Inuvik - The chapel in the Inuvik hospital now has a stained glass window, thanks to the Larga Home of Edmonton.

The glass was made by Alberta artist Bill Anthony and was made especially for the space in the Inuvik chapel.

Artist Bill Anthony stands with Larga Home president Bill Davidson in front of the newly-placed stained glass window in the hospital chapel. The piece was donated by Davidson and Anthony as a gift to the Inuvik Regional Hospital. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Larga Home president Bill Davidson himself, no less, answered the chapel's call.

The Larga home plays host to Northern travellers who need a place to stay while on medical visits to Edmonton.

Davidson said the endeavour would not have been possible if not for the help of Matco Transportation, which shipped the glass north.

He said that First Air also paid for the travel of the artist and his wife to be at the ceremony to unveil the art.

Anthony said he was contacted by Davidson and asked to make the piece as a gift.

"Bill had seen some of my work a few years ago at a show in Edmonton," he said.

Anthony said he was told the piece needed to be completed as soon as possible.

"He told me the piece was for a chapel here in the hospital," he said.

"So we sat down in Edmonton and looked at some drawings."

The work started in May and was finished in five weeks.

Anthony explained that the technique was something new and stylish.

"I wanted it to really pop," he said.

Anthony explained that the art is simple, yet conveys the theme of the chapel.

He decided to try something new when making the centerpiece cross on the glass.

"I knew I wanted the cross to be powerful," said Anthony.

The cross is not made of glass, but of soldering metal.

"It's a technique I've been using for the last six or seven months," he said.

"I'm happy with the way it came out."

Anthony explained it took layering of the metal at colder temperatures to apply it.

"It's different, but I hope the people like it," he said.

A dove is seen above the cross in the glass, along with rays of sunlight.

There were more than a dozen elders and 20-plus people in the multipurpose room to see the unveiling.

Elder Pierre Benoit said a prayer before the ceremony began.