THE AGA KHAN TO VISIT CANADA
24 October 2006
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, will visit Canada on October 25, 2006.
“It is an honour to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan to Canada,” said the Prime Minister. “Through the Development Network that bears his name, the Aga Khan has contributed significantly to advancement and stability in Asia and Africa while promoting Islam as a thinking, spiritual faith that teaches compassion.”
During the visit, His Highness will meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages.
Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) agencies focus on health, education, culture, rural development, institution-building and economic development in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa. They are dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender. As an AKDN agency, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada plays an increasingly important role working with Canada and Canadians in the field of development and is a source of innovation and creativity in this field.
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=1374