Mosque in the works for Iqaluit's Muslim community

A growing Muslim community in Iqaluit is getting help tobuilda mosque from the same foundation that helped establish mosques in Inuvik, N.W.T., and Thompson, Man.

It would be the first official Islamic place of worship in Nunavut.

"It's gonna be nice.It's gonna be beautiful.It's gonna stand out in the city as a nice new building, saidHussain Guistiofthe Zubaidah Tallab Foundation, a Manitoba-based Islamic charity.

Guisti estimates there are currently 80 Muslims living in Iqaluit, and he expects that number toquadruple in the next two decades.

"There's been a tremendous increase in the number of Muslims in the past 20-some years in Iqaluit, and we anticipate that number to continue to grow because Iqaluit is a booming, developing city," he said.

"It's attracting people from all nationalities for economic opportunities and job growth."

Guisti says his group is working with the Islamic Society of Nunavut, founded in 2009, to construct a two-storey building.

Some of the materials arealready in town and more will arrive on sealifts this summer.

They are looking at a site near the Road to Nowhere. The city says the groupwould have to apply to amend the zoning bylaw for the area.

The Islamic Society of Nunavut and the ZubaidahTallabFoundationare still raising funds locally and in the south to help pay for the building and the associated costs.