Qibla finder / Canada

Qibla direction from Fort McMurray, 26.9° north-northeast.

From Fort McMurray, AB, face 26.9° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 10,917 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 13.9°.

Qibla from Fort McMurray26.9°

north-northeast (NNE), from true north

Distance to the Kaaba
10,917 km (6,783 miles)
Magnetic compass bearing
13.9°
Magnetic declination
13.1° east
City centre
56.7268, -111.3810

How to face the qibla

Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 13.9°. That is 26.9° from true north, adjusted for the 13.1° east magnetic declination in Fort McMurray. Or open the live compass on your phone.

Worked out for the centre of Fort McMurray. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.

Guide

Why the qibla is north-northeast from Fort McMurray.

The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Fort McMurray that path leaves heading north-northeast, at 26.9° from true north. Flat maps distort this route, so it can look wrong on a map even though it is the true direction.

A compass points to magnetic north, which in Fort McMurray is 13.1° east of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 13.9°, differs from the true bearing.

Hanafi position

Someone far from Makkah faces the direction (jihah) of the Kaaba. A small turn to the left or right does not affect the prayer, and a prayer made after a genuine effort stays valid even if you later learn you were slightly off.

Other madhhabs
Shafi'i
The stronger view is to aim at the Kaaba itself by your best effort, even from far away.
Maliki, Hanbali
Facing the direction is enough, as in the Hanafi school.

Qibla from other cities in Canada

CityQiblaDirection
Toronto, ON54.6°NE
Mississauga, ON54.4°NE
Ottawa, ON57.2°ENE
Montreal, QC58.7°ENE
Calgary, AB25.0°NNE
Edmonton, AB25.3°NNE
Vancouver, BC16.7°NNE
Brampton, ON54.3°NE
Hamilton, ON54.3°NE
Laval, QC58.6°ENE
Winnipeg, MB40.0°NE
Vaughan, ON54.5°NE
Pickering, ON54.7°NE
Regina, SK33.5°NNE
Halifax, NS65.6°ENE
Moncton, NB64.9°ENE
Kingston, ON56.6°ENE
Gatineau, QC57.2°ENE
Barrie, ON54.3°NE
Burlington, ON54.3°NE
Oakville, ON54.4°NE
Richmond Hill, ON54.5°NE
Oshawa, ON55.0°NE
Longueuil, QC58.8°ENE
Guelph, ON54.0°NE
Victoria, BC16.5°NNE
Burnaby, BC16.8°NNE
Peterborough, ON55.3°NE
St. John's, NL73.4°ENE
Surrey, BC16.9°NNE
Kitchener, ON53.8°NE
Scarborough, ON54.7°NE
Whitby, ON54.9°NE
Etobicoke, ON54.4°NE
Cambridge, ON53.9°NE

The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.

Questions

Good to know.

What is the qibla direction from Fort McMurray?

The qibla from Fort McMurray, AB is 26.9° from true north, which is north-northeast. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 13.9°.

How far is Fort McMurray from Makkah?

About 10,917 km (6,783 miles) in a straight line over the globe.

Why is the qibla north-northeast from Fort McMurray?

The qibla follows the shortest route over the curved Earth to the Kaaba, called a great circle. On a flat map this route looks curved, so the direction can look different from what a map suggests.

How exact do I need to be?

In the Hanafi school, someone far from Makkah faces the general direction of the Kaaba. A small turn to either side does not affect the prayer. Do your best, or follow the direction of your local masjid.