Iqaluit officials confirm cathedral fire was deliberately set

The fire marshal's office has confirmed that arson was the cause of the fire that badly damaged Iqaluit's 'igloo' cathedral.

The fire in St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral last Saturday night started following a break and enter, said police.

The inside of the building was heavily damaged from heat and smoke.

The igloo-shaped, white-shingled church, built by volunteers in the early 1970s was a tourist attraction as well as the spiritual home to Anglicans in the capital of Nunavut.

Beautiful handmade wall hangings and other Inuit art depicting religious scenes adorned its curved walls, and parishioners knelt on sealskin pads to worship. The Queen dedicated the church's carved soapstone font.

The cathedral also contained a narwhal tusk cross and hand-woven collection baskets.

Iqaluit RCMP and the fire marshal's office say they're continuing their investigation into the incident.

An insurance adjuster is working with church officials to determine if the building can be saved.