’s too many holes in the timeline of the whole situation,” she said.

On the morning of April 15, the Prince Albert Fire Department was called to the Senator Allen Bird building, and at least two trucks were observed hosing water on the roof on the south side of the building. Despite all efforts, the building was a total loss.

Beatty was arrested soon after and at her first court appearance, was overheard taking responsibility for the fire. But her mother argues her daughter was in no position to talk.

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“She was absolutely and utterly out of it. She had completely spiraled out of control and meth and fentanyl were found in her bloodstream,” the mother explained.

The trial date is scheduled for Jan. 26. In addition to the arson charge, Beatty also faces one count of assault for an unrelated incident that happened the same morning.

While Beatty was initially granted bail in May, she was arrested again weeks after breaching one of her court conditions related to alcohol.

“Her dad and I are both very concerned, you know she’s our priority,” the mother said. “We had initially hoped her health and welfare and rehab would be the priority in this case but it’s just not. The court’s priority seems to be punish and jail.”

The day prior to the fire, Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) had distributed 1,500 Easter hampers for families in need. In addition to hosting events for the PAGC such as assemblies, round dances, the fine arts festival, the building was also used by local community clubs.

Moving forward, PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said he wants to see the structure rebuilt, but acknowledged the cost to do so will be high. Just the cost of clearing the site was about half a million dollars.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell