Anglicans of Kinngait, Nunavut, will soon have a new church building, to replace the structure that burned down more than three years ago.
“I think it’ll be a time for healing,” says South Baffin MLA David Joanasie.
St. John church has served the community since 1950s, but burned down along with the local Living Water church in Jan. 2023.
The two destructive fires happened within three days of each other. Both the Nunavut Fire Marshal and the RCMP have deemed them “suspicious.” But the investigations did not lead to charges.
“Despite extensive investigative efforts, no suspects were identified,” Nunavut RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Ashley Daley said in an emailed statement.
“Both files have been concluded, however, if new information arises, they can be re-opened.”
Joanasie says there are many community members who have questions about the nature of the fires, but he encourages them not to “go too far into a rabbit hole.”
“There are plans to rebuild the Anglican church. So I think that we can focus our energies more on something to look forward to,” Joanasie says.
The sketch of the new Anglican church in Kinngait, Nunavut. (Submitted by the Anglican Diocese of the Arctic)
In the meantime, the local Anglican committee has been raising money to rebuild the church, says the committee’s chairperson Eegevadluk Ogutaq.
So far, they have raised over a $1 million and received some materials to start the foundation this fall, he says.
“The new church we are going to have will be bigger than the church we had,” Ogutaq said.
It’s unclear when the new church could open, but Joanasie hopes to be there for the ribbon-cutting.
“The fires weighed heavy on people’s minds and hearts and left a scar,” Joanasie says. “It will be a moment of rebirth.”
