LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - In Fort Simpson moustaches are making a temporary comeback.

A small sampling of the men growing moustaches for Movember in Fort Simpson include, from left, Dave Magarey, Scott Whitmore, Wayne Schaub, Steve Catto, Alex Campbell and Jermaine Gargan. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

A higher than normal percentage of the village's male population can be seen sporting a variety of moustache styles. This facial hair phenomenon is part of a worldwide campaign called Movember aimed at raising awareness about men's health issues, particularly prostate cancer.

Led by Dave Magarey, who's growing a handlebar moustache, approximately 15 men in the village started clean-shaven on Nov. 1 and are steadily growing their moustaches until the end of the month. A few men who wanted to bring moustaches back into fashion and decided to use them as a way to raise money and awareness about prostate cancer started Movember in 2003 in Australia.

"A friend of mine back home died from prostate cancer so I thought it would be good to get it going here," said Magarey, who is originally from Adelaide, Australia.

Mos, slang for moustaches, are a great way to start conversations about what can otherwise be an embarrassing subject, Magarey said.

"It's the first thing people will ask you if they haven't seen you in awhile. It's not the 80s, what the hell?" is a common question, he said.

When asked why they're sporting a moustache participants, or mo bros, are supposed to explain it's to raise awareness about prostate cancer.

There's also a fundraising component. In 2008, the Movember campaign in Canada raised $2.4 million making it the largest charity event for men, according to its website. Many of the moustache men in the village have registered and donated as part of the Fort Simpson Mo Phos team. There are also plans in the works to hold a fundraising party on Nov. 27, said Magarey.

All the money raised in the Canadian campaign goes to Prostate Cancer Canada.

The response to Movember in the village has been fairly positive, said Magarey.

"Momentum is growing so to speak," he said with a smile.

Although there are a variety of moustache styles to choose from a few are dominating.

"The handlebars seem to be pretty popular," he said.

Magarey said his own set of handlebars took awhile to get started but are going well.

"It gets better with time," he said.

Alex Campbell, another participant, is sporting what he calls a "push-broom" mustache on his upper lip.

Although he's only had a mo once before, and it only lasted a week or two, Campbell said he decided to join in for the month because it's for a good cause.

"It's a fun way to have a community event going," he said.

His facial hair choice has been garnering quite a few comments and does open up opportunities to explain the reason behind it, said Campbell. Participants are free to shave off their mos at the end of the month but it might not happen, said Magarey.

"You never know, the mo might gain enough momentum that it's going to stay," he said.