Buy a building block, help build a cathedral

All residents of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon are able to buy building blocks for the new St. Jude’s Anglican Cathedral at their local Royal Bank of Canada branch, effective Jan. 15.

The St. Jude’s Cathedral fundraising committee announced the new initiative and said that the blocks, which can be purchased for $750 a piece, can be dedicated in memory of a loved one. There are 750 blocks available for sale.

“We are excited about this service that the Royal Bank has agreed to participate in,” said Edwar Picco, local fundraising chair.

Construction of the foundation has been completed. The next stage, construction of the outside shell of the building, is scheduled to begin this summer. The iconic cathedral was destroyed by arson in 2005.

“We would like to see the new cathedral available by Christmas 2009. We have a long way to go to meet this time frame and need the continued generous support of northerners and all interested people to make it happen,” said Andrew Atagotaaluk, diocesan bishop of the diocese of the Arctic.

Construction is estimated at $6.5 million. So far, about $2.6 million has been spent on the project.