The Ismaili: Similar Articles

Olympic Torch Bearers from the Ismaili community carry the flame in Vancouver

In a kiss of torches, Salim Ahmed receives the Olympic flame in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Photo: Aziz Ladha

When the Olympic Cauldron was lit at BC Place Stadium, the fire that set it alight came by way of 25 members of the Ismaili community. Like thousands of their fellow Canadians, they were chosen to carry the flame as it made its way across Canada in the months leading up to the Games.

more »

Faith-based communities unite to save Toronto neighbourhood food bank

Volunteers from the Ismaili community and the Islamic Society of Toronto with Rev Helena-Rose Houldcroft, Director of the Flemingdon Park Ministry, at the food bank. Photo: Moez Visram

For years, the Flemingdon Food Bank, located in the Don Mills area of Toronto, had served individuals of many faiths and cultures. But when it found itself on the verge of having to close down, the Ismaili community joined with other faith-based groups to support the troubled institution.

more »

Ismaili community celebrates the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay in Don Mills

On Thursday, 17 December 2009, Ismaili Council for Canada President Mohamed Manji proudly carried the Olympic Torch along York Mills Road in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto. It represented to him a spirit of hope, peace and pluralism, as Olympic athletes from around the world came together for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Photo: Moez Visram

Thursday afternoon, President Mohamed Manji of the Ismaili Council for Canada carried the Olympic torch through the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto. Earlier in the day, community members gathered for a pre-torch event hosted by the Ismaili community in partnership with the Flemingdon Food Bank.

more »

Ugandan Vice President speaks at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby

Gathered at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby (L to R): His Excellency George Abola, High Commissioner for Uganda in Ottawa; Samira Alibhai, President of the Ismaili Council for British Columbia; His Excellency Professor Gilbert Bukenya, Vice President of Uganda; Malik Talib, Vice-President of the Ismaili Council for Canada; and John Halani, Honorary Consul for Uganda in BC. Photo: Riyaz Lalani

On 25 October 2009, His Excellency Professor Gilbert Bukenya, Vice President of Uganda visited the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby. Accompanied by His Excellency George Abola, High Commissioner of Uganda in Ottawa, he sought to reach out to the Canadian Ismaili community with an invitation to invest in the future of Uganda.

more »

Canadian Government honours FOCUS and the Ismaili Council for Canada

Gulam Juma, Coordinator of the FOCUS International Coordinating Committee and Mina Mawani, CEO of the Ismaili Council for Canada accepted a letter from the Government of Canada, recognising and honouring their respective organisations for their work in refugee settlement since 1992. Photo: Courtesy of FOCUS

At a recent ceremony in Toronto, Focus Humanitarian Assistance and the Ismaili Council for Canada were honoured for their work on refugee settlement. The occasion marked the 30th anniversary of the Private Sponsorship Program run by the Canadian Government, which has facilitated the admission to Canada of refugees originating from countries such as Afghanistan and Kosovo, allowing them to build new lives for themselves.

more »

Patron of the Olympic Truce, the Governor General of Canada speaks with young British Columbians at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby

Presidents Mohamed Manji and Samira Alibhai, of the Ismaili Councils for Canada and British Columbia, present a gift — the Bismillah Raven by Sherazad Jamal — to the Governor General. The gift represents a multiplicity of expressions and the coming together of two cultures. Photo: Aziz Ladha

As part of Canada’s expression of the Olympic Truce, Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada led a Truce Dialogue in the run-up to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The Dialogue, which took place at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, aimed at engaging youth on the topic of peace-building through sport and culture.

more »

A webcast for change in the developing world

The first live webcast in the AKDN speaker series highlighted Mawlana Hazar Imam

The AKDN Speakers Series hosted a live webcast for volunteers wishing to offer a nazrana of time and knowledge. Moderated by Ali Velshi, it featured keynote speaker, Dr Tom Kessinger, General Manager of the Aga Khan Foundation and Deputy Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network.

more »

Spark of Knowledge Symposium

Firoz Rasul, President of Aga Khan University and Azim Nanji, Director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies discussed how knowledge could be advanced in the context of the 21st century at symposiums held in two Canadian cities, Toronto and Vancouver with video links to Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal.

more »