| Rebuilding the Igloo: Iqaluit church begins reconstruction, but still needs support |
 Photo © Ansgar Walk. This file is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5. After a November 2005 fire, St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral was demolished in 2006 after being deemed structurally unsound. Construction is underway for a new building, but fundraising is required for its completion. Work has begun to rebuild one of the North's most famous architectural landmarks, but more funds are still needed. Nicknamed 'the Igloo' for its shape, St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral was designed by Canadian architect Ron Thom and built in 1972 by volunteers headed by Inuk carpenter Markosie Peter in Iqaluit, Nunavut (then known as Frobisher Bay). For more than 30 years, the church served as the cathedral for the Diocese of the Arctic (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Nunavik), and as a spiritual home for many Iqalummiut. Arson destroyed much of the building in 2005. Heritage Canada Foundation included St. Jude's on their 'worst losses' list, along with the list of most endangered places for 2007. A new design by Ferguson, Simek and Clark (FSC)—a firm versed in permafrost construction—retains the familiar igloo shape of the original building, but modernizes it with energy-saving technology, fireproofing materials, and increased capacity. Designed with input from the parish and the diocese, the new St. Jude's intends to reflect the predominant Inuit membership. (Local stone is used on the foundation walls.)
To help with the rebuilding, about $2 million has been donated (and another fundraising concert took place in Ottawa in late October). The foundation was completed over the summer. However, another $5 million is needed to finish the project, which faces greater expenses due to its location in the remote North. Donations can be sent to:
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