https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/225530 ... e-Aga-Khan
1000s celebrate Aga Khan
Colton Davies - May 5, 2018 / 5:13 pm | Story: 225530
The arrival of the Aga Khan in Vancouver drew thousands of Shia Ismaili Muslims to BC Place on Saturday to celebrate their spiritual leader.
Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, the current Imam of Nizari Ismailism, is in Canada to celebrate 60 years in the position — his diamond jubilee.
The Aga Khan is a hereditary spiritual leader and a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad. He's also one of one six people in the world to be granted honorary Canadian citizenship — given as recognition of worldwide philanthropic efforts.
Khaleel Meghji is one of more than 5,000 volunteers who have spent months preparing for the Aga Khan's visit, and he told CTV "it's a really joyous occasion."
Another volunteer, Rahim Talib, said the Aga Khan “emphasizes the importance of living the values of the faith,” which he said include service, generosity and compassion.
“I think that those values have great impact on us not just as Canadians or as Ismailis, but as Ismaili-Canadians because those values are the values of Canada."
About 20,000 Shia Ismaili Muslims live in B.C.
Diamond-jubilee in the News
Tamara Vrooman: Aga Khan Network strives to improve lives
At a conference earlier this year, I moderated a panel on the role that values-based banks and credit unions can play in gender inclusion and equality.
The conversation was at times discouraging — showing just how much work there is to be done on this issue around the world — but what stood out for me was a story of both courage and inspiration.
It was about a bank in Afghanistan that opened the country’s first ever women-only branch. There are constant barriers in Afghanistan that keep women from basic financial equality and independence. It’s a reality that adds to the many other challenges women face there, and especially so for those female entrepreneurs who want to get a loan to start a business
This story comes to mind this week because The First MicroFinance Bank — the bank that opened that all-women branch — is part of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, and the work it does is just one of countless impacts the Aga Khan Development Network is making around the world.
Vancouver welcomes His Highness the Aga Khan.
Today, His Highness the Aga Khan is in Vancouver as part of a cross-country trip to celebrate his Diamond Jubilee as spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims. To honour that, I think now’s a good time to pause and reflect on why this work is so important. The Aga Khan is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network — an organization that has always worked to improve lives in some of the world’s most challenging areas, often with a focus on women and children. Through this, the Network has worked with local organizations, seeking to develop an approach that is right for the community while also building capacity in the local economy.
More...
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/t ... rove-lives
At a conference earlier this year, I moderated a panel on the role that values-based banks and credit unions can play in gender inclusion and equality.
The conversation was at times discouraging — showing just how much work there is to be done on this issue around the world — but what stood out for me was a story of both courage and inspiration.
It was about a bank in Afghanistan that opened the country’s first ever women-only branch. There are constant barriers in Afghanistan that keep women from basic financial equality and independence. It’s a reality that adds to the many other challenges women face there, and especially so for those female entrepreneurs who want to get a loan to start a business
This story comes to mind this week because The First MicroFinance Bank — the bank that opened that all-women branch — is part of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, and the work it does is just one of countless impacts the Aga Khan Development Network is making around the world.
Vancouver welcomes His Highness the Aga Khan.
Today, His Highness the Aga Khan is in Vancouver as part of a cross-country trip to celebrate his Diamond Jubilee as spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims. To honour that, I think now’s a good time to pause and reflect on why this work is so important. The Aga Khan is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network — an organization that has always worked to improve lives in some of the world’s most challenging areas, often with a focus on women and children. Through this, the Network has worked with local organizations, seeking to develop an approach that is right for the community while also building capacity in the local economy.
More...
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/t ... rove-lives
Mawlana Hazar Imam departs Vancouver, arrives in Calgary
A grateful and deeply contented Vancouver Jamat bid farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam on 7 May as Jamati representatives assembled for his departure to Calgary, where he will continue his Diamond Jubilee visit to Canada.
On the last day of his visit with the British Columbia Jamat, Mawlana Hazar Imam conducted ceremonies at the Ismaili Centre in Burnaby, which he opened in 1985 with then Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Upon his departure, he remarked on the wonderful visit he had experienced and offered his congratulations to the Jamat.
Mawlana Hazar Imam later departed Vancouver, arriving in Calgary where he will meet with the Jamats from the Edmonton and Prairies regions.
Mawlana Hazar Imam was welcomed to Calgary by Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell. For third-term Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, greeting Mawlana Hazar Imam was especially meaningful.
“My perspective on ethics, faith and how each of us contributes to cultivating a strong, sound society has been shaped by Mawlana Hazar Imam,” he said. “Welcoming him to the city I love was a proud moment.”
The Jamat in Edmonton and in the Prairies regions have for many years been an incubator for global leadership. The Agreement of Cooperation signed in 2012 between the Ismaili Imamat and the Province of Alberta was the first of its kind with a Canadian province. Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding established between the Aga Khan University and University of Alberta in 2009 set the stage for decades of capacity building, professional development, and joint research. A multi-generational housing initiative in Calgary, established with Imamat and provincial government support and bringing together citizens of all ages, was the first of its kind in Canada and a model on which others are similarly being established. The Awali initiative based in Calgary similarly engaged a vast network of business leaders from the broader Calgary community in supporting the work of AKDN in various regions of the world.
Mawlana Hazar Imam has a long-established, fruitful connection with the Province of Alberta. Upon receiving an honorary degree from the University of Alberta in 2009, he gifted an Islamic garden to the people of Alberta. The Aga Khan Garden, Alberta is scheduled to open in the summer of 2018. During the establishment of the endowment for the Garden, Mawlana Hazar Imam remarked, “How do you convince Western societies that Islam is a faith of civilisation, and not just a faith? Well I hope that the Islamic garden (at the University of Alberta), when it comes into place, will be able to show a different aspect of our faith.”
The Edmonton and Prairies Jamats look forward with great excitement and anticipation to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s five-day visit to the region.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... es-calgary
A grateful and deeply contented Vancouver Jamat bid farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam on 7 May as Jamati representatives assembled for his departure to Calgary, where he will continue his Diamond Jubilee visit to Canada.
On the last day of his visit with the British Columbia Jamat, Mawlana Hazar Imam conducted ceremonies at the Ismaili Centre in Burnaby, which he opened in 1985 with then Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Upon his departure, he remarked on the wonderful visit he had experienced and offered his congratulations to the Jamat.
Mawlana Hazar Imam later departed Vancouver, arriving in Calgary where he will meet with the Jamats from the Edmonton and Prairies regions.
Mawlana Hazar Imam was welcomed to Calgary by Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell. For third-term Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, greeting Mawlana Hazar Imam was especially meaningful.
“My perspective on ethics, faith and how each of us contributes to cultivating a strong, sound society has been shaped by Mawlana Hazar Imam,” he said. “Welcoming him to the city I love was a proud moment.”
The Jamat in Edmonton and in the Prairies regions have for many years been an incubator for global leadership. The Agreement of Cooperation signed in 2012 between the Ismaili Imamat and the Province of Alberta was the first of its kind with a Canadian province. Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding established between the Aga Khan University and University of Alberta in 2009 set the stage for decades of capacity building, professional development, and joint research. A multi-generational housing initiative in Calgary, established with Imamat and provincial government support and bringing together citizens of all ages, was the first of its kind in Canada and a model on which others are similarly being established. The Awali initiative based in Calgary similarly engaged a vast network of business leaders from the broader Calgary community in supporting the work of AKDN in various regions of the world.
Mawlana Hazar Imam has a long-established, fruitful connection with the Province of Alberta. Upon receiving an honorary degree from the University of Alberta in 2009, he gifted an Islamic garden to the people of Alberta. The Aga Khan Garden, Alberta is scheduled to open in the summer of 2018. During the establishment of the endowment for the Garden, Mawlana Hazar Imam remarked, “How do you convince Western societies that Islam is a faith of civilisation, and not just a faith? Well I hope that the Islamic garden (at the University of Alberta), when it comes into place, will be able to show a different aspect of our faith.”
The Edmonton and Prairies Jamats look forward with great excitement and anticipation to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s five-day visit to the region.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... es-calgary
Statement from Premier Horgan on meeting the Aga Khan upon the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee
Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement on meeting the Aga Khan on May 4, 2018, upon the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee:
“For the last 60 years, His Highness the Aga Khan has provided spiritual leadership to the world’s Shia Ismaili Muslims.
“In this role, he has dedicated his life to making life better for people. His work to eliminate poverty, give children early learning opportunities, and improve health care has helped people around the globe.
“It was a great honour to meet His Highness on the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee, and to welcome him to British Columbia.
“Canada’s Ismaili community has pledged to volunteer for one million hours in celebration of this special year. Our province and our country is a better place thanks to this ethic of volunteerism and compassion, shared by Ismaili people around the world.”
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0067-000862
Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement on meeting the Aga Khan on May 4, 2018, upon the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee:
“For the last 60 years, His Highness the Aga Khan has provided spiritual leadership to the world’s Shia Ismaili Muslims.
“In this role, he has dedicated his life to making life better for people. His work to eliminate poverty, give children early learning opportunities, and improve health care has helped people around the globe.
“It was a great honour to meet His Highness on the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee, and to welcome him to British Columbia.
“Canada’s Ismaili community has pledged to volunteer for one million hours in celebration of this special year. Our province and our country is a better place thanks to this ethic of volunteerism and compassion, shared by Ismaili people around the world.”
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0067-000862
Aga Khan arrives in Calgary
His Highness the Aga Khan arrived in Calgary Monday night to kick off five days of meetings and events with members of the Ismaili Muslim community.
More than 20,000 Ismailis from across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are expected to attend events in Calgary with the Aga Khan, who is marking his diamond jubilee as leader of this faith community.
“This is a very joyful occasion for us in Calgary as His Highness has not been here since 2008, when he visited for his golden jubilee,” said one of the event organizers, Tasneem Rahim.
The visit also provides an opportunity for the Ismaili community to highlight its commitment to service.
“Service is a strong ethos in our faith and on any given day you will see volunteers of all ages coming together to help with setup, serving tea, helping the elderly and in all other logistical aspects,” said Rahim.
About 4,000 volunteers from Calgary and Edmonton are involved in making this week’s celebration happen, which follows the Aga Khan’s visit to Vancouver.
The Aga Khan received his title in 1957 and thus celebrations for his diamond jubilee began last year. He is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is a network of non-denominational agencies that help millions of people in developing countries each year.
The network’s agencies assist people in areas ranging from health and education to culture and economics. About $600 million is spent by the network annually to improve living conditions of people in 30 countries.
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-new ... in-calgary
His Highness the Aga Khan arrived in Calgary Monday night to kick off five days of meetings and events with members of the Ismaili Muslim community.
More than 20,000 Ismailis from across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are expected to attend events in Calgary with the Aga Khan, who is marking his diamond jubilee as leader of this faith community.
“This is a very joyful occasion for us in Calgary as His Highness has not been here since 2008, when he visited for his golden jubilee,” said one of the event organizers, Tasneem Rahim.
The visit also provides an opportunity for the Ismaili community to highlight its commitment to service.
“Service is a strong ethos in our faith and on any given day you will see volunteers of all ages coming together to help with setup, serving tea, helping the elderly and in all other logistical aspects,” said Rahim.
About 4,000 volunteers from Calgary and Edmonton are involved in making this week’s celebration happen, which follows the Aga Khan’s visit to Vancouver.
The Aga Khan received his title in 1957 and thus celebrations for his diamond jubilee began last year. He is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is a network of non-denominational agencies that help millions of people in developing countries each year.
The network’s agencies assist people in areas ranging from health and education to culture and economics. About $600 million is spent by the network annually to improve living conditions of people in 30 countries.
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-new ... in-calgary
From shelter in a storm, to building a strong Canada
Excerpt:
One of the lesser-well-known immigrant success stories has been that of the arrival, settlement, integration and success of the Ismaili community in this country. The Canadian Ismaili community provides us with a story of a journey - of seeking a better life, finding just that, and generously giving back to a new home.
I’d venture that most Canadians aren’t familiar with how and why Shia Ismaili Muslims arrived here. In 1972, about 6,000 Ismaili Muslims emigrated to Canada when Idi Amin, the President of Uganda, ordered the expulsion of all Asians, in an effort to rid the country of this minority population. In the 40-plus years since then, Ismailis from other parts of the world have come to Canada as refugees and immigrants, all seeking a better life. Over time, Canadian Ismailis have thrived and succeeded, providing a remarkable story of faith, culture and the modern evolution of Canada. The now well established Canadian Ismaili community numbers 120,000 people, living and working in cities across the country and contributing to our collective well-being through all walks of life.
It’s remarkable that a community arriving here as a persecuted people, looking for shelter from a storm, have given back so much to the cities in which they live and this country as whole. Under the spiritual leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan, they are a group of citizens who share a deeply-held faith. They also share a deep commitment to contribute to the broader well-being of the communities in which they live. In Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary,
Ottawa, Montreal and elsewhere across Canada, there are measurable ways in which Ismaili Canadians contribute to and make life better for all of us.
I first became acquainted with Vancouver’s Ismaili community in the early 1990’s, through the Aga Khan Council for BC’s Ismaili Walk. Through this Walk, the Council partners with charitable organizations to raise money for a local cause – in Vancouver and other Canadian cities. Over the years, the Vancouver Ismaili Walk has benefited organizations including the YWCA, BC Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Serendipity came my way when I recently had the pleasure of working with them again on the Ismaili Walk, with the community raising close to $500,000 to benefit mental health initiatives for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and the Canadian Mental Health Association. This contribution is significant, for it supports important mental health initiatives and encourages the wider and sometimes-difficult community conversation around mental health.
This year is the 60th anniversary of the ascension of His Highness the Aga Khan to lead Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world. Along with this milestone, we all celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. When we look at the contribution of the Canadian Ismaili community to our quality of life, the synchronicity of these two events is something we can rejoice in together. The Canadian Ismaili community is celebrating this ‘coincidence’ by undertaking Ismaili CIVIC 150, a Diamond Jubilee initiative to improve the quality of life of Canadians through pledges of one million volunteer service hours to charities across the country. This project epitomizes the dedication Canadian Ismailis have to their neighbours and to this country that is their home.
More...
http://www.asianpacificpost.com/article ... anada.html
Excerpt:
One of the lesser-well-known immigrant success stories has been that of the arrival, settlement, integration and success of the Ismaili community in this country. The Canadian Ismaili community provides us with a story of a journey - of seeking a better life, finding just that, and generously giving back to a new home.
I’d venture that most Canadians aren’t familiar with how and why Shia Ismaili Muslims arrived here. In 1972, about 6,000 Ismaili Muslims emigrated to Canada when Idi Amin, the President of Uganda, ordered the expulsion of all Asians, in an effort to rid the country of this minority population. In the 40-plus years since then, Ismailis from other parts of the world have come to Canada as refugees and immigrants, all seeking a better life. Over time, Canadian Ismailis have thrived and succeeded, providing a remarkable story of faith, culture and the modern evolution of Canada. The now well established Canadian Ismaili community numbers 120,000 people, living and working in cities across the country and contributing to our collective well-being through all walks of life.
It’s remarkable that a community arriving here as a persecuted people, looking for shelter from a storm, have given back so much to the cities in which they live and this country as whole. Under the spiritual leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan, they are a group of citizens who share a deeply-held faith. They also share a deep commitment to contribute to the broader well-being of the communities in which they live. In Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary,
Ottawa, Montreal and elsewhere across Canada, there are measurable ways in which Ismaili Canadians contribute to and make life better for all of us.
I first became acquainted with Vancouver’s Ismaili community in the early 1990’s, through the Aga Khan Council for BC’s Ismaili Walk. Through this Walk, the Council partners with charitable organizations to raise money for a local cause – in Vancouver and other Canadian cities. Over the years, the Vancouver Ismaili Walk has benefited organizations including the YWCA, BC Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Serendipity came my way when I recently had the pleasure of working with them again on the Ismaili Walk, with the community raising close to $500,000 to benefit mental health initiatives for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and the Canadian Mental Health Association. This contribution is significant, for it supports important mental health initiatives and encourages the wider and sometimes-difficult community conversation around mental health.
This year is the 60th anniversary of the ascension of His Highness the Aga Khan to lead Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world. Along with this milestone, we all celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. When we look at the contribution of the Canadian Ismaili community to our quality of life, the synchronicity of these two events is something we can rejoice in together. The Canadian Ismaili community is celebrating this ‘coincidence’ by undertaking Ismaili CIVIC 150, a Diamond Jubilee initiative to improve the quality of life of Canadians through pledges of one million volunteer service hours to charities across the country. This project epitomizes the dedication Canadian Ismailis have to their neighbours and to this country that is their home.
More...
http://www.asianpacificpost.com/article ... anada.html
Canadian Member of Parliament, Yasmin Rattansi congratulates His Highness the Aga Khan on Diamond Jubilee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyPRhNJtE4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyPRhNJtE4s
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2018/05/0 ... aili-imam/
Exhibit showcases humanitarian work of organization founded by Ismaili Imam
(Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer
Cultural artifacts created by communities served by the Aga Khan Development Network. An exhibit featuring the humanitarian work of the aid organization was displayed in Parkes Hall on Monday.
Alan Perez, Assistant Campus Editor
May 7, 2018
An exhibit featuring the humanitarian work of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims highlighted the community’s expansive reach throughout the world.
The exhibit, hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement in Parkes Hall on Monday, showcased the contributions to developing countries made by the Aga Khan Development Network, an aid organization founded by the Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan.
Titled “Ethics in Action,” the display, which will remain open through Tuesday, illustrates the principles that guide AKDN’s engagement — self-reliance and human dignity, sustainable environment, education, respect for health and sound mind among them, Nafees Rahman, communications coordinator for the Ismaili Council for the Midwest, told The Daily in an email.
Islamic values lay the foundation for these ethics, Rahman said, adding that the Aga Khan views one of his responsibilities as improving the “quality of life of his community, as well as those among whom they live.”
“This exhibit draws attention to the dire conditions that still exist in much of the world, and the positive changes that AKDN and its partners are implementing,” he said. “Knowledge and information is critical if we want to understand the issues facing much of the developing world, and this exhibit depicts what is being done to improve people’s lives.”
AKDN is a network of secular organizations originally established to improve the quality of life of Ismaili communities. Today, its philanthropy serves people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender in the name of pluralism, Rahman said, and focuses primarily on underdeveloped countries in Asia and Africa.
The collection of nonprofits has also made its way to the United States, where it has recruited global volunteers and formed public-private relationships to aid impoverished communities. “Agreements of Cooperation” were signed with governors from California, Texas and Illinois to maximize resource allocation and facilitate relationships with those state governments.
Heidi Gross, assistant director for the Center for Civic Engagement, said the exhibit featuring a community not known to many Northwestern students is an opportunity to for them to gain a new perspective — one of the center’s goals.
“I hope that college can be a time of students broadening their horizons, learning about people and communities and cultures that are different than their own,” she said. “That just helps make us all well-rounded citizens.”
However, there are also students, faculty and staff who are members of the Ismaili community, Gross said. For them, she said, it’s a chance to hear more about their culture and background among peers.
Weinberg freshman Anusha Ebrahim is among those members. The exhibit traveled from Glenview, home to her local Ismaili center, to NU as part of a nationwide tour, she said.
Ebrahim said it was interesting that it came to NU because AKDN’s work is not typically known to the general public.
“They really highlighted some of the important things that the Imam has been doing,” she said. “It makes me very proud to be a part of this community and part of this bigger thing.”
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @_perezalan_
Exhibit showcases humanitarian work of organization founded by Ismaili Imam
(Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer
Cultural artifacts created by communities served by the Aga Khan Development Network. An exhibit featuring the humanitarian work of the aid organization was displayed in Parkes Hall on Monday.
Alan Perez, Assistant Campus Editor
May 7, 2018
An exhibit featuring the humanitarian work of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims highlighted the community’s expansive reach throughout the world.
The exhibit, hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement in Parkes Hall on Monday, showcased the contributions to developing countries made by the Aga Khan Development Network, an aid organization founded by the Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan.
Titled “Ethics in Action,” the display, which will remain open through Tuesday, illustrates the principles that guide AKDN’s engagement — self-reliance and human dignity, sustainable environment, education, respect for health and sound mind among them, Nafees Rahman, communications coordinator for the Ismaili Council for the Midwest, told The Daily in an email.
Islamic values lay the foundation for these ethics, Rahman said, adding that the Aga Khan views one of his responsibilities as improving the “quality of life of his community, as well as those among whom they live.”
“This exhibit draws attention to the dire conditions that still exist in much of the world, and the positive changes that AKDN and its partners are implementing,” he said. “Knowledge and information is critical if we want to understand the issues facing much of the developing world, and this exhibit depicts what is being done to improve people’s lives.”
AKDN is a network of secular organizations originally established to improve the quality of life of Ismaili communities. Today, its philanthropy serves people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender in the name of pluralism, Rahman said, and focuses primarily on underdeveloped countries in Asia and Africa.
The collection of nonprofits has also made its way to the United States, where it has recruited global volunteers and formed public-private relationships to aid impoverished communities. “Agreements of Cooperation” were signed with governors from California, Texas and Illinois to maximize resource allocation and facilitate relationships with those state governments.
Heidi Gross, assistant director for the Center for Civic Engagement, said the exhibit featuring a community not known to many Northwestern students is an opportunity to for them to gain a new perspective — one of the center’s goals.
“I hope that college can be a time of students broadening their horizons, learning about people and communities and cultures that are different than their own,” she said. “That just helps make us all well-rounded citizens.”
However, there are also students, faculty and staff who are members of the Ismaili community, Gross said. For them, she said, it’s a chance to hear more about their culture and background among peers.
Weinberg freshman Anusha Ebrahim is among those members. The exhibit traveled from Glenview, home to her local Ismaili center, to NU as part of a nationwide tour, she said.
Ebrahim said it was interesting that it came to NU because AKDN’s work is not typically known to the general public.
“They really highlighted some of the important things that the Imam has been doing,” she said. “It makes me very proud to be a part of this community and part of this bigger thing.”
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @_perezalan_
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion ... -humanity/
Opinion
Why I’m grateful for the Aga Khan’s extraordinary service to humanity
Naheed Nenshi
Contributed to The Globe and Mail
Published 2 hours ago
Updated May 8, 2018
Naheed Nenshi is the mayor of Calgary.
On the occasion of the Aga Khan’s visit to Western Canada marking the Diamond Jubilee of his imamate, as a proud Ismaili Muslim, I have been reflecting on his 60 years of service to humanity, but particularly to Canada.
Much has been said this year about his extraordinary record: about the remarkable success of the anti-poverty initiatives of the Aga Khan Development Network; about the advances in the treatment and success of women and girls of every faith where the network operates; even about the light the Aga Khan has shone on the architecture of the Islamic world.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper, with unanimous consent of Parliament, bestowed on him the very rare prize of honorary Canadian citizenship. (Only been six people have received this honour in the modern era, including Nelson Mandela, the 14th Dalai Lama and Malala Yousafzai.) The Governor-General called him a “beacon of light for the world.”
Beyond his own incredible achievements, what is truly remarkable is how he has inspired so many others to build community wherever they live.
When my parents came to Toronto in 1971, there were few South Asian people and almost no Ismailis. They found a small handful of families, and on Fridays they would gather to pray in someone’s basement. My mother, heavily pregnant, would rise early and strip the only sheets from the bed and wash them at the laundromat. She’d hang them to dry (since there was no dime for the dryer) and hope they’d be ready in time.
She and dad would then bundle up the sheets, hop on the subway and go to the home of these people they’d only just met in this strange land. The sheets would be used to cover some low tables, lending a bit of dignity to that basement where they would pray in their small congregation.
Why did they do this? They certainly had enough to do: trying to make their way in a new country, finding out exactly what winter was. Part of it was to find a sense of community and to chase away the loneliness that comes with being a newcomer. But it was also about finding that grounding in faith – a faith that spoke of perseverance, of the need for service and the requirement to uphold the dignity of every human being.
Just a few months later, Canada opened its arms, hearts and borders to Asians from Uganda made refugees by a murderous regime. Among them were many Ismailis, and my parents and their little ragtag group found themselves looking after thousands of newcomers. They had so little they barely knew how to navigate this new country, but these newcomers had even less. My parents knew they had to help.
Fast-forward to 2017 – Canada’s 150th anniversary – and those same families that came to Canada all those years ago were inspired to take part in the Ismaili Civic 150 initiative. In total, they gave back more than 1.1 million hours of service to the community.
My family’s story and the gift of community service given by Ismailis last year, in my mind, speak to the impact the Aga Khan has had in inspiring a sense of service and community-mindedness in this country.
As I grew up in Calgary, my family and my faith continued to push that message. Life is about service. Even when you have little, there are others who have less. It’s our job to improve the communities in which we live, even if those communities are hostile to us.
Years later, after I became mayor of Calgary, I met the Aga Khan for the first time. He had just given a speech on pluralism and the Canadian example of inclusion and diversity. He mentioned that he chose Canada as the headquarters for the Global Centre for Pluralism because Canada had much to teach the world.
My father had recently passed away, and I was wearing his watch: a 1974 Seiko that he had saved up for. As I nervously waited my turn to speak with His Highness, I kept looking down at the watch. When I got the chance, I mentioned my parents’ story and how, when I ran for office, my faith was not at all an issue – that, growing up in Canada, I never thought there was any job I could not do because I was a Muslim (well, except maybe be a Rabbi).
He smiled and talked about how pluralism is his life’s work and how pleased he was that Canada had become such an exemplar since the Ugandan refugees came. I got the sense that this wasn’t just an observation, but a discussion of cause and effect.
In my faith tradition, a common prayer roughly translates as “may God accept your service, and may the community be blessed by it.” Indeed, this country, and many around the world, have reaped the blessings of the service of Ismailis and ultimately that of the Aga Khan. For that, all of humanity can be deeply grateful.
Opinion
Why I’m grateful for the Aga Khan’s extraordinary service to humanity
Naheed Nenshi
Contributed to The Globe and Mail
Published 2 hours ago
Updated May 8, 2018
Naheed Nenshi is the mayor of Calgary.
On the occasion of the Aga Khan’s visit to Western Canada marking the Diamond Jubilee of his imamate, as a proud Ismaili Muslim, I have been reflecting on his 60 years of service to humanity, but particularly to Canada.
Much has been said this year about his extraordinary record: about the remarkable success of the anti-poverty initiatives of the Aga Khan Development Network; about the advances in the treatment and success of women and girls of every faith where the network operates; even about the light the Aga Khan has shone on the architecture of the Islamic world.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper, with unanimous consent of Parliament, bestowed on him the very rare prize of honorary Canadian citizenship. (Only been six people have received this honour in the modern era, including Nelson Mandela, the 14th Dalai Lama and Malala Yousafzai.) The Governor-General called him a “beacon of light for the world.”
Beyond his own incredible achievements, what is truly remarkable is how he has inspired so many others to build community wherever they live.
When my parents came to Toronto in 1971, there were few South Asian people and almost no Ismailis. They found a small handful of families, and on Fridays they would gather to pray in someone’s basement. My mother, heavily pregnant, would rise early and strip the only sheets from the bed and wash them at the laundromat. She’d hang them to dry (since there was no dime for the dryer) and hope they’d be ready in time.
She and dad would then bundle up the sheets, hop on the subway and go to the home of these people they’d only just met in this strange land. The sheets would be used to cover some low tables, lending a bit of dignity to that basement where they would pray in their small congregation.
Why did they do this? They certainly had enough to do: trying to make their way in a new country, finding out exactly what winter was. Part of it was to find a sense of community and to chase away the loneliness that comes with being a newcomer. But it was also about finding that grounding in faith – a faith that spoke of perseverance, of the need for service and the requirement to uphold the dignity of every human being.
Just a few months later, Canada opened its arms, hearts and borders to Asians from Uganda made refugees by a murderous regime. Among them were many Ismailis, and my parents and their little ragtag group found themselves looking after thousands of newcomers. They had so little they barely knew how to navigate this new country, but these newcomers had even less. My parents knew they had to help.
Fast-forward to 2017 – Canada’s 150th anniversary – and those same families that came to Canada all those years ago were inspired to take part in the Ismaili Civic 150 initiative. In total, they gave back more than 1.1 million hours of service to the community.
My family’s story and the gift of community service given by Ismailis last year, in my mind, speak to the impact the Aga Khan has had in inspiring a sense of service and community-mindedness in this country.
As I grew up in Calgary, my family and my faith continued to push that message. Life is about service. Even when you have little, there are others who have less. It’s our job to improve the communities in which we live, even if those communities are hostile to us.
Years later, after I became mayor of Calgary, I met the Aga Khan for the first time. He had just given a speech on pluralism and the Canadian example of inclusion and diversity. He mentioned that he chose Canada as the headquarters for the Global Centre for Pluralism because Canada had much to teach the world.
My father had recently passed away, and I was wearing his watch: a 1974 Seiko that he had saved up for. As I nervously waited my turn to speak with His Highness, I kept looking down at the watch. When I got the chance, I mentioned my parents’ story and how, when I ran for office, my faith was not at all an issue – that, growing up in Canada, I never thought there was any job I could not do because I was a Muslim (well, except maybe be a Rabbi).
He smiled and talked about how pluralism is his life’s work and how pleased he was that Canada had become such an exemplar since the Ugandan refugees came. I got the sense that this wasn’t just an observation, but a discussion of cause and effect.
In my faith tradition, a common prayer roughly translates as “may God accept your service, and may the community be blessed by it.” Indeed, this country, and many around the world, have reaped the blessings of the service of Ismailis and ultimately that of the Aga Khan. For that, all of humanity can be deeply grateful.
Diamond Jubilee Proclamation by Calgary Mayor Nenshi
Aga Khan Diamond Jubilee Proclamation by Calgary Mayor Nenshi
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bill-gra ... nd-jubilee
Opinion: Why we should be proud to call the Aga Khan a Canadian
Guest Author May 08, 2018 10:45 pm 51
Written by Hon. Bill Graham, a former federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defence. He is currently the Chancellor of Trinity College in the University of Toronto.
In 2013, I had the privilege as Chancellor of Trinity College at the University of Toronto of conferring on the Aga Khan the honorary degree of Sacred Letters in recognition of his contribution to peace, security, and the well-being of millions of people throughout many troubled areas of the world.
It was a remarkable moment in the history of our city.
At a special convocation, in the presence of the leaders of the Anglican Church in Canada he, as the leader of a global Muslim community of some 20 million adherents, participated in a ceremony symbolical of the importance of interfaith dialogue, peace, diversity, and inclusion. These principles are not only at the centre of his life’s work but also form the cornerstone of all our faiths.
Opinion: Why we should be proud to call the Aga Khan a Canadian
Guest Author May 08, 2018 10:45 pm 51
Written by Hon. Bill Graham, a former federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defence. He is currently the Chancellor of Trinity College in the University of Toronto.
In 2013, I had the privilege as Chancellor of Trinity College at the University of Toronto of conferring on the Aga Khan the honorary degree of Sacred Letters in recognition of his contribution to peace, security, and the well-being of millions of people throughout many troubled areas of the world.
It was a remarkable moment in the history of our city.
At a special convocation, in the presence of the leaders of the Anglican Church in Canada he, as the leader of a global Muslim community of some 20 million adherents, participated in a ceremony symbolical of the importance of interfaith dialogue, peace, diversity, and inclusion. These principles are not only at the centre of his life’s work but also form the cornerstone of all our faiths.
https://twitter.com/LethbridgeCity/stat ... 2567151616
City of Lethbridge
‏ @LethbridgeCity
Mayor Spearman brings greetings to our citizens of Ismaili Muslim faith as they celebrate the visit of His Highness the Aga Khan to our province. His visit commemorates the historic Diamond Jubilee of his leadership of this faith community.
His video is on: https://youtu.be/o7YJNdZiPJE
City of Lethbridge
‏ @LethbridgeCity
Mayor Spearman brings greetings to our citizens of Ismaili Muslim faith as they celebrate the visit of His Highness the Aga Khan to our province. His visit commemorates the historic Diamond Jubilee of his leadership of this faith community.
His video is on: https://youtu.be/o7YJNdZiPJE
http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu ... ignificant
Opinion: Aga Khan's contributions little-known, but significant
Dave Mowat Dave Mowat
Published on: May 9, 2018 | Last Updated: May 9, 2018 6:00 AM MDT
As a banker and someone involved in the community, one of the ways I measure success is by taking a good hard look at results. Focus on what has been achieved, how have people been better served and how has community been fostered.
Over the years, I have served on many boards and been involved with dozens of community initiatives. I am grateful for the people I’ve met through this work. I have learned a lot from those who have challenged me and those who have offered me a differing perspective than my own.
Among these is a somewhat unlikely source — the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, and a man who has made significant contributions to Canada and Alberta. My guess is that his contributions are little known by Canadians and Albertans, but they are significant.
I had the pleasure of being on the board of the University of Alberta Botanic Garden at a time when he pledged $25 million to create an Islamic garden, right here in Edmonton. The Aga Khan Garden is due to open in the coming weeks.
I have also been involved with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s annual golf tournament to raise funds to fight poverty and improve quality of life in the most deprived parts of the world. As the local Ismaili community prepares for His Highness’s arrival to our home province this week, there are two important lessons I’ve learned through his work that I believe are important, especially in today’s world of crisis and admonishment, potential and opportunity.
The Aga Khan is perhaps the leading community builder of our time, taking deliberate and repeated measures to cultivate a sense of community from the smallest villages on the other side of the planet to, literally, the entire world. At the basis for all this work is a deep-rooted commitment to improving people’s quality of life — from safe drinking water to telecommunications, from high quality education and health care to park preservation. He looks at communities holistically, recognizing that how we find contentment as individuals and societies is the sum of many, many parts.
While some would want us to believe the world is a simple place with quick-fix, simplistic solutions, I don’t think that is the case. The Aga Khan takes complex, difficult work and tackles it with undeterred focus and passion. He draws on many perspectives and finds synergies by putting many organizations together to form a solution.
Herein lies the first lesson: to appreciate things and their complexity and, instead of being overwhelmed and grabbing simplistic solutions, draw on connection points and bring them together to get work done.
The second lesson is his clarity of vision that our differences make us stronger as people, communities, societies, cultures and faith groups. This is true pluralism. He and others like him do not profess a world where we simply tolerate one another, but one where we gain from one another.
As soon as you are “pushing” only your own ideas, you are immediately limited to what you can think of. To appreciate other perspectives, opens us to possibilities that no one of us could think of, things that can be transformational.
The Aga Khan would push us even further. Real human progress — the kind where we all benefit and that brings deep happiness — requires us to purposefully seek one another out, to actively listen to each other’s ideas and to wholeheartedly collaborate. We experience chasms of misunderstanding, and fostering a pluralistic society may be the antidote.
And at this point in time, technology may actually be working for human interaction, not against it. The most recent work I have experienced with simple collaborative tools, like the Google Suite, allows us to work differently and makes collaboration more possible than ever before.
I am retiring from ATB Financial this summer, but I believe these two lessons are ingrained in our organization and will carry on. I am sure they will stay ingrained in my own everyday work. They change my perspective. They have allowed me to see potential, even when it’s not immediately obvious. And you know what else? They produce the results.
Welcome to Alberta, Your Highness. Thank you for your generosity and your perspectives.
Dave Mowat is the President & CEO of ATB Financial.
Opinion: Aga Khan's contributions little-known, but significant
Dave Mowat Dave Mowat
Published on: May 9, 2018 | Last Updated: May 9, 2018 6:00 AM MDT
As a banker and someone involved in the community, one of the ways I measure success is by taking a good hard look at results. Focus on what has been achieved, how have people been better served and how has community been fostered.
Over the years, I have served on many boards and been involved with dozens of community initiatives. I am grateful for the people I’ve met through this work. I have learned a lot from those who have challenged me and those who have offered me a differing perspective than my own.
Among these is a somewhat unlikely source — the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, and a man who has made significant contributions to Canada and Alberta. My guess is that his contributions are little known by Canadians and Albertans, but they are significant.
I had the pleasure of being on the board of the University of Alberta Botanic Garden at a time when he pledged $25 million to create an Islamic garden, right here in Edmonton. The Aga Khan Garden is due to open in the coming weeks.
I have also been involved with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s annual golf tournament to raise funds to fight poverty and improve quality of life in the most deprived parts of the world. As the local Ismaili community prepares for His Highness’s arrival to our home province this week, there are two important lessons I’ve learned through his work that I believe are important, especially in today’s world of crisis and admonishment, potential and opportunity.
The Aga Khan is perhaps the leading community builder of our time, taking deliberate and repeated measures to cultivate a sense of community from the smallest villages on the other side of the planet to, literally, the entire world. At the basis for all this work is a deep-rooted commitment to improving people’s quality of life — from safe drinking water to telecommunications, from high quality education and health care to park preservation. He looks at communities holistically, recognizing that how we find contentment as individuals and societies is the sum of many, many parts.
While some would want us to believe the world is a simple place with quick-fix, simplistic solutions, I don’t think that is the case. The Aga Khan takes complex, difficult work and tackles it with undeterred focus and passion. He draws on many perspectives and finds synergies by putting many organizations together to form a solution.
Herein lies the first lesson: to appreciate things and their complexity and, instead of being overwhelmed and grabbing simplistic solutions, draw on connection points and bring them together to get work done.
The second lesson is his clarity of vision that our differences make us stronger as people, communities, societies, cultures and faith groups. This is true pluralism. He and others like him do not profess a world where we simply tolerate one another, but one where we gain from one another.
As soon as you are “pushing” only your own ideas, you are immediately limited to what you can think of. To appreciate other perspectives, opens us to possibilities that no one of us could think of, things that can be transformational.
The Aga Khan would push us even further. Real human progress — the kind where we all benefit and that brings deep happiness — requires us to purposefully seek one another out, to actively listen to each other’s ideas and to wholeheartedly collaborate. We experience chasms of misunderstanding, and fostering a pluralistic society may be the antidote.
And at this point in time, technology may actually be working for human interaction, not against it. The most recent work I have experienced with simple collaborative tools, like the Google Suite, allows us to work differently and makes collaboration more possible than ever before.
I am retiring from ATB Financial this summer, but I believe these two lessons are ingrained in our organization and will carry on. I am sure they will stay ingrained in my own everyday work. They change my perspective. They have allowed me to see potential, even when it’s not immediately obvious. And you know what else? They produce the results.
Welcome to Alberta, Your Highness. Thank you for your generosity and your perspectives.
Dave Mowat is the President & CEO of ATB Financial.
http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/column ... onnections
Cannon: Understanding and education spark important global connections
Calgary Herald Calgary Herald
Published on: May 9, 2018 | Last Updated: May 9, 2018 3:03 AM MDT
By Elizabeth Cannon
Imagine a young Canadian student — perhaps 20 years old — waking up in a rural village in the heart of Pakistan.
His or her practicum work for the day includes assisting a young woman learning to care for her infant, teaching a pre-natal class to a dozen expectant mothers and listening to and sharing examples of positive health practices for mothers and their children.
Or perhaps imagine that an established researcher, working to find ways to bring education to remote communities in Eastern Africa, is using the latest technology in the most basic of settings.
While challenging, these activities are also very enriching, and they come to the University of Calgary through an important partnership that has existed for decades.
As he celebrates his 60th anniversary as the imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan, chairman and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, is visiting Calgary.
For the university, this visit during a year of celebrations to mark his diamond jubilee reminds us of some of the milestones we have attained working alongside the diverse agencies established by the Aga Khan, allowing us to learn more about how we can contribute to social and human development, both here and abroad.
Active in more than 30 countries, the Aga Khan Development Network focuses on health, education, cultural and economic revitalization and development, the advancement of civil society and protection of the environment.
The University of Calgary’s connections to the network and the Ismaili community began more than two decades ago, and we’ve been fortunate to link our students, faculty and researchers across many disciplines to programs abroad, affording opportunities to work with one of the largest private development agencies in the world.
Working as partners, the Werklund School of Education, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and Aga Khan Education Services Teaching Support have placed our teachers in schools in Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda.
Our faculty of nursing, collaborating with the Aga Khan University, has focused on teaching maternal and newborn classes and workshops in Pakistan, Kenya and Tanzania.
In a partnership between University of Calgary International, the Werklund School and the Aga Khan University, we’ve developed a program of technology-enhanced learning that has resulted in collaborative research and course development in East Africa.
These linkages have sparked other connections with the network as well as in local communities, where the spirit of volunteerism and support for humanitarian causes within the cities and towns in which Ismailis live and work is well known.
Recently, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and University of Calgary International hosted a presentation for faculty and students entitled Youth (Un)Employment: Global Problems meet Local Solutions.
In an ongoing program, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships have provided awards for students in nursing to study and work in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Based on that program, Universities Canada has funded a partnership focused on the health of mothers and children and perinatal mental health services in Pakistan and East Africa.
And our faculty of arts has developed a Muslim civilizations program, partnering with the local Ismaili community to host important scholars in Islamic studies for various programming opportunities.
The varied connections we’ve established are clearly important, and they are a significant element in our internationalization efforts and our obligation to serve the needs of our community.
This week, as the Aga Khan visits our city, we are reminded of our very significant partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network.
These examples of his international outreach efforts — and our association with the various agencies throughout the network — highlight the deep connections forged by the University of Calgary and an important individual and an important international institution.
On the occasion of his diamond jubilee, we congratulate the Aga Khan and look forward to continued positive collaborations in the years to come.
Elizabeth Cannon is president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary.
Cannon: Understanding and education spark important global connections
Calgary Herald Calgary Herald
Published on: May 9, 2018 | Last Updated: May 9, 2018 3:03 AM MDT
By Elizabeth Cannon
Imagine a young Canadian student — perhaps 20 years old — waking up in a rural village in the heart of Pakistan.
His or her practicum work for the day includes assisting a young woman learning to care for her infant, teaching a pre-natal class to a dozen expectant mothers and listening to and sharing examples of positive health practices for mothers and their children.
Or perhaps imagine that an established researcher, working to find ways to bring education to remote communities in Eastern Africa, is using the latest technology in the most basic of settings.
While challenging, these activities are also very enriching, and they come to the University of Calgary through an important partnership that has existed for decades.
As he celebrates his 60th anniversary as the imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan, chairman and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, is visiting Calgary.
For the university, this visit during a year of celebrations to mark his diamond jubilee reminds us of some of the milestones we have attained working alongside the diverse agencies established by the Aga Khan, allowing us to learn more about how we can contribute to social and human development, both here and abroad.
Active in more than 30 countries, the Aga Khan Development Network focuses on health, education, cultural and economic revitalization and development, the advancement of civil society and protection of the environment.
The University of Calgary’s connections to the network and the Ismaili community began more than two decades ago, and we’ve been fortunate to link our students, faculty and researchers across many disciplines to programs abroad, affording opportunities to work with one of the largest private development agencies in the world.
Working as partners, the Werklund School of Education, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and Aga Khan Education Services Teaching Support have placed our teachers in schools in Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda.
Our faculty of nursing, collaborating with the Aga Khan University, has focused on teaching maternal and newborn classes and workshops in Pakistan, Kenya and Tanzania.
In a partnership between University of Calgary International, the Werklund School and the Aga Khan University, we’ve developed a program of technology-enhanced learning that has resulted in collaborative research and course development in East Africa.
These linkages have sparked other connections with the network as well as in local communities, where the spirit of volunteerism and support for humanitarian causes within the cities and towns in which Ismailis live and work is well known.
Recently, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and University of Calgary International hosted a presentation for faculty and students entitled Youth (Un)Employment: Global Problems meet Local Solutions.
In an ongoing program, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships have provided awards for students in nursing to study and work in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Based on that program, Universities Canada has funded a partnership focused on the health of mothers and children and perinatal mental health services in Pakistan and East Africa.
And our faculty of arts has developed a Muslim civilizations program, partnering with the local Ismaili community to host important scholars in Islamic studies for various programming opportunities.
The varied connections we’ve established are clearly important, and they are a significant element in our internationalization efforts and our obligation to serve the needs of our community.
This week, as the Aga Khan visits our city, we are reminded of our very significant partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network.
These examples of his international outreach efforts — and our association with the various agencies throughout the network — highlight the deep connections forged by the University of Calgary and an important individual and an important international institution.
On the occasion of his diamond jubilee, we congratulate the Aga Khan and look forward to continued positive collaborations in the years to come.
Elizabeth Cannon is president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/a ... -1.4655522
Thousands welcome the 'very gracious' Aga Khan to Calgary
'I am excited, I am ready to celebrate,' event organizer Tasneem Rahim says
Rachel Ward · CBC News · Posted: May 09, 2018 2:36 PM MT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago
This week thousands of Calgary Ismaili Muslim are welcoming their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan, and getting inspired to do good works in their communities.
The visit by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV marks his diamond jubilee as 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.
Event organizer Tasneem Rahim says her faith community's celebration has brought out about 20,000 to welcome him to the city on his first visit to Calgary in a decade.
Rahim has met him before, and found he moved her and others to do community service.
"He's a very gentle, kind man, a very gracious man," she told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.
"You know, when he speaks, he speaks a lot about ethics and values, and applying those ethics and values in our daily lives."
Tasneem Rahim is an organizer of the Aga Khan's visit to Calgary. (CBC)
The Aga Khan arrived in Calgary on Monday after trips to B.C. and Ottawa, where he was photographed with Prime Minister Trudeau.
The prime minister has come under fire for not disclosing a family Christmas vacation to the Aga Khan's private island, which he accessed using the spiritual leader's private helicopter.
The Aga Khan is independently wealthy due to business and family inheritance. He's also well-respected in Canada.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper awarded him honorary citizenship, a rare designation awarded only to the likes of Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai. The 81-year-old is known for his philanthropy and charitable works.
"He's very committed to improving the quality of life of millions around the world, and this is a great way to commemorate that," Rahim said.
'Ready to celebrate'
In Calgary, the Ismaili Muslim community has five Jamatkhanas, which are places of worship and community meetings. Those centres contribute to good works, such as the Women in Need Society, the Calgary Drop-In Centre and city parks. They also host a popular Stampede breakfast each year.
This four-day visit is a big moment for the busy community, Rahim said.
"I am excited, I am ready to celebrate. It's an exciting time," she said.
Thousands welcome the 'very gracious' Aga Khan to Calgary
'I am excited, I am ready to celebrate,' event organizer Tasneem Rahim says
Rachel Ward · CBC News · Posted: May 09, 2018 2:36 PM MT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago
This week thousands of Calgary Ismaili Muslim are welcoming their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan, and getting inspired to do good works in their communities.
The visit by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV marks his diamond jubilee as 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.
Event organizer Tasneem Rahim says her faith community's celebration has brought out about 20,000 to welcome him to the city on his first visit to Calgary in a decade.
Rahim has met him before, and found he moved her and others to do community service.
"He's a very gentle, kind man, a very gracious man," she told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.
"You know, when he speaks, he speaks a lot about ethics and values, and applying those ethics and values in our daily lives."
Tasneem Rahim is an organizer of the Aga Khan's visit to Calgary. (CBC)
The Aga Khan arrived in Calgary on Monday after trips to B.C. and Ottawa, where he was photographed with Prime Minister Trudeau.
The prime minister has come under fire for not disclosing a family Christmas vacation to the Aga Khan's private island, which he accessed using the spiritual leader's private helicopter.
The Aga Khan is independently wealthy due to business and family inheritance. He's also well-respected in Canada.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper awarded him honorary citizenship, a rare designation awarded only to the likes of Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai. The 81-year-old is known for his philanthropy and charitable works.
"He's very committed to improving the quality of life of millions around the world, and this is a great way to commemorate that," Rahim said.
'Ready to celebrate'
In Calgary, the Ismaili Muslim community has five Jamatkhanas, which are places of worship and community meetings. Those centres contribute to good works, such as the Women in Need Society, the Calgary Drop-In Centre and city parks. They also host a popular Stampede breakfast each year.
This four-day visit is a big moment for the busy community, Rahim said.
"I am excited, I am ready to celebrate. It's an exciting time," she said.
Mawlana Hazar Imam and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley discuss ongoing cooperation
Building on a strong and long history of collaboration between the Ismaili Imamat and the Province of Alberta, Mawlana Hazar Imam and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley met on 10 May 2018 to discuss how to strengthen collaboration on areas of mutual interest.
Also present were Minister of Community and Social Services Irfan Sabir and Member of Legislative Assembly Lorne Dach from the Government of Alberta, in addition to senior representatives of the Ismaili Imamat.
The meeting explored the sharing of knowledge and exchange of best practices in a variety of fields, building on the existing Agreement of Cooperation in place between the Government of Alberta and the Ismaili Imamat.
In a statement reflecting on the partnership, Premier Notley noted "The Diamond Jubilee is an important milestone. It is an opportunity to celebrate the tremendous contributions the Ismaili Imamat and the Ismaili community have made to the world. It is also a time to reflect on Alberta’s longstanding relationship with the Ismaili Imamat, and the many values we share, including the importance of cultivating pluralism in a diverse society, reducing poverty, early childhood development, and continuously improving the quality of life for all members of society."
The discussions provided an opportunity to review progress on Generations, an innovative Golden Jubilee initiative located in Calgary’s Skyview Ranch neighbourhood. Established as a multi-generational housing community, the 6.4-acre complex was established to improve the quality of life of Alberta’s seniors. Phase I, consisting of 40 one- and two-bedroom rental units for independent senior living, was completed in 2012. Phase II, currently under development, consists of 120 assisted-living and long-term care units for seniors. In addition to an early childhood development centre incorporated into the design, Phase II will include units specifically for residents with dementia, critical in a country where the number of people diagnosed with dementia is increasing dramatically. Phase III will be developed in the future as a family oriented housing complex. This project, a first of its kind in Canada, is designed to provide a supportive atmosphere for seniors where their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing are enhanced through meaningful interactions and a wide variety of programming driven by volunteers.
The Premier expressed excitement at the future opening of the Aga Khan Garden, currently in the final stages of construction. The Garden, an undertaking of the University of Alberta made possible by contributions from the Ismaili Imamat, will feature 4.8 hectares of stunning Mughal-inspired landscape integrating secluded forest paths, stepped terraces, geometric water features and native wetlands along with a unique orchard. The Garden, which will be open to visitors in the coming weeks, will be an important addition to Alberta’s cultural assets and showcase a variety of programming.
In spring last year, Premier Notley unveiled the design of the Aga Khan Garden, Alberta at a ceremony at the University of Alberta. She praised Mawlana Hazar Imam’s determination to help people better understand Islam, and his passion to promote pluralism to improve the human condition. In offering gratitude for the gift, she said, "Our diversity makes us stronger. This garden will serve as a living reminder of the diverse heritage of our open and welcoming province, which is a big part of what makes Alberta such a great place to live.”
The discussions between Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Government of Alberta and their respective delegations further cement a strong relationship and underscore a common vision to enhance quality of life and exchange knowledge for the betterment of all.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... ooperation
Building on a strong and long history of collaboration between the Ismaili Imamat and the Province of Alberta, Mawlana Hazar Imam and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley met on 10 May 2018 to discuss how to strengthen collaboration on areas of mutual interest.
Also present were Minister of Community and Social Services Irfan Sabir and Member of Legislative Assembly Lorne Dach from the Government of Alberta, in addition to senior representatives of the Ismaili Imamat.
The meeting explored the sharing of knowledge and exchange of best practices in a variety of fields, building on the existing Agreement of Cooperation in place between the Government of Alberta and the Ismaili Imamat.
In a statement reflecting on the partnership, Premier Notley noted "The Diamond Jubilee is an important milestone. It is an opportunity to celebrate the tremendous contributions the Ismaili Imamat and the Ismaili community have made to the world. It is also a time to reflect on Alberta’s longstanding relationship with the Ismaili Imamat, and the many values we share, including the importance of cultivating pluralism in a diverse society, reducing poverty, early childhood development, and continuously improving the quality of life for all members of society."
The discussions provided an opportunity to review progress on Generations, an innovative Golden Jubilee initiative located in Calgary’s Skyview Ranch neighbourhood. Established as a multi-generational housing community, the 6.4-acre complex was established to improve the quality of life of Alberta’s seniors. Phase I, consisting of 40 one- and two-bedroom rental units for independent senior living, was completed in 2012. Phase II, currently under development, consists of 120 assisted-living and long-term care units for seniors. In addition to an early childhood development centre incorporated into the design, Phase II will include units specifically for residents with dementia, critical in a country where the number of people diagnosed with dementia is increasing dramatically. Phase III will be developed in the future as a family oriented housing complex. This project, a first of its kind in Canada, is designed to provide a supportive atmosphere for seniors where their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing are enhanced through meaningful interactions and a wide variety of programming driven by volunteers.
The Premier expressed excitement at the future opening of the Aga Khan Garden, currently in the final stages of construction. The Garden, an undertaking of the University of Alberta made possible by contributions from the Ismaili Imamat, will feature 4.8 hectares of stunning Mughal-inspired landscape integrating secluded forest paths, stepped terraces, geometric water features and native wetlands along with a unique orchard. The Garden, which will be open to visitors in the coming weeks, will be an important addition to Alberta’s cultural assets and showcase a variety of programming.
In spring last year, Premier Notley unveiled the design of the Aga Khan Garden, Alberta at a ceremony at the University of Alberta. She praised Mawlana Hazar Imam’s determination to help people better understand Islam, and his passion to promote pluralism to improve the human condition. In offering gratitude for the gift, she said, "Our diversity makes us stronger. This garden will serve as a living reminder of the diverse heritage of our open and welcoming province, which is a big part of what makes Alberta such a great place to live.”
The discussions between Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Government of Alberta and their respective delegations further cement a strong relationship and underscore a common vision to enhance quality of life and exchange knowledge for the betterment of all.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... ooperation
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ ... -1.4656832
Thousands of Ismaili Muslims from Edmonton area welcome Aga Khan in Calgary
'This is a milestone event for our community,' local Ismaili Muslim says
CBC News · Posted: May 10, 2018 10:20 AM MT | Last Updated: May 10
More than 5,000 Ismaili Muslims from the Edmonton area are gathering in Calgary this week to visit their religious leader and mark his Diamond Jubilee.
Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan IV is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. He succeeded his grandfather in 1957 and is the spiritual leader for approximately 20 million people worldwide.
The Aga Khan, 80, is also a millionaire who is known for his humanitarianism. His international aid organization, the Aga Khan Development Network, has built schools and hospitals around the world. He received honorary Canadian citizenship in 2010.
"This week's been a truly important event for me as an Ismaili Muslim and as a Canadian," said Shafin Kanji on CBC Radio's Edmonton AM Thursday.
Kanji, an Edmonton resident and spokesperson for the Ismaili Council for Edmonton, is in Calgary this week for the celebrations.
This is not the first time Kanji has seen the Aga Khan. He last saw him a decade ago, also in Calgary, during celebrations for his Golden Jubilee.
"Usually, we use jubilees as a method to reaffirm the principles of our faith and to really work on the concepts of Islam, including pluralism and diversity," Kanji said.
The Aga Khan's Diamond Jubilee coincided with Canada's 150th birthday. To mark the occasion, Ismaili Muslims in Canada pledged to complete one million hours of community service — a goal they exceeded in six months.
Kanji, who volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, said volunteerism is an important part of faith for Ismaili Muslims.
New garden nearing completion
The Aga Khan is funding a $25-million garden in construction at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, just north of Devon.
"I don't want to spoil it, but I've seen recent pictures and I'm in awe," Kanji said.
The garden is scheduled to be finished this summer.
The Aga Khan's visit to Canada began early this month. He dined at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 2, visited Vancouver on May 5 and arrived in Calgary on Monday.
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the celebrations in Alberta.
"This is a milestone event for our community," Kanji said.
Thousands of Ismaili Muslims from Edmonton area welcome Aga Khan in Calgary
'This is a milestone event for our community,' local Ismaili Muslim says
CBC News · Posted: May 10, 2018 10:20 AM MT | Last Updated: May 10
More than 5,000 Ismaili Muslims from the Edmonton area are gathering in Calgary this week to visit their religious leader and mark his Diamond Jubilee.
Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan IV is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. He succeeded his grandfather in 1957 and is the spiritual leader for approximately 20 million people worldwide.
The Aga Khan, 80, is also a millionaire who is known for his humanitarianism. His international aid organization, the Aga Khan Development Network, has built schools and hospitals around the world. He received honorary Canadian citizenship in 2010.
"This week's been a truly important event for me as an Ismaili Muslim and as a Canadian," said Shafin Kanji on CBC Radio's Edmonton AM Thursday.
Kanji, an Edmonton resident and spokesperson for the Ismaili Council for Edmonton, is in Calgary this week for the celebrations.
This is not the first time Kanji has seen the Aga Khan. He last saw him a decade ago, also in Calgary, during celebrations for his Golden Jubilee.
"Usually, we use jubilees as a method to reaffirm the principles of our faith and to really work on the concepts of Islam, including pluralism and diversity," Kanji said.
The Aga Khan's Diamond Jubilee coincided with Canada's 150th birthday. To mark the occasion, Ismaili Muslims in Canada pledged to complete one million hours of community service — a goal they exceeded in six months.
Kanji, who volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, said volunteerism is an important part of faith for Ismaili Muslims.
New garden nearing completion
The Aga Khan is funding a $25-million garden in construction at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, just north of Devon.
"I don't want to spoil it, but I've seen recent pictures and I'm in awe," Kanji said.
The garden is scheduled to be finished this summer.
The Aga Khan's visit to Canada began early this month. He dined at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 2, visited Vancouver on May 5 and arrived in Calgary on Monday.
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the celebrations in Alberta.
"This is a milestone event for our community," Kanji said.
A great honour to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan to Alberta today. We congratulate him on 60 years of leadership, and we’re proud of the strong Ismaili community here that contributes so much to building our province. #DiamondJubilee Mubarak! #abpoli #ableg #yyc @TheIsmaili pic.twitter.com/VUHJ0AonJ7
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) May 11, 2018
It's my honour to welcome back an honorary Canadian citizen, visionary Muslim leader and great friend of our province, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. Alberta thanks the #AgaKhan for his friendship and congratulates him on 60 years of service. #DiamondJubilee Mubarak! #ableg pic.twitter.com/cVdaXLBlj3
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) May 11, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/rachelnotley/v ... 830491427/
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) May 11, 2018
It's my honour to welcome back an honorary Canadian citizen, visionary Muslim leader and great friend of our province, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. Alberta thanks the #AgaKhan for his friendship and congratulates him on 60 years of service. #DiamondJubilee Mubarak! #ableg pic.twitter.com/cVdaXLBlj3
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) May 11, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/rachelnotley/v ... 830491427/
Mayor Brian Bowman of Winnipeg congratulates His Highness the Aga Khan on Diamond Jubilee
Wishing the Aga Khan a wonderful visit to Canada on his Diamond Jubilee. Congratulations and thank you for over 60 years of compassionate work worldwide. @nenshi #AgaKhan #DiamondJubilee #DiamondJubileeMubarak
https://twitter.com/Mayor_Bowman/status ... jubilee%2F
*****
Meeting the Aga Khan
We talk to an Ismaili Muslim from Edmonton, who's in Calgary to meet the Aga Khan. More than five thousand people from Fort Mac to Red Deer are heading south this week to welcome their spiritual leader!
http://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/edmonton ... t/15543646
******
The Aga Khan: 60 years of remarkable service to the world
Who is His Highness, the Aga Khan, a man who is celebrating 60 years of service to his community and the world?
He is the spiritual leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims, a significant number of whom call Canada home. He is a diplomat, social innovator, global humanitarian and someone with an unshakable belief in the values of pluralism, diversity and equality.
The Aga Khan was appointed as the 49th hereditary Imam of the world’s Shia Ismaili community upon his grandfather’s death in 1957, when he was just a 20-year-old and studying at Harvard.
More...
https://troymedia.com/2018/05/11/aga-kh ... ice-world/
******
A beacon of hope: How the Aga Khan has shaped Canada and the world
The world needs hope more now than ever before.
While society as a whole has progressed over the past decades, recent years have taken us down dark paths, and we need light to guide us out. That light can’t come from just one person, but is the collective sum of many working together for the common good.
These change makers should be household names, but they’re often not. They work tirelessly without asking for recognition, letting results speak for themselves. In doing so, their narratives get told by others, changing perception of who they are and what they’re really about.
Early in 2017, Conservative MP Garnett Genius made a notable observation, that it was unfortunate that many Canadians who were not familiar with the Aga Khan would hear his name only in the context of the Prime Minister’s own violations of ethics transgressions.
That a global leader of such incredible moral stature and wide respect should have to be subject to the impact of national political squabbles, is sad development.
Canadians have been scratching their heads trying to understand the Aga Khan – a successful businessman, humanitarian, and Muslim leader – and what drives him.
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/who-is-t ... han-canada
*******
Celebrating the work of the Aga Khan Development Network
By Brian Felesky, Jim Gray and Chris Robb
There has been a good amount of tribute paid to the Aga Khan recently because he is celebrating his diamond jubilee – 60 years of extraordinary service as head of the Ismaili (Shia Muslim) population of about 25 million people worldwide.
It is important to underscore, however, that during this time, he’s also been serving all the world — Ismailis and non-Ismailis alike — with leadership and incalculable generosity.
The impact of his work has been transformational for millions of people – in saving lives and bettering lives, mostly in the developing world, but also in the developed world, particularly in advocating the need for pluralism. This exceptional work, under the Aga Kahn’s leadership, is carried out by the Aga Khan Development Network, the Aga Khan University and other related arms.
For the past 13 years, our three families — together with a group of more than 160 other Calgary families — have had the privilege of being connected to the work of the AKDN. Accordingly, we’d like to add our congratulations to His Highness the Aga Khan and the AKDN.
More...
http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/column ... nt-network
*******
Local Ismaili Muslim community honours the Aga Khan
About 20,000 people are taking part in celebrating the Aga Khan’s diamond jubilee during a multi-day visit by the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community.
Ismailis from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are attending a series of gatherings at the BMO Centre this week. Volunteers say they began organizing the Calgary event last July, culminating in an effort backed by 4,000 volunteers each day of the visit.
“It is an effort of immense magnitude, but it really reflects that quality of service, which is really an important ethic for us,” said one of the volunteer organizers, Tasneem Rahim.
More...
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-new ... e-aga-khan
******
Thousands come out for Aga Khan's diamond jubilee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3et-tzik4Q
******
Mayor of Saskatoon greets Diamond Jubilee Mubarak to the Ismaili community and the Aga Khan
I would like to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan to our country as he travels throughout Canada to celebrate his Diamond Jubilee. He is a strong voice in our world, working against inequality and for a more just society for everyone. Mulaqat Mubarak!
https://twitter.com/charlieclarkyxe/sta ... ga-khan%2F
******
Opinion: Why we should be proud to call the Aga Khan a Canadian
In 2013, I had the privilege as Chancellor of Trinity College at the University of Toronto of conferring on the Aga Khan the honorary degree of Sacred Letters in recognition of his contribution to peace, security, and the well-being of millions of people throughout many troubled areas of the world.
It was a remarkable moment in the history of our city.
At a special convocation, in the presence of the leaders of the Anglican Church in Canada he, as the leader of a global Muslim community of some 20 million adherents, participated in a ceremony symbolical of the importance of interfaith dialogue, peace, diversity, and inclusion. These principles are not only at the centre of his life’s work but also form the cornerstone of all our faiths.
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bill-gra ... nd-jubilee
Wishing the Aga Khan a wonderful visit to Canada on his Diamond Jubilee. Congratulations and thank you for over 60 years of compassionate work worldwide. @nenshi #AgaKhan #DiamondJubilee #DiamondJubileeMubarak
https://twitter.com/Mayor_Bowman/status ... jubilee%2F
*****
Meeting the Aga Khan
We talk to an Ismaili Muslim from Edmonton, who's in Calgary to meet the Aga Khan. More than five thousand people from Fort Mac to Red Deer are heading south this week to welcome their spiritual leader!
http://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/edmonton ... t/15543646
******
The Aga Khan: 60 years of remarkable service to the world
Who is His Highness, the Aga Khan, a man who is celebrating 60 years of service to his community and the world?
He is the spiritual leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims, a significant number of whom call Canada home. He is a diplomat, social innovator, global humanitarian and someone with an unshakable belief in the values of pluralism, diversity and equality.
The Aga Khan was appointed as the 49th hereditary Imam of the world’s Shia Ismaili community upon his grandfather’s death in 1957, when he was just a 20-year-old and studying at Harvard.
More...
https://troymedia.com/2018/05/11/aga-kh ... ice-world/
******
A beacon of hope: How the Aga Khan has shaped Canada and the world
The world needs hope more now than ever before.
While society as a whole has progressed over the past decades, recent years have taken us down dark paths, and we need light to guide us out. That light can’t come from just one person, but is the collective sum of many working together for the common good.
These change makers should be household names, but they’re often not. They work tirelessly without asking for recognition, letting results speak for themselves. In doing so, their narratives get told by others, changing perception of who they are and what they’re really about.
Early in 2017, Conservative MP Garnett Genius made a notable observation, that it was unfortunate that many Canadians who were not familiar with the Aga Khan would hear his name only in the context of the Prime Minister’s own violations of ethics transgressions.
That a global leader of such incredible moral stature and wide respect should have to be subject to the impact of national political squabbles, is sad development.
Canadians have been scratching their heads trying to understand the Aga Khan – a successful businessman, humanitarian, and Muslim leader – and what drives him.
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/who-is-t ... han-canada
*******
Celebrating the work of the Aga Khan Development Network
By Brian Felesky, Jim Gray and Chris Robb
There has been a good amount of tribute paid to the Aga Khan recently because he is celebrating his diamond jubilee – 60 years of extraordinary service as head of the Ismaili (Shia Muslim) population of about 25 million people worldwide.
It is important to underscore, however, that during this time, he’s also been serving all the world — Ismailis and non-Ismailis alike — with leadership and incalculable generosity.
The impact of his work has been transformational for millions of people – in saving lives and bettering lives, mostly in the developing world, but also in the developed world, particularly in advocating the need for pluralism. This exceptional work, under the Aga Kahn’s leadership, is carried out by the Aga Khan Development Network, the Aga Khan University and other related arms.
For the past 13 years, our three families — together with a group of more than 160 other Calgary families — have had the privilege of being connected to the work of the AKDN. Accordingly, we’d like to add our congratulations to His Highness the Aga Khan and the AKDN.
More...
http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/column ... nt-network
*******
Local Ismaili Muslim community honours the Aga Khan
About 20,000 people are taking part in celebrating the Aga Khan’s diamond jubilee during a multi-day visit by the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community.
Ismailis from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are attending a series of gatherings at the BMO Centre this week. Volunteers say they began organizing the Calgary event last July, culminating in an effort backed by 4,000 volunteers each day of the visit.
“It is an effort of immense magnitude, but it really reflects that quality of service, which is really an important ethic for us,” said one of the volunteer organizers, Tasneem Rahim.
More...
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-new ... e-aga-khan
******
Thousands come out for Aga Khan's diamond jubilee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3et-tzik4Q
******
Mayor of Saskatoon greets Diamond Jubilee Mubarak to the Ismaili community and the Aga Khan
I would like to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan to our country as he travels throughout Canada to celebrate his Diamond Jubilee. He is a strong voice in our world, working against inequality and for a more just society for everyone. Mulaqat Mubarak!
https://twitter.com/charlieclarkyxe/sta ... ga-khan%2F
******
Opinion: Why we should be proud to call the Aga Khan a Canadian
In 2013, I had the privilege as Chancellor of Trinity College at the University of Toronto of conferring on the Aga Khan the honorary degree of Sacred Letters in recognition of his contribution to peace, security, and the well-being of millions of people throughout many troubled areas of the world.
It was a remarkable moment in the history of our city.
At a special convocation, in the presence of the leaders of the Anglican Church in Canada he, as the leader of a global Muslim community of some 20 million adherents, participated in a ceremony symbolical of the importance of interfaith dialogue, peace, diversity, and inclusion. These principles are not only at the centre of his life’s work but also form the cornerstone of all our faiths.
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bill-gra ... nd-jubilee
ON Twitter
Rachel Notley
@RachelNotley
May 10, 2018
It's my honour to welcome back an honorary Canadian citizen, visionary Muslim leader and great friend of our province, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. Alberta thanks the #AgaKhan for his friendship and congratulates him on 60 years of service. #DiamondJubilee Mubarak!
Link to video here: http://ismaili.net/timeline/2018/2018-05-10-alberta.mp4
Meeting between Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and H.H. The Aga Khan in Calgary
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/premierof ... 3540019202
Rachel Notley
@RachelNotley
May 10, 2018
It's my honour to welcome back an honorary Canadian citizen, visionary Muslim leader and great friend of our province, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. Alberta thanks the #AgaKhan for his friendship and congratulates him on 60 years of service. #DiamondJubilee Mubarak!
Link to video here: http://ismaili.net/timeline/2018/2018-05-10-alberta.mp4
Meeting between Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and H.H. The Aga Khan in Calgary
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/premierof ... 3540019202
Mawlana Hazar Imam departs Calgary marking the conclusion of his Diamond Jubilee visit to Canada
After granting Diamond Jubilee Mulaqats in Calgary, Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Canada, concluding his 12-day Diamond Jubilee visit to the country.
Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Calgary Airport on Saturday morning where leaders of the Canadian Jamat had gathered to bid him farewell. Upon his departure, Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed his happiness with the visit and conveyed his congratulations to all the volunteers for their excellent work.
Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Western Canada was a continuation of his earlier visit to Eastern Canada in November of 2017. The visit began on 1 May in Ottawa, where Hazar Imam completed several days of work related to the Global Centre for Pluralism.
While in Ottawa, Mawlana Hazar Imam was hosted to a dinner held in his honour by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada. The dinner was attended by Princess Zahra, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Canadian Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Joe Clark, and former Governors General Adrienne Clarkson and David Johnston.
Mawlana Hazar Imam then travelled to Vancouver on 4 May, marking the beginning of his Western Canadian visit. After spending three days in Vancouver meeting with the Jamats of British Columbia, Mawlana Hazar Imam departed for Calgary on 7 May.
Over the course of his visit to Western Canada, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Jamats of British Columbia, Edmonton and the Prairies. Hazar Imam also held meetings with government officials in both Western Canadian Provinces meeting with Premier John Horgan of British Columbia in Vancouver and Premier Rachel Notley of Alberta in Calgary.
At the conclusion of the visit, Ismaili Council for Canada President Malik Talib offered a loyalty address to Mawlana Hazar Imam on behalf of the Canadian Jamat. President Talib expressed gratitude for Hazar Imam’s vision, leadership, care, guidance, and for the establishment of a range of institutions in Canada and around the world. Ismaili Council for Canada Vice-President Karima Karmali presented a special offering to Mawlana Hazar Imam as a token of the Jamat’s gratitude, love and affection. The gift is a manuscript copy of the Diwan by Nasir Khusraw, a renowned Ismaili thinker and writer, and one of the foremost poets of the Persian language.
Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Western Canada has been a source of tremendous happiness and joy for the entire Canadian Jamat providing them an opportunity to both celebrate their beloved Imam’s Diamond Jubilee, and to reaffirm their commitment to the Ismaili Imamat. The visit has also provided the Canadian Jamat an opportunity to acknowledge the longstanding partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and the Canadian government. It is a partnership built on similar values and a profound commitment to helping improve the quality of life for people around the world.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... ilee-visit
After granting Diamond Jubilee Mulaqats in Calgary, Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Canada, concluding his 12-day Diamond Jubilee visit to the country.
Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Calgary Airport on Saturday morning where leaders of the Canadian Jamat had gathered to bid him farewell. Upon his departure, Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed his happiness with the visit and conveyed his congratulations to all the volunteers for their excellent work.
Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Western Canada was a continuation of his earlier visit to Eastern Canada in November of 2017. The visit began on 1 May in Ottawa, where Hazar Imam completed several days of work related to the Global Centre for Pluralism.
While in Ottawa, Mawlana Hazar Imam was hosted to a dinner held in his honour by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada. The dinner was attended by Princess Zahra, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Canadian Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Joe Clark, and former Governors General Adrienne Clarkson and David Johnston.
Mawlana Hazar Imam then travelled to Vancouver on 4 May, marking the beginning of his Western Canadian visit. After spending three days in Vancouver meeting with the Jamats of British Columbia, Mawlana Hazar Imam departed for Calgary on 7 May.
Over the course of his visit to Western Canada, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Jamats of British Columbia, Edmonton and the Prairies. Hazar Imam also held meetings with government officials in both Western Canadian Provinces meeting with Premier John Horgan of British Columbia in Vancouver and Premier Rachel Notley of Alberta in Calgary.
At the conclusion of the visit, Ismaili Council for Canada President Malik Talib offered a loyalty address to Mawlana Hazar Imam on behalf of the Canadian Jamat. President Talib expressed gratitude for Hazar Imam’s vision, leadership, care, guidance, and for the establishment of a range of institutions in Canada and around the world. Ismaili Council for Canada Vice-President Karima Karmali presented a special offering to Mawlana Hazar Imam as a token of the Jamat’s gratitude, love and affection. The gift is a manuscript copy of the Diwan by Nasir Khusraw, a renowned Ismaili thinker and writer, and one of the foremost poets of the Persian language.
Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Western Canada has been a source of tremendous happiness and joy for the entire Canadian Jamat providing them an opportunity to both celebrate their beloved Imam’s Diamond Jubilee, and to reaffirm their commitment to the Ismaili Imamat. The visit has also provided the Canadian Jamat an opportunity to acknowledge the longstanding partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and the Canadian government. It is a partnership built on similar values and a profound commitment to helping improve the quality of life for people around the world.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... ilee-visit
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam Departs Ottawa
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... rts-ottawa
******
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam Arrives in Vancouver
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... -vancouver
*****
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam Departs Vancouver
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... -vancouver
*****
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam Arrives in Calgary
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... es-calgary
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... rts-ottawa
******
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam Arrives in Vancouver
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... -vancouver
*****
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam Departs Vancouver
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... -vancouver
*****
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam Arrives in Calgary
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... es-calgary
http://www.eventail.be/component/k2/353 ... -du-jubile#
Karim Aga Khan IV, l'année du jubilé
Rédigé par Christophe Vachaudez vendredi 11 mai 2018 05:04
Chef spirituel de la communauté ismaélienne, l'Aga Khan chemine dans l'année de son jubilé de diamant qui a été célébré récemment par un grand dîner à Rideau Hall, la réidence du gouverneur général du Canada. Mécène et investisseur averti, il s'est aussi imposé sur la scène internationale comme un promoteur du dialogue interculturel, tentant de jeter des ponts entre les peuples par le biais de l'aide à autrui et d'une meilleure diffusion de la culture.
Cité par le magazine Forbes comme l'un des hommes les plus riches et les plus influents au monde, l'Aga Khan a la particularité de ne pas régner sur un territoire puisque les Ismaéliens d'obédience nizarite qui reconnaissent l'autorité de ce descendant du prophète se rencontrent aussi bien en Afghanistan qu'au Pakistan, en Syrie, au Yémen, au Tadjikistan ou en Inde. Très estimé par la classe dirigeante, il est reçu en égal par ses pairs qui font confiance à ses talents de diplomate et à l'efficacité de son réseau personnel qui s'est tissé sur toute la planète. En interlocuteur privilégié, il a donc participé au récent sommet dédié à l'Afghanistan qui s'est déroulé à Bruxelles en novembre 2016 comme il a initié des levées de fonds pour les réfugiés syriens.
Capitaliste pour les uns, bienfaiteur pour les autres, l'Aga Khan jouit d'un respect unanime mais il est évident que sa fortune a toujours suscité rancoeur et jalousie. Elle est bien lointaine l'époque où son grand-père Muhammad Shah recevait, lors d'une cérémonie mémorable, dans un stade plein à craquer, son poids en or (1936), en diamants (1946) ou en platine (1954). De cet aïeul qui servit la cause alliée durant la première guerre mondiale et fut instrumental dans la création du Pakistan mais également dans celle de la Société des Nations, Karim a hérité le goût de la philanthropie et l'intérêt marqué pour la politique.
Jeune imam de vingt ans
Fils du prince Aly Khan et de l'Honorable Joan Barbara Yarde-Buller, elle-même fille du troisième baron Churston, l'actuel Aga Khan naît à Genève le 13 décembre 1936 et passe son enfance à Nairobi, au Kenya. En 1949, son père dont la vie volage fait la une des quotidiens divorce pour épouser l'actrice Rita Hayworth. Il mourra dans un accident de voiture en 1960. Relativement épargné, Karim intègre le collège du Rosey puis l'université d'Harvard où il étudie l'histoire. C'est durant son cursus qu'il devient le 49e imam, au décès de son grand-père en 1957; ce qui ne l'empêche pas quelques années plus tard de représenter l'Iran aux Jeux Olympiques de 1964 pour le ski.
Séduisant célibataire, le Prince est un parti très convoité. Il succombe finalement à la beauté d'un mannequin britannique, Sarah Frances Croker-Poole, qui, le 22 octobre 1969, devient la Begum Salimah. Les deux jeunes gens forment un couple mythique, très prisé de la jet-set et des réceptions parisiennes. Karim couvre son épouse de bijoux et les joailliers Boucheron, Cartier et Van Cleef and Arpels apprécient hautement ses visites.
Passionné de chevaux, l'Aga Khan a acquis le domaine d'Aiglemont à Gouvieux, à quelques kilomètres du champs de course de Chantilly. Il y réside mais surtout y développe une prestigieuse écurie dont les fleurons concourent dans les plus grandes compétitions. Propriétaire de haras à Kilcullen en Irlande, à Mesnil-Mauger, à Livarot et à Pont d'Ouilly dans le Calvados, il est, à ce jour, le recordman des victoires au renommé Prix de Diane.
En 2016, il a remporté le Derby d'Epsom comme le Derby Irlandais, un doublé que lui envie la reine Elizabeth dont l'Aga Khan est très proche. La souveraine lui a d'ailleurs conféré le prédicat d'altesse en 1957, commué en altesse royale par le Shah d'Iran en 1959. Parallèlement, Karim tombe sous le charme de la Sardaigne où mouille son luxueux bateau, l'Alamshar. Il investit dans l'immobilier à Porto Cervo et Porto Rotondo, fondant même un yacht club. Son porte-feuille se compose ainsi d'hôtels de luxe aussi bien sur l'île que dans la péninsule italienne, en Afrique et en Asie.
Il dispose aussi d'une île privée dans les Bahamas, de terres en Égypte où son grand-père est enterré, et de nombreux pieds à terre qu'il rallie grâce à l'un de ses deux avions. En 1969, cependant, il a légué au gouvernement indien le palais qu'il possédait à Pune.Karim et Salimah auront trois enfants : Zara qui naît le 18 septembre 1970, Rahim, le 12 octobre 1971, et Hussain, le 10 avril 1974. Après 25 ans de mariage, le couple divorce, triste épilogue à un roman d'amour qui fit vibrer toute une époque. Contre toute attente, l'Aga Khan épouse en 1998 Gabriele Renate Homey, une brillante spécialiste en droit international, adepte de la chirurgie esthétique, qui a déjà pris dans ses filets le prince Karl de Leiningen. Elle négociera elle-même son divorce qui est prononcé en 2014. Un fils, le prince Aly, est né de cette union le 7 mars 2000.
Philanthrope de haut vol
Mais la réalisation majeure du prince Karim est assurément l'Aga Khan Development Network qui brasse annuellement près de 800 millions de dollars à des fins caritatives. Doté de 200 antennes, le réseau emploie 80.000 personnes et bénéficie de l'aide de nombreux volontaires. Il agit de façon significative dans plus de 35 pays, parmi les plus démunis de la planète, avec comme but majeur, la lutte contre la pauvreté.
Ainsi, au niveau économique, il promeut le tourisme et les industries indigènes tout en pratiquant la microfinance. Dans les zones rurales, il travaille à l'autosuffisance des populations en restaurant des infrastructures telles que ponts, canaux d'irrigation, routes, stations de pompage ou centrales électriques. L'institution encourage les plantations d'arbres et l'utilisation d'énergies propres. Le prince Rahim a d'ailleurs ratifié la charte du climat à Marrakech en 2016.
Dans le domaine de la santé et de l'éducation, elle a permis la construction d'hôpitaux, de centres médicaux et d'orphelinats, apportant un soutien immédiat aux victimes des catastrophes humanitaires. Elle favorise l'accès à l'éducation aux femmes, a mis en place des écoles et a créé l'Aga Khan University qui s'adresse d'abord aux Ismaéliens mais également aux autres communautés.
Le volet culturel comprend la mise en valeur du patrimoine qui passe par la rénovation de sites menacés, comme la grande mosquée de Mopti au Mali ou les monuments bombardés de Mostar en Bosnie, la préservation des forts de Hunza et Baltistan au Pakistan ou la création de jardins au Caire, à la place d'une décharge à ciel ouvert.
L'Aga Khan est très actif dans les milieux universitaires et donne régulièrement des conférences pour sensibiliser les étudiants, ce qui lui a valu pas moins de dix diplômes Honoris Causa. Il a également reçu près de soixante prix qui couronnent les réalisations de son institution mais aussi des initiatives personnelles comme la création, en 1977, des désormais célèbres prix Aga Khan pour l'architecture, doté de dix millions de dollars, ou l'édification d'un somptueux musée d'art islamique à Toronto qui présente les collections familiales de manuscrits, de céramiques, d'instruments scientifiques et d'objets d'arts. Récemment, il a pris en charge la restauration du château de Chantilly dont il est familier depuis tant d'années. Soutenu par ses enfants, l'Aga Khan sillonne le monde, multipliant les actions humanitaires sans renoncer pour autant à sa passion pour les courses, une existence toute en nuances mais au service des autres.
Rédigé par Christophe Vachaudez
Karim Aga Khan IV, l'année du jubilé
Rédigé par Christophe Vachaudez vendredi 11 mai 2018 05:04
Chef spirituel de la communauté ismaélienne, l'Aga Khan chemine dans l'année de son jubilé de diamant qui a été célébré récemment par un grand dîner à Rideau Hall, la réidence du gouverneur général du Canada. Mécène et investisseur averti, il s'est aussi imposé sur la scène internationale comme un promoteur du dialogue interculturel, tentant de jeter des ponts entre les peuples par le biais de l'aide à autrui et d'une meilleure diffusion de la culture.
Cité par le magazine Forbes comme l'un des hommes les plus riches et les plus influents au monde, l'Aga Khan a la particularité de ne pas régner sur un territoire puisque les Ismaéliens d'obédience nizarite qui reconnaissent l'autorité de ce descendant du prophète se rencontrent aussi bien en Afghanistan qu'au Pakistan, en Syrie, au Yémen, au Tadjikistan ou en Inde. Très estimé par la classe dirigeante, il est reçu en égal par ses pairs qui font confiance à ses talents de diplomate et à l'efficacité de son réseau personnel qui s'est tissé sur toute la planète. En interlocuteur privilégié, il a donc participé au récent sommet dédié à l'Afghanistan qui s'est déroulé à Bruxelles en novembre 2016 comme il a initié des levées de fonds pour les réfugiés syriens.
Capitaliste pour les uns, bienfaiteur pour les autres, l'Aga Khan jouit d'un respect unanime mais il est évident que sa fortune a toujours suscité rancoeur et jalousie. Elle est bien lointaine l'époque où son grand-père Muhammad Shah recevait, lors d'une cérémonie mémorable, dans un stade plein à craquer, son poids en or (1936), en diamants (1946) ou en platine (1954). De cet aïeul qui servit la cause alliée durant la première guerre mondiale et fut instrumental dans la création du Pakistan mais également dans celle de la Société des Nations, Karim a hérité le goût de la philanthropie et l'intérêt marqué pour la politique.
Jeune imam de vingt ans
Fils du prince Aly Khan et de l'Honorable Joan Barbara Yarde-Buller, elle-même fille du troisième baron Churston, l'actuel Aga Khan naît à Genève le 13 décembre 1936 et passe son enfance à Nairobi, au Kenya. En 1949, son père dont la vie volage fait la une des quotidiens divorce pour épouser l'actrice Rita Hayworth. Il mourra dans un accident de voiture en 1960. Relativement épargné, Karim intègre le collège du Rosey puis l'université d'Harvard où il étudie l'histoire. C'est durant son cursus qu'il devient le 49e imam, au décès de son grand-père en 1957; ce qui ne l'empêche pas quelques années plus tard de représenter l'Iran aux Jeux Olympiques de 1964 pour le ski.
Séduisant célibataire, le Prince est un parti très convoité. Il succombe finalement à la beauté d'un mannequin britannique, Sarah Frances Croker-Poole, qui, le 22 octobre 1969, devient la Begum Salimah. Les deux jeunes gens forment un couple mythique, très prisé de la jet-set et des réceptions parisiennes. Karim couvre son épouse de bijoux et les joailliers Boucheron, Cartier et Van Cleef and Arpels apprécient hautement ses visites.
Passionné de chevaux, l'Aga Khan a acquis le domaine d'Aiglemont à Gouvieux, à quelques kilomètres du champs de course de Chantilly. Il y réside mais surtout y développe une prestigieuse écurie dont les fleurons concourent dans les plus grandes compétitions. Propriétaire de haras à Kilcullen en Irlande, à Mesnil-Mauger, à Livarot et à Pont d'Ouilly dans le Calvados, il est, à ce jour, le recordman des victoires au renommé Prix de Diane.
En 2016, il a remporté le Derby d'Epsom comme le Derby Irlandais, un doublé que lui envie la reine Elizabeth dont l'Aga Khan est très proche. La souveraine lui a d'ailleurs conféré le prédicat d'altesse en 1957, commué en altesse royale par le Shah d'Iran en 1959. Parallèlement, Karim tombe sous le charme de la Sardaigne où mouille son luxueux bateau, l'Alamshar. Il investit dans l'immobilier à Porto Cervo et Porto Rotondo, fondant même un yacht club. Son porte-feuille se compose ainsi d'hôtels de luxe aussi bien sur l'île que dans la péninsule italienne, en Afrique et en Asie.
Il dispose aussi d'une île privée dans les Bahamas, de terres en Égypte où son grand-père est enterré, et de nombreux pieds à terre qu'il rallie grâce à l'un de ses deux avions. En 1969, cependant, il a légué au gouvernement indien le palais qu'il possédait à Pune.Karim et Salimah auront trois enfants : Zara qui naît le 18 septembre 1970, Rahim, le 12 octobre 1971, et Hussain, le 10 avril 1974. Après 25 ans de mariage, le couple divorce, triste épilogue à un roman d'amour qui fit vibrer toute une époque. Contre toute attente, l'Aga Khan épouse en 1998 Gabriele Renate Homey, une brillante spécialiste en droit international, adepte de la chirurgie esthétique, qui a déjà pris dans ses filets le prince Karl de Leiningen. Elle négociera elle-même son divorce qui est prononcé en 2014. Un fils, le prince Aly, est né de cette union le 7 mars 2000.
Philanthrope de haut vol
Mais la réalisation majeure du prince Karim est assurément l'Aga Khan Development Network qui brasse annuellement près de 800 millions de dollars à des fins caritatives. Doté de 200 antennes, le réseau emploie 80.000 personnes et bénéficie de l'aide de nombreux volontaires. Il agit de façon significative dans plus de 35 pays, parmi les plus démunis de la planète, avec comme but majeur, la lutte contre la pauvreté.
Ainsi, au niveau économique, il promeut le tourisme et les industries indigènes tout en pratiquant la microfinance. Dans les zones rurales, il travaille à l'autosuffisance des populations en restaurant des infrastructures telles que ponts, canaux d'irrigation, routes, stations de pompage ou centrales électriques. L'institution encourage les plantations d'arbres et l'utilisation d'énergies propres. Le prince Rahim a d'ailleurs ratifié la charte du climat à Marrakech en 2016.
Dans le domaine de la santé et de l'éducation, elle a permis la construction d'hôpitaux, de centres médicaux et d'orphelinats, apportant un soutien immédiat aux victimes des catastrophes humanitaires. Elle favorise l'accès à l'éducation aux femmes, a mis en place des écoles et a créé l'Aga Khan University qui s'adresse d'abord aux Ismaéliens mais également aux autres communautés.
Le volet culturel comprend la mise en valeur du patrimoine qui passe par la rénovation de sites menacés, comme la grande mosquée de Mopti au Mali ou les monuments bombardés de Mostar en Bosnie, la préservation des forts de Hunza et Baltistan au Pakistan ou la création de jardins au Caire, à la place d'une décharge à ciel ouvert.
L'Aga Khan est très actif dans les milieux universitaires et donne régulièrement des conférences pour sensibiliser les étudiants, ce qui lui a valu pas moins de dix diplômes Honoris Causa. Il a également reçu près de soixante prix qui couronnent les réalisations de son institution mais aussi des initiatives personnelles comme la création, en 1977, des désormais célèbres prix Aga Khan pour l'architecture, doté de dix millions de dollars, ou l'édification d'un somptueux musée d'art islamique à Toronto qui présente les collections familiales de manuscrits, de céramiques, d'instruments scientifiques et d'objets d'arts. Récemment, il a pris en charge la restauration du château de Chantilly dont il est familier depuis tant d'années. Soutenu par ses enfants, l'Aga Khan sillonne le monde, multipliant les actions humanitaires sans renoncer pour autant à sa passion pour les courses, une existence toute en nuances mais au service des autres.
Rédigé par Christophe Vachaudez
Video: Mawlana Hazar Imam's Diamond Jubilee visit to India
If you missed the screenings in Jamatkhana, the film of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to India is now available online. This 50-minute film recounts the history of the Ismaili Imamat in India, preparations by the Jamat, and the programme undertaken by Mawlana Hazar Imam during his 10-day visit to the country.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... isit-india
If you missed the screenings in Jamatkhana, the film of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to India is now available online. This 50-minute film recounts the history of the Ismaili Imamat in India, preparations by the Jamat, and the programme undertaken by Mawlana Hazar Imam during his 10-day visit to the country.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vid ... isit-india
His Highness the Aga Khan and his previous visits to the United Kingdom jurisdiction
June 2018 - This Diamond Jubilee visit of His Highness the Aga Khan to the United Kingdom reminds us of the longstanding connections between the Ismaili Community, the institutions of the Aga Khan Development Network and the United Kingdom.
More...
http://www.akdn.org/gallery/his-highnes ... risdiction
June 2018 - This Diamond Jubilee visit of His Highness the Aga Khan to the United Kingdom reminds us of the longstanding connections between the Ismaili Community, the institutions of the Aga Khan Development Network and the United Kingdom.
More...
http://www.akdn.org/gallery/his-highnes ... risdiction
http://clubofmozambique.com/news/ismail ... ilee-soon/
Ismaili Shiite Muslims from Mozambique to arrive in Lisbon for the Aga Khan jubilee soon
2:42 CAT | 15 Jun 2018
In 2015, Prince Aga Khan declared Lisbon his choice for the world headquarters of his Foundation, and now young Shiite Muslims mostly from Mozambique are pouring into Portugal’s capital to support the prince’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Foundation has asked the Portuguese military to help accommodate them, and, from early July, military units in Lisbon, Queluz and Paço de Arcos will welcome almost 300 Muslims from the Ismaili community, DN reported.
Different sources explained that the Army, in response to a request from the Aga Khan Foundation, agreed to accept these elements in the Anti-Artillery Regiment No. 1 (of the Intervention Brigade) in Queluz, in the Transport Regiment (Lisbon) and in the Unit of the Logistics Command (Paço de Arcos).
Muslim Shia Ismailis are moderate and have an important and long-established community in Portugal, but their reception in operational units has given rise to reservations in military circles, from the decision of a branch of the armed forces to welcome civilians in barracks to the implied costs and safety concerns.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Vicente Pereira confirmed that the branch is “supporting” the Foundation and sent the DN to the Ismaili community institution.
Aga Khan celebrates 60th anniversary of the Ismailis
At the base of the decision is a request from the Aga Khan Foundation to find accommodation for the volunteers who, from July 5 to 11, will support approximately 40,000 people expected in Lisbon to participate in the Diamond Jubilee of Prince Aga Khan – 49th spiritual leader of the Ismailis and in office since 1957.
A source from the Imamat Ismaili (Ismaili Community), which in 2015 signed an agreement with Portugal to establish its world headquarters in Lisbon, explained to DN that the basis of the request made to the army to accommodate the volunteers “at a symbolic cost” is the lack of vacancies in hotels during that period, the high costs of places available, and the amount that these volunteers can afford.
In any case, the source said, there is still no agreement, and volunteers who have family in Lisbon can always dispense with going to the army units.
According to sources, the army offered more than a hundred places in Lisbon and more than 50 each in the Queluz and Paço de Arcos units.
In terms of costs to be charged to the Aga Khan Foundation, the army proposed a tariff about half that internally defined to support entities outside the institution: EUR 10 for an overnight stay and EUR 2.5 for breakfast.
According to one of the military sources, the branch decided to charge a daily fee of only EUR 5.50 plus a “reduced rate” of 6% (33 cents) per person.
Regarding security, the army requested lists of the names of the people to be received, each to have a photo identification card while inside the barracks, and the indication of one representative from each group as a contact with those in charge of military units.
However, perhaps due to the rise of the Islamic extremist threat in Mozambique, some sources have openly pondered just what degree of security assessment has been carried out into those being hosted and what security risk they pose.
Source: DN
Ismaili Shiite Muslims from Mozambique to arrive in Lisbon for the Aga Khan jubilee soon
2:42 CAT | 15 Jun 2018
In 2015, Prince Aga Khan declared Lisbon his choice for the world headquarters of his Foundation, and now young Shiite Muslims mostly from Mozambique are pouring into Portugal’s capital to support the prince’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Foundation has asked the Portuguese military to help accommodate them, and, from early July, military units in Lisbon, Queluz and Paço de Arcos will welcome almost 300 Muslims from the Ismaili community, DN reported.
Different sources explained that the Army, in response to a request from the Aga Khan Foundation, agreed to accept these elements in the Anti-Artillery Regiment No. 1 (of the Intervention Brigade) in Queluz, in the Transport Regiment (Lisbon) and in the Unit of the Logistics Command (Paço de Arcos).
Muslim Shia Ismailis are moderate and have an important and long-established community in Portugal, but their reception in operational units has given rise to reservations in military circles, from the decision of a branch of the armed forces to welcome civilians in barracks to the implied costs and safety concerns.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Vicente Pereira confirmed that the branch is “supporting” the Foundation and sent the DN to the Ismaili community institution.
Aga Khan celebrates 60th anniversary of the Ismailis
At the base of the decision is a request from the Aga Khan Foundation to find accommodation for the volunteers who, from July 5 to 11, will support approximately 40,000 people expected in Lisbon to participate in the Diamond Jubilee of Prince Aga Khan – 49th spiritual leader of the Ismailis and in office since 1957.
A source from the Imamat Ismaili (Ismaili Community), which in 2015 signed an agreement with Portugal to establish its world headquarters in Lisbon, explained to DN that the basis of the request made to the army to accommodate the volunteers “at a symbolic cost” is the lack of vacancies in hotels during that period, the high costs of places available, and the amount that these volunteers can afford.
In any case, the source said, there is still no agreement, and volunteers who have family in Lisbon can always dispense with going to the army units.
According to sources, the army offered more than a hundred places in Lisbon and more than 50 each in the Queluz and Paço de Arcos units.
In terms of costs to be charged to the Aga Khan Foundation, the army proposed a tariff about half that internally defined to support entities outside the institution: EUR 10 for an overnight stay and EUR 2.5 for breakfast.
According to one of the military sources, the branch decided to charge a daily fee of only EUR 5.50 plus a “reduced rate” of 6% (33 cents) per person.
Regarding security, the army requested lists of the names of the people to be received, each to have a photo identification card while inside the barracks, and the indication of one representative from each group as a contact with those in charge of military units.
However, perhaps due to the rise of the Islamic extremist threat in Mozambique, some sources have openly pondered just what degree of security assessment has been carried out into those being hosted and what security risk they pose.
Source: DN
Volunteers are preparing to welcome thousands from the Jamats of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The.Ismaili | 21 June 2018 | Global
France jurisdiction Jamat prepares for Diamond Jubilee Mulaqat
As anticipation builds for the upcoming Diamond Jubilee Mulaqat with Mawlana Hazar Imam, the Jamats of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Côte d’Ivoire have set up special programmes to prepare for and celebrate the auspicious occasion.
Preparations for the visit started months in advance, and various teams have been working countless hours to ensure they are well-organised in preparation for the upcoming events in Paris. As the France jurisdiction Jamat is geographically spread across several countries in Western Europe and Africa, it has been particularly important to ensure consistency across all centres of the jurisdiction. This allowed the entire Jamat to share the same experience, before coming together to celebrate as one Jamat.
For children, a dedicated programme was developed about Hazar Imam's visit. A countdown calendar was distributed to all young murids, featuring daily quiz questions, fun facts, and themes to inspire artwork. A celebration was also organised in Paris to bring together youth and young adults of the Jamat to celebrate and mark the occasion of the Mulaqat. The activity was a wonderful example of the Diamond Jubilee bringing different members of the Jamat together to renew the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Particular attention was also given to the preparation of volunteers, whose commitment and service will help ensure the wellbeing of the Jamat during the Mulaqat. The program of activities for volunteers included team-building activities, working groups on communication and service, as well as relaxation exercises to infuse serenity into the group.
Finally, the dove drawing activity brought together the youngest and oldest members of the Jamat, and everyone in between. Beautiful messages in design and in writing, in a variety of languages, were conveyed to Mawlana Hazar Imam to commemorate this very special occasion, with each dove to be displayed at the Mulaqat venue. The activity truly expressed the spirit of one Jamat.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/fra ... ee-mulaqat
The.Ismaili | 21 June 2018 | Global
France jurisdiction Jamat prepares for Diamond Jubilee Mulaqat
As anticipation builds for the upcoming Diamond Jubilee Mulaqat with Mawlana Hazar Imam, the Jamats of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Côte d’Ivoire have set up special programmes to prepare for and celebrate the auspicious occasion.
Preparations for the visit started months in advance, and various teams have been working countless hours to ensure they are well-organised in preparation for the upcoming events in Paris. As the France jurisdiction Jamat is geographically spread across several countries in Western Europe and Africa, it has been particularly important to ensure consistency across all centres of the jurisdiction. This allowed the entire Jamat to share the same experience, before coming together to celebrate as one Jamat.
For children, a dedicated programme was developed about Hazar Imam's visit. A countdown calendar was distributed to all young murids, featuring daily quiz questions, fun facts, and themes to inspire artwork. A celebration was also organised in Paris to bring together youth and young adults of the Jamat to celebrate and mark the occasion of the Mulaqat. The activity was a wonderful example of the Diamond Jubilee bringing different members of the Jamat together to renew the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Particular attention was also given to the preparation of volunteers, whose commitment and service will help ensure the wellbeing of the Jamat during the Mulaqat. The program of activities for volunteers included team-building activities, working groups on communication and service, as well as relaxation exercises to infuse serenity into the group.
Finally, the dove drawing activity brought together the youngest and oldest members of the Jamat, and everyone in between. Beautiful messages in design and in writing, in a variety of languages, were conveyed to Mawlana Hazar Imam to commemorate this very special occasion, with each dove to be displayed at the Mulaqat venue. The activity truly expressed the spirit of one Jamat.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/fra ... ee-mulaqat
Aga Khan Master Musicians, Royal Albert Hall, London, review: A dazzling celebration of music from Islamic countries
International stars from the Aga Khan Music Initiative come together to offer a diversity of musical styles
The Aga Khan used to be thought of in terms of beautiful women, hotels, and racehorses, but these days the millionaire spiritual leader is more likely to be associated with hospitals and the preservation of endangered forms of culture.
The event which filled the Royal Albert Hall last night was a triumphant affirmation of the latter, celebrating as it did 60 years of the Ismaili leader’s championing of local musics from everywhere between Morocco and Java – everywhere, that is, where Islam is the dominant religion. Since the Ismaili brand of Islam is pluralistic, this policy fits perfectly with the endless diversity of musical styles
More....
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ente ... 10101.html
********
Ismaili a Go-Go: How the Aga Khan funded a music renaissance
Musical extravaganza focusing on enigmatic Central Asia comes to the Royal Albert Hall
Excerpt:
The Ismailis are, it is fair to say, a more tolerant branch of Islam than the more head-banging fundamentalists that so often feature in the media. I became interested in them in particular on a trip a few years ago to Central Asia, an area where there are a lot of Ismailis, and the Aga Khan’s Development Network with its Music Initiative was doing some of the most impressive work in developing and sustaining music in the region. They support older musicians and pay them to teach younger ones, and have put on tours to showcase different musical forms from this most enigmatic place.
More....
https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/ismai ... enaissance
International stars from the Aga Khan Music Initiative come together to offer a diversity of musical styles
The Aga Khan used to be thought of in terms of beautiful women, hotels, and racehorses, but these days the millionaire spiritual leader is more likely to be associated with hospitals and the preservation of endangered forms of culture.
The event which filled the Royal Albert Hall last night was a triumphant affirmation of the latter, celebrating as it did 60 years of the Ismaili leader’s championing of local musics from everywhere between Morocco and Java – everywhere, that is, where Islam is the dominant religion. Since the Ismaili brand of Islam is pluralistic, this policy fits perfectly with the endless diversity of musical styles
More....
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ente ... 10101.html
********
Ismaili a Go-Go: How the Aga Khan funded a music renaissance
Musical extravaganza focusing on enigmatic Central Asia comes to the Royal Albert Hall
Excerpt:
The Ismailis are, it is fair to say, a more tolerant branch of Islam than the more head-banging fundamentalists that so often feature in the media. I became interested in them in particular on a trip a few years ago to Central Asia, an area where there are a lot of Ismailis, and the Aga Khan’s Development Network with its Music Initiative was doing some of the most impressive work in developing and sustaining music in the region. They support older musicians and pay them to teach younger ones, and have put on tours to showcase different musical forms from this most enigmatic place.
More....
https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/ismai ... enaissance
Volunteering around the clock in the United Kingdom jurisdiction
With Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit quickly approaching, thousands of volunteers are working all hours, preparing to host Jamats from Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and across the UK.
In preparing for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom, the demonstration of unity within the Jamat has been heartwarming. The various preparation and celebration programmes and events have been made possible due to the hard work of thousands of volunteers in the Jamat, of all ages and walks of life.
The centuries-old tradition of giving of one's time and resources is a significant aspect of Ismaili history and the bedrock of our community. It encourages initiative, develops leadership capacity and provides Jamati members an opportunity for personal and professional development. Volunteering also encourages us to work together, building unity in the Jamat. This makes us more capable as a community to recognise and respond to new challenges as they arise, and therefore, voluntary service is a way of maintaining and building upon the strength of the Jamat, generation after generation.
Mohammed Ladha started volunteering at the age of 14 at Northwest London Jamatkhana, and his team today still includes many of the same people he started serving with at that time. His team has been busy for weeks preparing to ensure the smooth running of the forthcoming programmes at the Ismaili Centre London. One of the many reasons he is looking forward to the Mulaqat is because “it provides an amazing chance to bond and connect with so many different people you might not otherwise work alongside, all working together to make this a memorable experience for the Jamat.”
Jahanara Mirzai and the Audio Visual Unit have been busy practicing the vital skills required to record and document the various events of the Diamond Jubilee visit. Jahanara, from North London Jamatkhana, has been part of the team for four years and was initially motivated to volunteer after her experience working alongside her sister and friend in the recycling and catering teams during Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee visit in 2008.
“It was quite overwhelming, there was so much to do, there were so many people, but everyone was so happy and I was so happy to be able to help,” Jahanara said. Remembering her kind and energetic team leader at the time, she said she “hopes that others will experience what I experienced and want to volunteer at this Darbar.”
Rumina Rafizadeh, from Leicester Jamatkhana, has been serving for over 30 years. She was Captain of the Ismaili Volunteer Corps (IVC) in Leicester Jamatkhana during Hazar Imam’s visit to the UK in 1994, and recalls the incredible opportunities she had whilst serving. For this visit, she is especially looking forward to sharing the day with her six-year-old daughter, Eiliyah, and introducing her to the ethics of volunteering from a young age. Eiliyah is already showing early promise, helping with catering at local Jamati events.
In the basement of the Ismaili Centre London, the Diamond Jubilee Human Resources team have been busy sifting through all the allocations and duties for over 2500 volunteers that will have roles on Darbar day. Shenaz Kotadia, Captain of Birmingham Jamatkhana has said that “being surrounded by dynamic, valiant and smart people working around the clock has been nothing but inspiring. The sacrifice of sleep and dedication of an immense amount of time is familiar to many volunteers; they do not do this for personal gain or material wealth but out of sincere love and devotion for the Imam and Jamat.”
Serving enables us to honour our historical roots, while adapting to and addressing the challenges of our time. Opportunities for the Jamat to come together to serve and to socialise are essential today, as they help to maintain a sense of belonging and community, and remind us of our connectedness with one another.
In addition, service is not only a matter of generosity in giving the best of one's time and skills, it is also about generosity in the manner in which one gives. It means having an open mind and an open heart. As the Jamat prepares to welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam to the UK, Mohammed, Jahanara, Rumina, Shenaz, and thousands of others are serving with open hearts, making final preparations to facilitate a memorable experience for all.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vol ... risdiction
With Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit quickly approaching, thousands of volunteers are working all hours, preparing to host Jamats from Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and across the UK.
In preparing for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom, the demonstration of unity within the Jamat has been heartwarming. The various preparation and celebration programmes and events have been made possible due to the hard work of thousands of volunteers in the Jamat, of all ages and walks of life.
The centuries-old tradition of giving of one's time and resources is a significant aspect of Ismaili history and the bedrock of our community. It encourages initiative, develops leadership capacity and provides Jamati members an opportunity for personal and professional development. Volunteering also encourages us to work together, building unity in the Jamat. This makes us more capable as a community to recognise and respond to new challenges as they arise, and therefore, voluntary service is a way of maintaining and building upon the strength of the Jamat, generation after generation.
Mohammed Ladha started volunteering at the age of 14 at Northwest London Jamatkhana, and his team today still includes many of the same people he started serving with at that time. His team has been busy for weeks preparing to ensure the smooth running of the forthcoming programmes at the Ismaili Centre London. One of the many reasons he is looking forward to the Mulaqat is because “it provides an amazing chance to bond and connect with so many different people you might not otherwise work alongside, all working together to make this a memorable experience for the Jamat.”
Jahanara Mirzai and the Audio Visual Unit have been busy practicing the vital skills required to record and document the various events of the Diamond Jubilee visit. Jahanara, from North London Jamatkhana, has been part of the team for four years and was initially motivated to volunteer after her experience working alongside her sister and friend in the recycling and catering teams during Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee visit in 2008.
“It was quite overwhelming, there was so much to do, there were so many people, but everyone was so happy and I was so happy to be able to help,” Jahanara said. Remembering her kind and energetic team leader at the time, she said she “hopes that others will experience what I experienced and want to volunteer at this Darbar.”
Rumina Rafizadeh, from Leicester Jamatkhana, has been serving for over 30 years. She was Captain of the Ismaili Volunteer Corps (IVC) in Leicester Jamatkhana during Hazar Imam’s visit to the UK in 1994, and recalls the incredible opportunities she had whilst serving. For this visit, she is especially looking forward to sharing the day with her six-year-old daughter, Eiliyah, and introducing her to the ethics of volunteering from a young age. Eiliyah is already showing early promise, helping with catering at local Jamati events.
In the basement of the Ismaili Centre London, the Diamond Jubilee Human Resources team have been busy sifting through all the allocations and duties for over 2500 volunteers that will have roles on Darbar day. Shenaz Kotadia, Captain of Birmingham Jamatkhana has said that “being surrounded by dynamic, valiant and smart people working around the clock has been nothing but inspiring. The sacrifice of sleep and dedication of an immense amount of time is familiar to many volunteers; they do not do this for personal gain or material wealth but out of sincere love and devotion for the Imam and Jamat.”
Serving enables us to honour our historical roots, while adapting to and addressing the challenges of our time. Opportunities for the Jamat to come together to serve and to socialise are essential today, as they help to maintain a sense of belonging and community, and remind us of our connectedness with one another.
In addition, service is not only a matter of generosity in giving the best of one's time and skills, it is also about generosity in the manner in which one gives. It means having an open mind and an open heart. As the Jamat prepares to welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam to the UK, Mohammed, Jahanara, Rumina, Shenaz, and thousands of others are serving with open hearts, making final preparations to facilitate a memorable experience for all.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/vol ... risdiction
Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in the UK
Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in London today to commence his Diamond Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the government.
Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by Prince Amyn on arrival and was warmly welcomed at the airport by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
President Liakat Hasham welcomed Mawlana Hazar Imam and wished him Diamond Jubilee Mubarak on behalf of the UK jurisdiction Jamat. Mawlana Hazar Imam conveyed how happy he is to be in the United Kingdom.
Other members of leadership were also present, representing the Jamat. Following a military salute, the Royal Imperial Military Band played the Nashid al-Imamah and the British National Anthem.
After the formal ceremony, Mawlana Hazar Imam spent a significant amount of time with Lord Ahmad, and signed the guest book before departing the airport.
While in the United Kingdom, Mawlana Hazar Imam will spend time with the Jamats from Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. He is also expected to meet with senior government officials. Hazar Imam will also inaugurate the Aga Khan Centre located in the Knowledge Quarter in London’s King’s Cross. The inauguration ceremony will be webcast on the.ismaili/live tomorrow from 1:45 PM British Summer Time.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... arrives-uk
Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in London today to commence his Diamond Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the government.
Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by Prince Amyn on arrival and was warmly welcomed at the airport by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
President Liakat Hasham welcomed Mawlana Hazar Imam and wished him Diamond Jubilee Mubarak on behalf of the UK jurisdiction Jamat. Mawlana Hazar Imam conveyed how happy he is to be in the United Kingdom.
Other members of leadership were also present, representing the Jamat. Following a military salute, the Royal Imperial Military Band played the Nashid al-Imamah and the British National Anthem.
After the formal ceremony, Mawlana Hazar Imam spent a significant amount of time with Lord Ahmad, and signed the guest book before departing the airport.
While in the United Kingdom, Mawlana Hazar Imam will spend time with the Jamats from Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. He is also expected to meet with senior government officials. Hazar Imam will also inaugurate the Aga Khan Centre located in the Knowledge Quarter in London’s King’s Cross. The inauguration ceremony will be webcast on the.ismaili/live tomorrow from 1:45 PM British Summer Time.
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/maw ... arrives-uk