Nunavut Now Has Its Very First Mosque

    Several years and thousands of dollars later, the local Muslim community finally has a home.

    After years of work, Iqaluit's first mosque is finally ready for worshippers.

    This week, the minaret — topped with a crescent moon — was put into place, marking the mosque's location in Iqaluit's skyline.

    According to the Islamic Society of Nunavut, there are approximately 100 Muslims living in the city.

    It's taken several years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to raise in the mosque. Not to mention that Iqaluit is a notoriously difficult place to build.

    Building supplies to the north typically need to be either flown in or arrive on sealifts that only operate in warmer months when there's less ice.


    According to CTV News
    , the Society secured the land for the mosque in 2012, but had to wait until the next sealift season to get supplies.

    Then there are the usual headaches of construction work in Iqaluit. The permafrost means buildings are typically propped up on stilts and plumbing needs to be above-ground — adding even more costs to the project.

    Last June, the walls finally started going up.

    And the finished minaret makes it official.

    In June, Society president Syed Asif Ali told CBC it has been his passion to create a worship space for Muslims in Iqaluit.

    "And also this place will be used for everyone in Iqaluit as a kind of community place, for having an exchange of views and helping each other, and be part of the community," he told CBC.

    The new mosque is slated to open on Dec. 31.