Canada welcomes the Aga Khan
Wed, November 19 2008
The Aga Khan is visiting Canada as part of a global tour to mark his Golden Jubilee year, the 50th anniversary of his ascension to Imam, or spiritual leader, to 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims worldwide.
The Aga Khan arrives in Vancouver Tuesday, and is expected to meet with Premier Gordon Campbell and other dignitaries and politicians before addressing a gathering of some 30,000 Ismailis at BC Place.
“The feeling is fantastic - everyone has been waiting for this for the longest time, said Rafiq Chinoy, owner of Vancouver’s Universal Travel.
“Seeing him and being with him is a big thing,” added Chinoy. “We never know when we will ever get the chance again. It’s the event of a lifetime for us.”
Ismailis are coming from far and wide to share a stadium with their community and its leader.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of going with my family,” said Nashina Devji, a crown attorney who will be travelling from her home in Penticton to attend the mass gathering.
“I saw the Aga Khan when he was last in Vancouver in 2005,” added the 31-year-old Ismaili. “It was amazing. It was spectacular. It was a really moving and exciting time. This is the Aga Khan’s Jubilee year, so this will be an even more significant event for the community.”
Rahim Talib, 35, is the owner and operator of Port Coquitlam-based dairy processing firm, Meadow Fresh Dairy Products.
“Are you kidding me?!” he said when asked if he will be taking his wife Christine and their two toddlers to BC Place on Tuesday afternoon.
Talib said the Aga Khan’s universal message of generosity, compassion, pluralism, tolerance, and respect are values he endeavours to weave through every aspect of his own life.
“As a new parent, as a husband and father, these are the values that I want in my family,” he said. “I believe the incredible contribution His Highness has made to improving the quality of life of those who are less fortunate, without consideration of their race, genders, culture or religion, is not only something Ismailis respect, but something all Canadians can admire,” he added.
While in Canada, the Aga Khan will meet with federal government officials, provincial leaders and civic representatives to discuss the international development initiatives that constitute his Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of philanthropic agencies that works tirelessly across the human development spectrum - from the promotion of cultural awareness and the preservation of historic sites, to housing, water and sanitation, rural development and micro-credit for the world’s ultra-poor.
The Aga Khan’s Jubilee address at BC Place is expected to draw a who’s-who of B.C. business leaders, dignitaries and politicians.
“This is an individual who has done humanitarian work around the world to help people out of a cycle of poverty,” added James. “But also this a community whose culture and strengths, particularly when it comes to our economy, have helped build B.C.”
The Aga Khan became Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan. He is the 49th hereditary Imam and, Ismaili’s firmly believe, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
His visit to Canada began Monday in Ottawa. The Aga Khan will visit Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
“As the Minister Responsible or Multiculturalism in British Columbia, I want to congratulate the Aga Khan and the Aga Khan Foundation on their commitment to creating the best communities possible to raise our families,” said B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal.
Said Liberal MLA John Nuraney: “The Aga Khan’s philanthropic work is world renown and his passion to work in the developing countries in the areas of education, health-care, culture and improving the quality of life is well recognized. We are all looking forward, with great anticipation, to his visit.”
Political luminary Grace McCarthy, former senior cabinet minister with B.C.’s Social Credit Party, praised the Aga Khan’s contribution to the health and education of poor children in rural areas of Asia and East Africa.
“A visit to Vancouver by the Aga Khan on his Golden Jubilee is an honour for Canada, and specifically for so many Ismaili families who have contributed to our economy and cultural growth in British Columbia,” said McCarthy.
Penticton lawyer Nashina Devji said the Aga Khan touches the lives of his follows in uniquely personal ways.
“It is about peace, serenity, spending time with each other,” she said. “It’s really an opportunity to look at how young Canadians, young Ismailis, can make a contribution.”
For his part, Rahim Talib has been busy with Jubilee preparations.
Inspired by the Aga Khan’s “ethic of volunteerism,” Talib is preparing 22,000 servings of creamy iced sherbet for the gathering.
“We’ve got about 20 volunteers working hard to open 8,000 evaporated milk cans because we can’t find bulk evaporated milk,” he said.
Talib will deliver the festive drinks in his fleet of refrigerated trucks.
“Like the Aga Khan, we definitely believe in giving back to the community,” he said. “Still, 8,000 cans is a lot of cans to open.”
50 Years in Canada
1952: First Ismaili to settle in Canada was Safar Ali Ismaily.
1960: Small numbers of Ismaili professionals and entrepreneurs arrive in Canada
1972: Thousands of Ismailis arrive in Canada from Uganda and Tanzania following political upheaval
1973: The Council for Canada and Ismaili Association for Canada are established
1978: The Aga Khan makes his first Jamati visit to Canada and meets with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
1980: Aga Khan Foundation Canada is established
1983: Aga Khan visits the Canadian Jamat during his Silver Jubilee
1984: First AKF Partnership Walk held in Vancouver, has since raised $37 million across Canada
1985: PM Brian Mulroney and the Aga Khan open the Ismaili Jamatkhana in Burnaby
1987: Murad Velshi is the first Ismaili to be elected to a provincial legislature (Ontario)
1992: Aga Khan visits the Canadian Jamat in five major centres
1993: Nurjehan Mawani of Ottawa, the first Ismaili (and Muslim) to be given Order of Canada
1994: Ismaili M.G. Vassanji receives the Giller Prize for his novel, The Book of Secrets
1997: Rahim Jaffer becomes the first Ismaili elected to Parliament (Strathcona, Edmonton)
2000: Aga Khan attends former PM Trudeau’s funeral; serves as honorary pallbearer
2000: B.C.’s Sheni Dossa is the first Ismaili appointed a judge in Canada
2001: Jean Chretien appoints Mobina Jaffer to the Senate; first Ismaili senator in
Canada
2002: Aga Khan visits Canada, establishes Aga Khan Museum and Global Centre for Pluralism
2004: Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley East) first Ismaili female MP
2005: Aga Khan visits Vancouver; CIDA announces $13.5 million partnership with AKF Canada
2006: Aga Khan and Canada sign fundraising agreement for Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa
2008: Aga Khan returns to Vancouver and other Canadian centres in his Golden Jubilee year
By Mata Press Service
Your reactions
