Message from the Leadership
On Friday, May 28, 2010, we will be celebrating the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Aga Khan Museum and Park at which our beloved Hazar Imam will be present. On behalf of the Ismaili Council for Ontario, ITREB Ontario, Jamati and Majalis Mukhi Sahebs, Kamadia Sahebs, Mukhiani Sahebas and Kamadiani Sahebas, and all Jamati Institutions, we extend our warmest felicitations and Mubarakbadi to every member of the Jamat.
The whole Ontario Jamat will celebrate the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Aga Khan Museum and Park on Friday, May 28, 2010, at the Direct Energy Center, starting from 12:00 p.m. There will be activities for children and youth during the day. A light lunch will be served before the live telecast of the Foundation Ceremony to be followed by some refreshments. Later, Jamatkhana ceremonies will take place, followed by an entertainment program including dandia raas, music and devotional performances. We look forward to every member's participation.
We express our immense gratitude to all of our volunteers, donors and their families for their excellent service and commitment.
On this auspicious occasion, we offer Shukrana to our beloved Hazar Imam for his guidance and benevolence, and we encourage the Jamat to reflect on our responsibilities in meeting the needs of our Jamat worldwide. We pray for the Jamat's continued good health, prosperity, unity and strength to remain steadfast on Sirat-al Mustaquim.
President
Council for Ontario Chairman
ITREB Ontario Mukhi Saheb
Headquarters Jamatkhana
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Program Overview
Click here for a map of Direct Energy Centre.
12:00 p.m. Direct Energy Centre welcomes our Jamat
12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Activities, entertainment, exhibition and devotional program
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Live Telecast of Foundation Ceremony
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Activities, entertainment, exhibition and devotional program
5:30 p.m.
Jamati ceremonies
7:00 - 11:30 p.m.
Dinner, exhibition and musical entertainment
10:30 p.m.
Buses depart
11:30 p.m.
Festivities conclude
We are pleased to inform the Jamat that on the day of the Foundation Ceremony, Friday, May 28, the Jamat will gather at the Direct Energy Centre where a broadcast of the event will be telecast. There will be a number of activities and entertainment programs for all throughout the day's festivities. This includes mendhi tents and a kid's zone, an exhibition, a diverse array of musical entertainment, and dandia raas.
As the Jamat arrives at DEC, there will be several cultural groups playing welcome and celebratory music at the entrances to the halls. Music by groups include an internationally-acclaimed Central Asian group led by the well known Afghani artist Wahid Suroor, who sings in Farsi, Pashto, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and many other Asian languages.
There will be performances by the youth of the Toronto Jamat. A special production to be staged just before the Telecast will enlighten the Jamat about the significance of the Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre in Toronto. A unique devotional program that presents our traditions will be presented right after the Telecast.
A literature counter will be open starting at 12 p.m. Books including Under the Eaves of Architecture which mentions the four Canadian projects and The Aga Khan Museum book, illustrating the model plan and garden sketches through pictures, technical drawings and text and including a DVD titled Road to Toronto, will be available for sale. Other items including Tasbihs, Mawlana Hazar Imam's photos, Aga Khan Museum greeting cards, and other IIS publications will also be available for sale.
There will be on-going activities for the children and younger members of the Jamat including painting, handicraft, games and rides to music and other fun activities. There will also be ongoing activities for adults, such as mehndi, Tasbih making and other cultural and traditional activities.
A special program after dinner includes the highly popular young Qawali Group from Calgary and the live staging of Alim Wal Ghulam - the performance presented to our beloved Hazar Imam during the Golden Jubilee visit to Canada at the Institutional Leadership Dinner. This will be followed by a music party, musical renditions, dandia raas, Central Asian dancing and fast raas by some of the most famous and top bands in Toronto.
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Getting to Direct Energy Centre
Bus schedule
Buses will depart at 12 p.m. from all GTA pickup locations and are scheduled to depart from Direct Energy Centre starting at 10:30 p.m. Non-GTA Jamati members are requested to listen to upcoming announcements for specific pick times for their location.
Click here to see a list of pickup locations.
TTC WheelTrans
Jamati members residing in private seniors' buildings are encouraged to pre-book their transportation to and from Direct Energy Centre with TTC WheelTrans and specify Direct Energy Centre when booking. TTC WheelTrans is aware of the drop-off spot and will facilitate easy access to all the festivities.
Directions to Direct Energy Centre, Princes Blvd, Entrance B
From the North / East:
Take Don Valley Parkway South
Get on Gardiner Expressway West
Exit Spadina Ave. / Lakeshore Boulevard
Go straight (right fork) to get onto Lakeshore Boulevard
Turn right on Newfoundland Dr. or Ontario Dr. or British Columbia Rd. and follow signs/instructions
From the West:
Take 401 East to Hwy 427 South
Get on Gardiner Expressway East
Exit Jameson Ave.
Turn left on British Columbia Rd and follow signs/instructions
TTC routes are available here
GO Transit routes and schedules are available here
Look out for electronic road signs upon exiting highways near DEC and in the DEC area for further directions.
To help plan your route, a Google Map has been provided here. Enter your starting point and click "Get Directions".
Transportation & Parking
Parking arrangements have been made at Direct Energy Centre and off-site with shuttle service to and from these lots. Assisted drop off for the very elderly and those with physical challenges is available at Nunavut Road on the west side of Direct Energy Centre.
At allocated lots, drivers must pick up a parking card available from volunteers at all assigned parking lots. Parking cards will identify the zone you parked in.
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General Information
Transportation or Chairs at Direct Energy Centre
Jamati members who require transportation or chairs at Direct Energy Centre are requested to pick up their passes from the coordinator(s) seated in the Jamatkhana foyer between Thursday, May 20th and Tuesday, May 25th. A $5.00 refundable deposit will be required for each Bus Pass.
Non-Ismaili Family Members
We welcome all members of the Jamat including non-Ismaili spouses and family members so that we may celebrate as one. Jamati ceremonies will take place at 5:30 p.m. Special arrangements have been made for other faith spouses and family members to congregate in a separate hall during that time.
Special Needs
There will be wheelchairs at the entrances of the Direct Energy Centre to transport Jamati members, however, please bring your own wheelchair if you have the need for it through the duration of your visit to DEC.
Jamati Members are reminded to please bring their health card and any medications or medical supplies they may require over the course of the event. This includes insulin, glucometers, dressing supplies etc. Prescription medications will NOT be available at the event facilities.
First Aid
First aid and medical personnel will be present at the hall and will be easily identifiable to assess and treat Jamati members with acute medical complaints or injuries.
Parents & Children
Parenting Areas within DEC will be available for parents, nursing mothers and for the feeding and caring for children. Parents with young children are urged to register them and obtain wristband identification at any Information Booth.
Lost Children
Lost children should be reported or brought to any Information Booth.
Lost and Found Articles
Lost and Found articles should be brought to any Information Booth and can be claimed in Hall B.
Foundation Ismaili Centre, Aga Khan Museum and Park
Gift from the Aga Khan
By JENNY YUEN, Toronto Sun
The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims, will put a shovel in the ground Friday, marking the start of construction of a $300-million development in the Don Mills Rd.-Eglinton Ave. area.
Plans call for the building of a museum named after the Aga Khan, an Ismaili Centre and the creation of a park. The massive project is slated for completion by 2013.
“These projects represent a major investment by His Highness in this country’s cultural fabric and are a reflection of the Aga Khan’s commitment to Canada, which serves as a beacon to the rest of the world for its commitment to pluralism and its support for the multicultural richness and diversity of its peoples,” said Farid Damji, of the Ismaili Council for Canada.
The Aga Khan Museum — announced in 2002 — will be built on a 7-hectare site on Wynford Dr. and is the first of its kind in the English speaking world. The 10,000-square-metre structure will house collections of Islamic art, including ceramics, metal work and paintings covering a 1,000-year period of Islamic history. The design was done by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki.
The second part of the project is the Ismaili Centre — a community centre that includes a place of prayer, library, youth lounge and public spaces for cultural activities. It will be located on the same spot as the museum and is designed by Indian architect Charles Correa.
The park on Wynford Dr. has been designed by award-winning Lebanese landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic. It will surround the museum and project a sense of a traditional Islamic garden.
“I’m excited this is happening because (the Aga Khan) is one of the few Muslim leaders who have reconciled with modernity,” said Tarek Fatah, author and founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress. “He offers a very clear alternative to the Islamism that is being spread by Jihadis. (People in the GTA) will get a view of Muslims and Islam without looking through the prism of Saudi or Iranian-tainted politics.”
The Ismaili Centre Toronto is the second in Canada — the other was built in 1985 in Burnaby, B.C. and opened by prime minister Brian Mulroney in the presence of the Aga Khan. Other Ismaili Centres have been built in London, Lisbon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Dushanbe.
Toronto was picked as the site of the museum because of the city’s cultural diversity.
Nearly 100,000 Ismailis are settled throughout Canada — more than 30,000 of them live in Toronto.
[email protected]
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoa ... 64286.html
By JENNY YUEN, Toronto Sun
The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims, will put a shovel in the ground Friday, marking the start of construction of a $300-million development in the Don Mills Rd.-Eglinton Ave. area.
Plans call for the building of a museum named after the Aga Khan, an Ismaili Centre and the creation of a park. The massive project is slated for completion by 2013.
“These projects represent a major investment by His Highness in this country’s cultural fabric and are a reflection of the Aga Khan’s commitment to Canada, which serves as a beacon to the rest of the world for its commitment to pluralism and its support for the multicultural richness and diversity of its peoples,” said Farid Damji, of the Ismaili Council for Canada.
The Aga Khan Museum — announced in 2002 — will be built on a 7-hectare site on Wynford Dr. and is the first of its kind in the English speaking world. The 10,000-square-metre structure will house collections of Islamic art, including ceramics, metal work and paintings covering a 1,000-year period of Islamic history. The design was done by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki.
The second part of the project is the Ismaili Centre — a community centre that includes a place of prayer, library, youth lounge and public spaces for cultural activities. It will be located on the same spot as the museum and is designed by Indian architect Charles Correa.
The park on Wynford Dr. has been designed by award-winning Lebanese landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic. It will surround the museum and project a sense of a traditional Islamic garden.
“I’m excited this is happening because (the Aga Khan) is one of the few Muslim leaders who have reconciled with modernity,” said Tarek Fatah, author and founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress. “He offers a very clear alternative to the Islamism that is being spread by Jihadis. (People in the GTA) will get a view of Muslims and Islam without looking through the prism of Saudi or Iranian-tainted politics.”
The Ismaili Centre Toronto is the second in Canada — the other was built in 1985 in Burnaby, B.C. and opened by prime minister Brian Mulroney in the presence of the Aga Khan. Other Ismaili Centres have been built in London, Lisbon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Dushanbe.
Toronto was picked as the site of the museum because of the city’s cultural diversity.
Nearly 100,000 Ismailis are settled throughout Canada — more than 30,000 of them live in Toronto.
[email protected]
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoa ... 64286.html
New chapter in Canadian Ismaili story set to unfold in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1005/
An aerial view of the Don Mills neighbourhood, looking towards the future site of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their park. The Foundation Ceremony for the three projects is due to take place on 28 May. Photo: Moez Visram
The Toronto neighbourhood of Don Mills is one of the city’s most diverse neighbourhoods — indeed, it is counted among the most diverse in Canada.
“This is a very unique place,” says Mohamed Dhanani. “It’s incredible to see families and communities from so many parts of the world come together here.” People from a range of ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds call the neighbourhood home. A microcosm of Toronto and Canada’s multiculturalism, it is a place where dozens of languages are spoken, and people from all walks of life live and work together.
Access to affordable housing, the close proximity to the Don Valley Parkway (the major north-south highway that snakes its way through the middle of the city) and the cultural ties that new migrants find in the neighbourhood, make the area a sort of “gateway for new Canadians,” explains Dhanani, a Toronto resident since the late 1980s.
Ismaili roots in Canada
Some of the first Ismaili immigrants to Canada settled in apartment buildings like these ones, along Thorncliffe Park Drive. Photo: Moez Visram
Over the decades, Don Mills has opened its welcoming arms and helped many new immigrants to make Canada their home — including Ismaili Muslims.
“This is the area — the Don Mills and Flemingdon Park area — where a significant number of Ismailis coming to Canada in the early 1970s settled,” says Nizar Sultan, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ismaili Council for Canada. “This is also the area where the first [Ismaili] Council for Eastern Canada offices were established.” For several years now it has also been home to the Ismaili Council for Canada.
Ismailis live throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Jamats can also be found in significant numbers in major cities and small towns across the country. Many who are former residents of Don Mills still feel a strong connection to the area. The roots they created here when they first moved to Canada run deep.
“I didn’t realise it while I was there, but I learnt so much from that place growing up,” recalls Fhareen Jamal-Esmail. “I left the area to go to the University of Toronto, and that’s when I saw how much exposure I had had to different cultures that other people don’t normally have. It’s something I will pass on to my kids too.”
Members of the Thorncliffe Jamat gather at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute for mehndi and celebrations during the commemoration of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee. Photo: Moez Visram
All through grade school, Jamal-Esmail lived in the Thorncliffe neighbourhood and was exposed to the different traditions and languages of her friends, while also sharing her own.
“When we would hear about racial or religious clashes elsewhere, it didn’t make sense to me and my friends. Where we lived everyone got along. Everything was focused on the community. We thought it was normal to know so much about different cultures,” she says.
Jamal-Esmail has fond memories of her childhood and is grateful for the experience: “We talk of Canadian values such as social acceptance and the ability for people to keep their values and traditions from their home countries, instead of turning into a melting pot — Don Mills exemplifies this perfectly.”
Welcoming and inclusive neighbourhood
Volunteers from the Ismaili community and the Islamic Society of Toronto with Rev Helena-Rose Houldcroft, Director of the Flemingdon Park Ministry, at the food bank. Photo: Moez Visram
Neighbourhood residents come together willingly, and are always ready to help those in need. Some 80 per cent of the food bank’s recipients come from ethnic communities — including Muslims. The local Flemingdon Park Food Bank receives generous support from donors and volunteers, many of whom are also Muslim. “It’s all about looking after your neighbour – immediate and long-range neighbour”, says Abdulsultan Madhani, a volunteer social worker and Board Member of the Flemingdon Food Bank.
In fact, the riding of Don Valley West has one of the highest proportions of Muslims in Canada. According to 2001 census data, almost 14 per cent of residents claimed Islam as their faith, but a local neighbourhood association says that figure has since more than doubled. Over the past three decades, the area has been favoured by many Muslims settling in Toronto, and holds the distinction of having elected the first Muslim politician in Canada, former Ontario MPP Murad Velshi.
Ismaili Seniors from the Don Mills area take part in an exercise programme at a local Jamatkhana. Photo: Moez Visram“This is really a unique riding,” says Dhanani. “There are stark differences in people’s realities. When you drive five minutes in any direction, you find something new.”
With a mixture of lower-end rental apartments, new high-rise condominiums, industrial buildings, offices, retail shops, lush greenery and large wide open spaces waiting to be developed, the area is envisioned becoming a prime location, where people can live, work and play, all the same area.
Laying foundations — fostering pluralism
And soon, an important step will be taken along the journey towards that vision.
An aerial view of the Wynford Drive site, which is being developed into a park where the Ismaili Centre, Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum will be situated. The site is clearly visible from the adjacent Don Valley Parkway thoroughfare. Photo: Courtesy of Imara Wynford Drive
On 28 May, Mawlana Hazar Imam will lay the foundation for an important new development that will include a museum of Muslim culture and a centre for religious gathering and cultural outreach, all of which will be surrounded by a large landscaped park. The two buildings, which have been designed by architects of international renown, will be situated within a 17-acre plot along Wynford Drive.
The Aga Khan Museum will be a museum of Muslim culture that will seek to address the gap of knowledge about Islam and create opportunities for dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures. The first of its kind in North America, it will bring together visitors locally and internationally, both Muslim and non-Muslim, to explore their connected heritage and celebrate their unique backgrounds.
Standing tall next to the Museum, the Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be a new representational building for the Ismaili Muslim community, and a place for spiritual contemplation and reflection. The sixth such centre in the world, and the second to be situated in Canada, it will be part of a global network of Ismaili Centres found in London, Burnaby, Lisbon, Dubai and Dushanbe. Architecturally unique, each one incorporates spaces for social and cultural gatherings, hosts intellectual engagements and serves as an ambassadorial hub, while representing a balance between faith and modern life.
Following an Olympic Truce dialogue hosted at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, Presidents Mohamed Manji and Samira Alibhai, of the Ismaili Councils for Canada and British Columbia, present a gift — the Bismillah Raven by Sherazad Jamal — to the Governor General. The gift represents a multiplicity of expressions and the coming together of two cultures. Photo: Aziz Ladha
The Ismaili Centre, Burnaby for example, was the venue of an Olympic Truce Dialogue led by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada in the run-up to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In November, the 2009 Lisbon Forum — an annual event of the North-South Centre that was organised in partnership with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Aga Khan Development Network — took place at the Ismaili Centre, Lisbon. The focus of the gathering was the “creation of a culture of human rights through education.” Similarly, the Centre in Toronto will also be a place of friendship, gathering and exchange that will bridge cultures, build on common values and enhance relationships among faith communities, government and civil society.
A new and important chapter
“These projects are going to be a catalyst for change,” according to Dhanani. “It’s really going to become a destination to visit the park and see the architecture and the museum. It’s going to bring some much needed exposure to the area.”
A view of Don Mills Jamatkhana from Overlea Boulevard. Photo: Moez VisramHaving been established in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto since Ismailis first arrived in Canada some four decades ago, the Jamat will have a space to celebrate and share its own unique background, with the wider community who have become family. The Centre will be a symbol of the permanence of the Ismaili community as part of the Canadian fabric.
Jamal-Esmail looks forward to the day when the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and the Park open their doors. “There is a lot of opportunity here,” she says, “for students, for everyone, to gain a different perspective. What is Islam, how do Muslims give it expression in everyday life?”
And in many ways, that is what these projects represent. The history of Don Mills and that of the Canadian Ismaili community are tightly bound, and the foundation ceremony along Wynford Drive this week represents a new and important chapter.
******
Ismaili project on Wynford Drive breaks ground May 28
A $300 million Ismaili project on Wynford Drive will get underway with a ground breaking Friday, May 28.
The Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, will be on hand for the ceremony.
Slated for completion in 2013, the 17-acre development in the Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue area will be made up of the Ismaili Centre Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and a park.
The Ismaili Centre Toronto will include a place for prayer, a library, youth lounge and public spaces for cultural activities.
Indian architect Charles Correa will create the design concept, which will mark his first Canadian commission.
The Ismaili Centre Toronto is the second such site in Canada, behind the site built in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1985.
Other Ismaili centres have been built in London, Lisbon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Dushanbe.
The Aga Khan Museum, in the works since 2002, will be the first of its kind in the western world.
The 10,000-square-metre structure, designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, will house collections of Ismaili art, including ceramics, metal work and paintings covering a 1,000-year period of Islamic history.
The park, designed by Lebanese landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic, will be open to the public and feature a traditional Islamic garden and will surround the centre and museum.
"It's an exciting project," said Amyn Sayani, a volunteer with the Ismaili Council for Canada. "His Highness (the Aga Khan) talked about how it isn't really a clash of civilizations, but a clash of ignorance between the Islamic and western worlds. We want to allow dialogue between people of different cultures and faiths. The aim is to bring people together in understanding."
Sayani said Toronto was chosen for the development because the city is internationally recognized for its diversity.
"Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in North America," he said. "It's very accepting of new ideas." .
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local ... und-may-28
*****
Media advisory - Aga Khan to launch new institutions in Toronto, Canada
Foundation Ceremony for the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and Park to take place in Toronto, Friday
TORONTO, May 26 /CNW Telbec/ - On Friday, May 28, 2010, His Highness the Aga Khan will participate in the Foundation Ceremony to mark the beginning of the development of the Ismaili Centre, the first-ever Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture, and their Park, in Toronto's Don Mills area.
The development of these projects, an initiative of His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, seeks to foster knowledge and understanding both within Muslim societies and between these societies and other cultures. The Aga Khan Museum and its collection reflect the plurality of the Muslim world, while the adjacent Ismaili Centre will create spaces for interaction and dialogue. Together, they will offer platforms for the search for mutual understanding among all communities and cultures.
Situated on a 6.8 hectare site along a major artery of Toronto, the Don Valley Parkway, the buildings and park represent the Aga Khan's commitment to Canada and appreciation for the country's adherence to pluralism and cultural diversity.
WHAT: Foundation Ceremony for the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, the Aga Khan
Museum, and Park - invitation only event
WHEN: Friday, May 28, 2010 at 1:30pm (media are required to be in
position no later than 12:30 pm)
WHERE: 49 Wynford Drive
The Projects
------------
Designed by renowned architect Charles Correa, the Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be the newest addition to a network of Ismaili Centres worldwide, and will be the second in Canada after the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby which opened in 1985. The Centres are representational buildings for the Ismaili Muslim community, and will include a place of prayer, library and spaces for cultural activities. The Centre will host an active series of programming to engage a variety of stakeholders in dialogue, learning, and bridge-building. This is Correa's first commission in Canada.
The Aga Khan Museum, devoted to Islamic art, is an educational institution showcasing the intellectual, cultural, artistic and religious heritage of Muslim civilizations with their historic, cultural and geographic diversity. The Aga Khan Museum has been designed by the award-winning Japanese architect, Fumihiko Maki, who also designed the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa.
The two projects will be united by a new landscaped park, designed by Lebanese landscape architect, Vladimir Djurovic. The park will incorporate the Islamic "chaar bhag" or formal garden, and will include reflecting pools, walkways, and four-season components suited to the climate of Toronto. The Park will be open to the public and is intended to be a place of tranquility and contemplation.
For more information please visit:
www.akdn.org for information on the Aga Khan Development Network
www.TheIsmaili.org/ismailicentres for information on the Ismaili Centres
www.akdn.org/museum for information on the Aga Khan Museum
Media resources including background information and visuals will be made available upon request.
Media are required to register for this event in advance at [email protected] . Media accredited with the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery will have access to the event. Non-gallery members must send a letter of assignment to [email protected]. As space is limited, we apologize in advance for not being able to accommodate all requests.
Note that media parking on site is limited. Broadcast media planning live coverage can forward requests to the contacts below.
Registered media are required to arrive by the Wynford Drive entrance
no later than 12:30 pm.
For further information: Amyn Sayani, Aga Khan Council for Canada, (416) 893-1724, [email protected]; Laurie Peters, Aga Khan Foundation Canada, (613) 237-2532 ext 120, [email protected]
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c6871.html
*****
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1005/
An aerial view of the Don Mills neighbourhood, looking towards the future site of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their park. The Foundation Ceremony for the three projects is due to take place on 28 May. Photo: Moez Visram
The Toronto neighbourhood of Don Mills is one of the city’s most diverse neighbourhoods — indeed, it is counted among the most diverse in Canada.
“This is a very unique place,” says Mohamed Dhanani. “It’s incredible to see families and communities from so many parts of the world come together here.” People from a range of ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds call the neighbourhood home. A microcosm of Toronto and Canada’s multiculturalism, it is a place where dozens of languages are spoken, and people from all walks of life live and work together.
Access to affordable housing, the close proximity to the Don Valley Parkway (the major north-south highway that snakes its way through the middle of the city) and the cultural ties that new migrants find in the neighbourhood, make the area a sort of “gateway for new Canadians,” explains Dhanani, a Toronto resident since the late 1980s.
Ismaili roots in Canada
Some of the first Ismaili immigrants to Canada settled in apartment buildings like these ones, along Thorncliffe Park Drive. Photo: Moez Visram
Over the decades, Don Mills has opened its welcoming arms and helped many new immigrants to make Canada their home — including Ismaili Muslims.
“This is the area — the Don Mills and Flemingdon Park area — where a significant number of Ismailis coming to Canada in the early 1970s settled,” says Nizar Sultan, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ismaili Council for Canada. “This is also the area where the first [Ismaili] Council for Eastern Canada offices were established.” For several years now it has also been home to the Ismaili Council for Canada.
Ismailis live throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Jamats can also be found in significant numbers in major cities and small towns across the country. Many who are former residents of Don Mills still feel a strong connection to the area. The roots they created here when they first moved to Canada run deep.
“I didn’t realise it while I was there, but I learnt so much from that place growing up,” recalls Fhareen Jamal-Esmail. “I left the area to go to the University of Toronto, and that’s when I saw how much exposure I had had to different cultures that other people don’t normally have. It’s something I will pass on to my kids too.”
Members of the Thorncliffe Jamat gather at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute for mehndi and celebrations during the commemoration of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee. Photo: Moez Visram
All through grade school, Jamal-Esmail lived in the Thorncliffe neighbourhood and was exposed to the different traditions and languages of her friends, while also sharing her own.
“When we would hear about racial or religious clashes elsewhere, it didn’t make sense to me and my friends. Where we lived everyone got along. Everything was focused on the community. We thought it was normal to know so much about different cultures,” she says.
Jamal-Esmail has fond memories of her childhood and is grateful for the experience: “We talk of Canadian values such as social acceptance and the ability for people to keep their values and traditions from their home countries, instead of turning into a melting pot — Don Mills exemplifies this perfectly.”
Welcoming and inclusive neighbourhood
Volunteers from the Ismaili community and the Islamic Society of Toronto with Rev Helena-Rose Houldcroft, Director of the Flemingdon Park Ministry, at the food bank. Photo: Moez Visram
Neighbourhood residents come together willingly, and are always ready to help those in need. Some 80 per cent of the food bank’s recipients come from ethnic communities — including Muslims. The local Flemingdon Park Food Bank receives generous support from donors and volunteers, many of whom are also Muslim. “It’s all about looking after your neighbour – immediate and long-range neighbour”, says Abdulsultan Madhani, a volunteer social worker and Board Member of the Flemingdon Food Bank.
In fact, the riding of Don Valley West has one of the highest proportions of Muslims in Canada. According to 2001 census data, almost 14 per cent of residents claimed Islam as their faith, but a local neighbourhood association says that figure has since more than doubled. Over the past three decades, the area has been favoured by many Muslims settling in Toronto, and holds the distinction of having elected the first Muslim politician in Canada, former Ontario MPP Murad Velshi.
Ismaili Seniors from the Don Mills area take part in an exercise programme at a local Jamatkhana. Photo: Moez Visram“This is really a unique riding,” says Dhanani. “There are stark differences in people’s realities. When you drive five minutes in any direction, you find something new.”
With a mixture of lower-end rental apartments, new high-rise condominiums, industrial buildings, offices, retail shops, lush greenery and large wide open spaces waiting to be developed, the area is envisioned becoming a prime location, where people can live, work and play, all the same area.
Laying foundations — fostering pluralism
And soon, an important step will be taken along the journey towards that vision.
An aerial view of the Wynford Drive site, which is being developed into a park where the Ismaili Centre, Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum will be situated. The site is clearly visible from the adjacent Don Valley Parkway thoroughfare. Photo: Courtesy of Imara Wynford Drive
On 28 May, Mawlana Hazar Imam will lay the foundation for an important new development that will include a museum of Muslim culture and a centre for religious gathering and cultural outreach, all of which will be surrounded by a large landscaped park. The two buildings, which have been designed by architects of international renown, will be situated within a 17-acre plot along Wynford Drive.
The Aga Khan Museum will be a museum of Muslim culture that will seek to address the gap of knowledge about Islam and create opportunities for dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures. The first of its kind in North America, it will bring together visitors locally and internationally, both Muslim and non-Muslim, to explore their connected heritage and celebrate their unique backgrounds.
Standing tall next to the Museum, the Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be a new representational building for the Ismaili Muslim community, and a place for spiritual contemplation and reflection. The sixth such centre in the world, and the second to be situated in Canada, it will be part of a global network of Ismaili Centres found in London, Burnaby, Lisbon, Dubai and Dushanbe. Architecturally unique, each one incorporates spaces for social and cultural gatherings, hosts intellectual engagements and serves as an ambassadorial hub, while representing a balance between faith and modern life.
Following an Olympic Truce dialogue hosted at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, Presidents Mohamed Manji and Samira Alibhai, of the Ismaili Councils for Canada and British Columbia, present a gift — the Bismillah Raven by Sherazad Jamal — to the Governor General. The gift represents a multiplicity of expressions and the coming together of two cultures. Photo: Aziz Ladha
The Ismaili Centre, Burnaby for example, was the venue of an Olympic Truce Dialogue led by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada in the run-up to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In November, the 2009 Lisbon Forum — an annual event of the North-South Centre that was organised in partnership with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Aga Khan Development Network — took place at the Ismaili Centre, Lisbon. The focus of the gathering was the “creation of a culture of human rights through education.” Similarly, the Centre in Toronto will also be a place of friendship, gathering and exchange that will bridge cultures, build on common values and enhance relationships among faith communities, government and civil society.
A new and important chapter
“These projects are going to be a catalyst for change,” according to Dhanani. “It’s really going to become a destination to visit the park and see the architecture and the museum. It’s going to bring some much needed exposure to the area.”
A view of Don Mills Jamatkhana from Overlea Boulevard. Photo: Moez VisramHaving been established in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto since Ismailis first arrived in Canada some four decades ago, the Jamat will have a space to celebrate and share its own unique background, with the wider community who have become family. The Centre will be a symbol of the permanence of the Ismaili community as part of the Canadian fabric.
Jamal-Esmail looks forward to the day when the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and the Park open their doors. “There is a lot of opportunity here,” she says, “for students, for everyone, to gain a different perspective. What is Islam, how do Muslims give it expression in everyday life?”
And in many ways, that is what these projects represent. The history of Don Mills and that of the Canadian Ismaili community are tightly bound, and the foundation ceremony along Wynford Drive this week represents a new and important chapter.
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Ismaili project on Wynford Drive breaks ground May 28
A $300 million Ismaili project on Wynford Drive will get underway with a ground breaking Friday, May 28.
The Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, will be on hand for the ceremony.
Slated for completion in 2013, the 17-acre development in the Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue area will be made up of the Ismaili Centre Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and a park.
The Ismaili Centre Toronto will include a place for prayer, a library, youth lounge and public spaces for cultural activities.
Indian architect Charles Correa will create the design concept, which will mark his first Canadian commission.
The Ismaili Centre Toronto is the second such site in Canada, behind the site built in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1985.
Other Ismaili centres have been built in London, Lisbon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Dushanbe.
The Aga Khan Museum, in the works since 2002, will be the first of its kind in the western world.
The 10,000-square-metre structure, designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, will house collections of Ismaili art, including ceramics, metal work and paintings covering a 1,000-year period of Islamic history.
The park, designed by Lebanese landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic, will be open to the public and feature a traditional Islamic garden and will surround the centre and museum.
"It's an exciting project," said Amyn Sayani, a volunteer with the Ismaili Council for Canada. "His Highness (the Aga Khan) talked about how it isn't really a clash of civilizations, but a clash of ignorance between the Islamic and western worlds. We want to allow dialogue between people of different cultures and faiths. The aim is to bring people together in understanding."
Sayani said Toronto was chosen for the development because the city is internationally recognized for its diversity.
"Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in North America," he said. "It's very accepting of new ideas." .
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local ... und-may-28
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Media advisory - Aga Khan to launch new institutions in Toronto, Canada
Foundation Ceremony for the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and Park to take place in Toronto, Friday
TORONTO, May 26 /CNW Telbec/ - On Friday, May 28, 2010, His Highness the Aga Khan will participate in the Foundation Ceremony to mark the beginning of the development of the Ismaili Centre, the first-ever Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture, and their Park, in Toronto's Don Mills area.
The development of these projects, an initiative of His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, seeks to foster knowledge and understanding both within Muslim societies and between these societies and other cultures. The Aga Khan Museum and its collection reflect the plurality of the Muslim world, while the adjacent Ismaili Centre will create spaces for interaction and dialogue. Together, they will offer platforms for the search for mutual understanding among all communities and cultures.
Situated on a 6.8 hectare site along a major artery of Toronto, the Don Valley Parkway, the buildings and park represent the Aga Khan's commitment to Canada and appreciation for the country's adherence to pluralism and cultural diversity.
WHAT: Foundation Ceremony for the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, the Aga Khan
Museum, and Park - invitation only event
WHEN: Friday, May 28, 2010 at 1:30pm (media are required to be in
position no later than 12:30 pm)
WHERE: 49 Wynford Drive
The Projects
------------
Designed by renowned architect Charles Correa, the Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be the newest addition to a network of Ismaili Centres worldwide, and will be the second in Canada after the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby which opened in 1985. The Centres are representational buildings for the Ismaili Muslim community, and will include a place of prayer, library and spaces for cultural activities. The Centre will host an active series of programming to engage a variety of stakeholders in dialogue, learning, and bridge-building. This is Correa's first commission in Canada.
The Aga Khan Museum, devoted to Islamic art, is an educational institution showcasing the intellectual, cultural, artistic and religious heritage of Muslim civilizations with their historic, cultural and geographic diversity. The Aga Khan Museum has been designed by the award-winning Japanese architect, Fumihiko Maki, who also designed the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa.
The two projects will be united by a new landscaped park, designed by Lebanese landscape architect, Vladimir Djurovic. The park will incorporate the Islamic "chaar bhag" or formal garden, and will include reflecting pools, walkways, and four-season components suited to the climate of Toronto. The Park will be open to the public and is intended to be a place of tranquility and contemplation.
For more information please visit:
www.akdn.org for information on the Aga Khan Development Network
www.TheIsmaili.org/ismailicentres for information on the Ismaili Centres
www.akdn.org/museum for information on the Aga Khan Museum
Media resources including background information and visuals will be made available upon request.
Media are required to register for this event in advance at [email protected] . Media accredited with the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery will have access to the event. Non-gallery members must send a letter of assignment to [email protected]. As space is limited, we apologize in advance for not being able to accommodate all requests.
Note that media parking on site is limited. Broadcast media planning live coverage can forward requests to the contacts below.
Registered media are required to arrive by the Wynford Drive entrance
no later than 12:30 pm.
For further information: Amyn Sayani, Aga Khan Council for Canada, (416) 893-1724, [email protected]; Laurie Peters, Aga Khan Foundation Canada, (613) 237-2532 ext 120, [email protected]
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c6871.html
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Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Canada to lay foundation of Ismaili Centre, museum and park
Upon his arrival in Ottawa, Mawlana Hazar Imam was welcomed by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon, Ismaili Council for Canada President Mohamed Manji, and other leaders of the Jamat and AKDN institutions in Canada. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Ottawa, 26 May 2010 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Ottawa this afternoon, marking the start of a two-day visit to Canada during which he will participate in the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, the first-ever Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture, and the park where they will be situated in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood.
Also see:
» Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Canada to lay foundation of Ismaili Centre, museum and park
» Media Advisory: Aga Khan to Launch New Institutions in Toronto, Canada
» New chapter in Canadian Ismaili story set to unfold in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto
» Aga Khan Museum Collection reflects pluralism of the Muslim world and shared human heritage
The buildings and park represent Mawlana Hazar Imam’s commitment to Canada, a country that he has described as “a beacon to the rest of the world for its commitment to pluralism and for its support for the multicultural richness and diversity of its peoples.”
Upon his arrival, Hazar Imam was received on behalf of the Government of Canada by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Mohamed Manji, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada, and other leaders of the Jamat and AKDN institutions. Hazar Imam was accompanied by his brother, Prince Amyn.
In anticipation of the Foundation Ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in the afternoon on Friday, 28 May, programmes exploring the importance of museums, the diversity and heritage of Muslim civilisations, as well as the symbolic value and lasting legacy of the Ismaili Centres are underway. Jamati celebrations marking the event have been planned across Canada, and in Toronto the entire Jamat will gather on Friday for an afternoon of programmes and festivities.
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1006/Mawl ... m-and-park
Upon his arrival in Ottawa, Mawlana Hazar Imam was welcomed by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon, Ismaili Council for Canada President Mohamed Manji, and other leaders of the Jamat and AKDN institutions in Canada. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Ottawa, 26 May 2010 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Ottawa this afternoon, marking the start of a two-day visit to Canada during which he will participate in the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, the first-ever Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture, and the park where they will be situated in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood.
Also see:
» Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Canada to lay foundation of Ismaili Centre, museum and park
» Media Advisory: Aga Khan to Launch New Institutions in Toronto, Canada
» New chapter in Canadian Ismaili story set to unfold in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto
» Aga Khan Museum Collection reflects pluralism of the Muslim world and shared human heritage
The buildings and park represent Mawlana Hazar Imam’s commitment to Canada, a country that he has described as “a beacon to the rest of the world for its commitment to pluralism and for its support for the multicultural richness and diversity of its peoples.”
Upon his arrival, Hazar Imam was received on behalf of the Government of Canada by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Mohamed Manji, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada, and other leaders of the Jamat and AKDN institutions. Hazar Imam was accompanied by his brother, Prince Amyn.
In anticipation of the Foundation Ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in the afternoon on Friday, 28 May, programmes exploring the importance of museums, the diversity and heritage of Muslim civilisations, as well as the symbolic value and lasting legacy of the Ismaili Centres are underway. Jamati celebrations marking the event have been planned across Canada, and in Toronto the entire Jamat will gather on Friday for an afternoon of programmes and festivities.
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1006/Mawl ... m-and-park
Mawlana Hazar Imam is awarded Honourary Canadian Citizenship as he is joined by Prime Minister for Foundation Ceremony in Toronto
Prime Minister Stephen Harper presents Mawlana Hazar Imam with a certificate of Honorary Canadian Citizenship at the Foundation Ceremony in Toronto. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Toronto, 28 May 2010 — Mawlana Hazar Imam and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were in Toronto today to mark the Foundation of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park situated in the city’s Don Mills area.
“Together, these three projects will symbolise the harmonious integration of the spiritual, the artistic and the natural worlds, in keeping with the holistic ideal which is an intimate part of Islamic tradition,” said Hazar Imam. “At the same time they will also express a profound commitment to inter-cultural engagement, and international cooperation.”
Also see:
» Speech by the Prime Minister of Canada at the Foundation Ceremony in Toronto
» Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Foundation Ceremony in Toronto
» Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Toronto ahead of Foundation Ceremony
» Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Canada to lay foundation of Ismaili Centre, museum and park
» Media Advisory: Aga Khan to Launch New Institutions in Toronto, Canada
» New chapter in Canadian Ismaili story set to unfold in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto
» Aga Khan Museum Collection reflects pluralism of the Muslim world and shared human heritage
Upon his arrival in Toronto, Prince Rahim is introduced to Jamati leaders by Ismaili Council for Canada Vice-President Malik Talib. Photo: Gary Otte
The development of these projects seeks to foster knowledge and understanding both within Muslim societies and between these societies and other cultures. The Aga Khan Museum and its collection reflect the plurality of the Muslim world, while the adjacent Ismaili Centre will create spaces for interaction and dialogue. Together, they will offer platforms for the search for mutual understanding among all communities and cultures.
Following an earlier meeting, Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Prime Minster arrived at the Wynford Drive site together. They were greeted by Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya, who were present for the historic occasion.
Recalling the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat that he opened in Ottawa with Mawlana Hazar Imam in 2008, Prime Minister Harper said “the museum and the gorgeous formal gardens and the Ismaili Centre that are to accompany it, promise to be another stunning addition to Canada’s growing array of architectural treasures.”
Designed by renowned architect Charles Correa, the Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be the newest addition to a network of Ismaili Centres worldwide, and will be the second in Canada after the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby which opened in 1985. The Centres are representational buildings for the Ismaili Muslim community, and will include a place of prayer, library and spaces for cultural activities.
The Aga Khan Museum has been designed by the award-winning Japanese architect, Fumihiko Maki, who also designed the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa. The Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum will be united by a new landscaped park, designed by Lebanese landscape architect, Vladimir Djurovic. The park will incorporate the Islamic chahar-bagh or formal garden, and will include reflecting pools, walkways, and four-season components suited to the climate of Toronto.
“There are no superlatives to adequately describe the admiration that Canadians have for your work, that you and your organisation do for us all in the service of pluralism, peace and development around the world,” said the Prime Minister.
He used the occasion to formally announce the Canadian Parliament’s unanimous decision to make Mawlana Hazar Imam an Honorary Canadian Citizen, and to present Mawlana Hazar Imam with a certificate of citizenship, as well as a Canadian flag that had previously flown on Parliament Hill, known as a “Peace Tower flag”.
“Welcome to our home and native land, Your Highness,” said the Prime Minister to Hazar Imam. “It is now and forever your home.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed his gratitude for “the great honour which this country has paid to me today by extending this generous gift of Honorary Canadian Citizenship.”
“I have always felt very much at home in Canada,” said Hazar Imam, “but never more so than at this moment.”
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1011/Mawl ... in-Toronto
Prime Minister Stephen Harper presents Mawlana Hazar Imam with a certificate of Honorary Canadian Citizenship at the Foundation Ceremony in Toronto. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Toronto, 28 May 2010 — Mawlana Hazar Imam and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were in Toronto today to mark the Foundation of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park situated in the city’s Don Mills area.
“Together, these three projects will symbolise the harmonious integration of the spiritual, the artistic and the natural worlds, in keeping with the holistic ideal which is an intimate part of Islamic tradition,” said Hazar Imam. “At the same time they will also express a profound commitment to inter-cultural engagement, and international cooperation.”
Also see:
» Speech by the Prime Minister of Canada at the Foundation Ceremony in Toronto
» Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Foundation Ceremony in Toronto
» Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Toronto ahead of Foundation Ceremony
» Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Canada to lay foundation of Ismaili Centre, museum and park
» Media Advisory: Aga Khan to Launch New Institutions in Toronto, Canada
» New chapter in Canadian Ismaili story set to unfold in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto
» Aga Khan Museum Collection reflects pluralism of the Muslim world and shared human heritage
Upon his arrival in Toronto, Prince Rahim is introduced to Jamati leaders by Ismaili Council for Canada Vice-President Malik Talib. Photo: Gary Otte
The development of these projects seeks to foster knowledge and understanding both within Muslim societies and between these societies and other cultures. The Aga Khan Museum and its collection reflect the plurality of the Muslim world, while the adjacent Ismaili Centre will create spaces for interaction and dialogue. Together, they will offer platforms for the search for mutual understanding among all communities and cultures.
Following an earlier meeting, Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Prime Minster arrived at the Wynford Drive site together. They were greeted by Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya, who were present for the historic occasion.
Recalling the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat that he opened in Ottawa with Mawlana Hazar Imam in 2008, Prime Minister Harper said “the museum and the gorgeous formal gardens and the Ismaili Centre that are to accompany it, promise to be another stunning addition to Canada’s growing array of architectural treasures.”
Designed by renowned architect Charles Correa, the Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be the newest addition to a network of Ismaili Centres worldwide, and will be the second in Canada after the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby which opened in 1985. The Centres are representational buildings for the Ismaili Muslim community, and will include a place of prayer, library and spaces for cultural activities.
The Aga Khan Museum has been designed by the award-winning Japanese architect, Fumihiko Maki, who also designed the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa. The Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum will be united by a new landscaped park, designed by Lebanese landscape architect, Vladimir Djurovic. The park will incorporate the Islamic chahar-bagh or formal garden, and will include reflecting pools, walkways, and four-season components suited to the climate of Toronto.
“There are no superlatives to adequately describe the admiration that Canadians have for your work, that you and your organisation do for us all in the service of pluralism, peace and development around the world,” said the Prime Minister.
He used the occasion to formally announce the Canadian Parliament’s unanimous decision to make Mawlana Hazar Imam an Honorary Canadian Citizen, and to present Mawlana Hazar Imam with a certificate of citizenship, as well as a Canadian flag that had previously flown on Parliament Hill, known as a “Peace Tower flag”.
“Welcome to our home and native land, Your Highness,” said the Prime Minister to Hazar Imam. “It is now and forever your home.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed his gratitude for “the great honour which this country has paid to me today by extending this generous gift of Honorary Canadian Citizenship.”
“I have always felt very much at home in Canada,” said Hazar Imam, “but never more so than at this moment.”
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1011/Mawl ... in-Toronto
Video: Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1015/Vide ... their-Park
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1015/Vide ... their-Park
Ismaili project something Toronto can be proud of
As these types of events go, it was no ordinary groundbreaking.
Given the event's size, scope and honoured guests - not to mention it included the bestowing of just the fifth honourary Canadian citizenship since 1985 - it's fairly easy to see why. Last Friday, in the Eglinton Avenue and Wynford Drive area of the city, was the official groundbreaking of a $300-million Ismaili project. A development that's been in the works since 2002, it's set to open in 2013 on 17 acres of land.
Included in the site are the Ismaili Centre Toronto, a public park and the Aga Khan Museum. Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, was on hand to present the Aga Khan with the honourary citizenship. The Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and founder and chair of the Aga Khan Development Network.
For starters, the Ismaili Centre Toronto is just the second building of its kind in this country and sixth in the western world. Included is a place for prayer, a library, youth lounge and public spaces for cultural activities. The park will include reflecting pools and walkways surrounding the other two components.
As for the museum, it's absolutely noteworthy that this project is the first of its kind in the western world. Containing art and artifacts covering a 1,000-year period of Islamic history, the museum is intended to serve as an educational institution showcasing the heritage of Muslim civilizations and their attendant diversities.
This development is significant on several levels. At the most local of those levels and from a community development standpoint, the project will surely prove transformative to the area of the city it's situated in, the south-eastern reaches of North York.
Overall, for the city, which is already home to a vibrant and diverse artistic and cultural community, the project will surely continue to broaden and enhance that appeal.
Perhaps most importantly, however, it's also a fitting reflection of Toronto, one of the most diverse urban centres on the continent, and its people. Indeed, it's something for the city to celebrate and be proud of. Ultimately, the project has the strong potential to be one that honours the past, fits in to the present day, and hopefully looks forward to the future.
It only makes sense the makeup of Toronto and its component communities should be reflected in the places we live, work, play, worship and learn. We eagerly await the outcome. .
http://www.insidetoronto.com/opinion/ed ... e-proud-of
As these types of events go, it was no ordinary groundbreaking.
Given the event's size, scope and honoured guests - not to mention it included the bestowing of just the fifth honourary Canadian citizenship since 1985 - it's fairly easy to see why. Last Friday, in the Eglinton Avenue and Wynford Drive area of the city, was the official groundbreaking of a $300-million Ismaili project. A development that's been in the works since 2002, it's set to open in 2013 on 17 acres of land.
Included in the site are the Ismaili Centre Toronto, a public park and the Aga Khan Museum. Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, was on hand to present the Aga Khan with the honourary citizenship. The Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and founder and chair of the Aga Khan Development Network.
For starters, the Ismaili Centre Toronto is just the second building of its kind in this country and sixth in the western world. Included is a place for prayer, a library, youth lounge and public spaces for cultural activities. The park will include reflecting pools and walkways surrounding the other two components.
As for the museum, it's absolutely noteworthy that this project is the first of its kind in the western world. Containing art and artifacts covering a 1,000-year period of Islamic history, the museum is intended to serve as an educational institution showcasing the heritage of Muslim civilizations and their attendant diversities.
This development is significant on several levels. At the most local of those levels and from a community development standpoint, the project will surely prove transformative to the area of the city it's situated in, the south-eastern reaches of North York.
Overall, for the city, which is already home to a vibrant and diverse artistic and cultural community, the project will surely continue to broaden and enhance that appeal.
Perhaps most importantly, however, it's also a fitting reflection of Toronto, one of the most diverse urban centres on the continent, and its people. Indeed, it's something for the city to celebrate and be proud of. Ultimately, the project has the strong potential to be one that honours the past, fits in to the present day, and hopefully looks forward to the future.
It only makes sense the makeup of Toronto and its component communities should be reflected in the places we live, work, play, worship and learn. We eagerly await the outcome. .
http://www.insidetoronto.com/opinion/ed ... e-proud-of
TORONTO CITY CONCILLOR REFLECTS ON THE FOUNDATION CEREMONY
Source: http://simerg.com/
A Message by John Parker
Toronto City Councillor, Ward 26 – Don Valley West
Councillor John Parker
May 28 marked an important milestone in an exciting project in Ward 26 that will create a new landmark in Toronto of international significance.
On that day the Prime Minister of Canada joined the Aga Khan and several hundred invited guests at the Foundation Ceremony marking the start of construction work on the $300 million Aga Khan Centre at the corner of Eglinton and the Don Valley Parkway.
The project features three significant components: The Aga Khan museum, the Ismaili Centre, and a large, beautiful, park and garden for public use and enjoyment. The site could not be more prominent: The hillside site clearly visible from miles to the south and west of one of the busiest intersections in Toronto. The Ismaili Centre will be a gathering place for spiritual and intellectual discourse. The museum will gather, preserve, and display art and artefacts of Muslim civilization and heritage. Together they will advance the Ismailis’ moderate outlook and respect for the search for knowledge and beauty.
The Prime Minister put it clearly: “Canada is honoured to have been chosen as the site for these important institutions. They will serve to promote pluralism, peace, and tolerance through greater understanding of Islam.”
He went on to say, quite correctly, that the project “will be a stunning addition to Canada’s growing architecture. It will be a grand destination and will be a magnet to visitors from Canada and around the world and will promote pluralism, peace, and knowledge.”
The Aga Khan echoed the Prime Minister’s comments, saying, “It will help people understand and embrace the power of human diversity…. It will have a strong education aspect.”
The Aga Khan is the leader of the world’s approximately 15 million Ismailis. His passion for his own work and for his people worldwide is to promote peace and understanding. In a world where I believe our biggest human problem is ignorance and suspicion, the initiative represented by the Aga Khan Centre is a welcome step in the right direction for all of us, whatever our faith or background.
Canada is home to about 70,000 Ismailis, many of whom live in Ward 26. For that reason alone it is entirely fitting that this great landmark project be located here. But the Prime Minister gave a more compelling reason: Commenting on the writings of the Aga Khan, the Prime Minister said, “If I may say, sir, you sound like a Canadian. And in fact, you are.”
Then he surprised everyone in the audience by delivering to His Highness a certificate confirming the unanimous declaration of Canada’s Parliament conferring on him honorary Canadian citizenship. This act added the Aga Khan to a list of only four others – Holocaust hero Raoul Wallenberg, Burmese democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela – to be so honoured.
“I have always felt at home in Canada”, said His Highness, “But never more than this moment.”
The occasion was a special one for me too. As city councillor for ward that includes the project site, I have worked closely with the project team and city staff in working through the plans and processes involved in granting approval for this particular development. This has commanded a significant part of my attention during my term as Ward 26 representative at City Hall. I have been privileged to see the personal attention that His Highness has given to the project, and the sense of high minded purpose that the project team takes to each element of the design and function of the development.
I was honoured to hear His Highness mention my name specifically in his public remarks. Even more flattering was the opportunity to meet with him informally after the event and learn what a close eye he had been keeping on my involvement in the project. He was able to tell me about things that I had done that I had already forgotten! He could not have been more gracious, and I could not have been more impressed with the sincerity of his kind remarks.
He said he hoped I would continue to be helpful as the project entered its construction phase and continued onward in the future. (As if there was the remotest possibility that I would want to be anything but!) He gave me a warm hug when I assured him that being able to contribute to the successful completion of this project is greatest honour I could hope for.
And in a written response to Simerg’s question if he had anything to add to the message, the Councillor said:
“Last Friday’s ceremony included prominent guests from around the world. One was the architect who designed the magnificent landscaping elements, and his wife. They live in Lebanon, and as such faced a serious challenge in getting a visa allowing entry to Canada on short notice. Melissa Bhagat in Minister Kenney’s Toronto office took the matter in hand, and made all necessary arrangements in short order so that all problems were overcome. Give her – and the minister – a gold star.”
Editor’s Note: The Councillor’s message has been published with his kind consent. Please scroll down the page to read Simerg’s brief report about the Foundation ceremony.
Source: http://simerg.com/
A Message by John Parker
Toronto City Councillor, Ward 26 – Don Valley West
Councillor John Parker
May 28 marked an important milestone in an exciting project in Ward 26 that will create a new landmark in Toronto of international significance.
On that day the Prime Minister of Canada joined the Aga Khan and several hundred invited guests at the Foundation Ceremony marking the start of construction work on the $300 million Aga Khan Centre at the corner of Eglinton and the Don Valley Parkway.
The project features three significant components: The Aga Khan museum, the Ismaili Centre, and a large, beautiful, park and garden for public use and enjoyment. The site could not be more prominent: The hillside site clearly visible from miles to the south and west of one of the busiest intersections in Toronto. The Ismaili Centre will be a gathering place for spiritual and intellectual discourse. The museum will gather, preserve, and display art and artefacts of Muslim civilization and heritage. Together they will advance the Ismailis’ moderate outlook and respect for the search for knowledge and beauty.
The Prime Minister put it clearly: “Canada is honoured to have been chosen as the site for these important institutions. They will serve to promote pluralism, peace, and tolerance through greater understanding of Islam.”
He went on to say, quite correctly, that the project “will be a stunning addition to Canada’s growing architecture. It will be a grand destination and will be a magnet to visitors from Canada and around the world and will promote pluralism, peace, and knowledge.”
The Aga Khan echoed the Prime Minister’s comments, saying, “It will help people understand and embrace the power of human diversity…. It will have a strong education aspect.”
The Aga Khan is the leader of the world’s approximately 15 million Ismailis. His passion for his own work and for his people worldwide is to promote peace and understanding. In a world where I believe our biggest human problem is ignorance and suspicion, the initiative represented by the Aga Khan Centre is a welcome step in the right direction for all of us, whatever our faith or background.
Canada is home to about 70,000 Ismailis, many of whom live in Ward 26. For that reason alone it is entirely fitting that this great landmark project be located here. But the Prime Minister gave a more compelling reason: Commenting on the writings of the Aga Khan, the Prime Minister said, “If I may say, sir, you sound like a Canadian. And in fact, you are.”
Then he surprised everyone in the audience by delivering to His Highness a certificate confirming the unanimous declaration of Canada’s Parliament conferring on him honorary Canadian citizenship. This act added the Aga Khan to a list of only four others – Holocaust hero Raoul Wallenberg, Burmese democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela – to be so honoured.
“I have always felt at home in Canada”, said His Highness, “But never more than this moment.”
The occasion was a special one for me too. As city councillor for ward that includes the project site, I have worked closely with the project team and city staff in working through the plans and processes involved in granting approval for this particular development. This has commanded a significant part of my attention during my term as Ward 26 representative at City Hall. I have been privileged to see the personal attention that His Highness has given to the project, and the sense of high minded purpose that the project team takes to each element of the design and function of the development.
I was honoured to hear His Highness mention my name specifically in his public remarks. Even more flattering was the opportunity to meet with him informally after the event and learn what a close eye he had been keeping on my involvement in the project. He was able to tell me about things that I had done that I had already forgotten! He could not have been more gracious, and I could not have been more impressed with the sincerity of his kind remarks.
He said he hoped I would continue to be helpful as the project entered its construction phase and continued onward in the future. (As if there was the remotest possibility that I would want to be anything but!) He gave me a warm hug when I assured him that being able to contribute to the successful completion of this project is greatest honour I could hope for.
And in a written response to Simerg’s question if he had anything to add to the message, the Councillor said:
“Last Friday’s ceremony included prominent guests from around the world. One was the architect who designed the magnificent landscaping elements, and his wife. They live in Lebanon, and as such faced a serious challenge in getting a visa allowing entry to Canada on short notice. Melissa Bhagat in Minister Kenney’s Toronto office took the matter in hand, and made all necessary arrangements in short order so that all problems were overcome. Give her – and the minister – a gold star.”
Editor’s Note: The Councillor’s message has been published with his kind consent. Please scroll down the page to read Simerg’s brief report about the Foundation ceremony.
Canadian Jamat rejoices around the Foundation Ceremony in Toronto; reflects on impact of new institutions
After years of eager anticipation since the projects were formally announced in 2002, the Jamat across Canada came together to celebrate the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park, which are being established in Toronto.
Jamati members in Toronto celebrate the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Aga Khan Museum and their park by participating in traditional raas dancing. . Photo: Akber Devji
“I am very proud to be a Canadian Ismaili Muslim,” said Sadiq Abdulla, a member of the Canadian Ismaili Muslim Youth Choir. “The establishment of the Centre, Garden, and Museum will serve as a physical manifestation of how our community has integrated itself [in Canada].”
The new Centre will become part of a network of Ismaili Centres established around the world, and will be the second in Canada after the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, which is commemorating its 25th anniversary this year.
A variety of special events were held on Friday, 28 May, including a video of the Foundation Ceremony proceedings, and activities and entertainment for all members of the Jamat, followed by dinner, music and traditional dancing.
Ahead of the Foundation Ceremony formalities, the Canadian Ismaili Muslim Youth Choir performed for the guests gathered under tents erected at the Wynford Drive site. “The repertoire we selected comes from a variety of countries in which Ismailis and other Muslims live,” explained Noshin Samji, a member of the Choir.
Tents were setup where members of the Jamat could have mendhi applied to their hands in celebration of the occasion. Photo: Alnoor Merali
Their performance spoke to the diversity and pluralism that characterises the Muslim world, and which the new Museum, the Ismaili Centre and their Park will showcase. “My favourite piece was Kad Procvatu Behari,” added Samji. “The harmonies are beautiful and the Bosnian lyrics, about the desire to reunite with the Divine, are so moving.”
The Choir also performed later that evening at the Direct Energy Centre, where the Toronto Jamat had gathered to celebrate.
Amidst the festivities, members of the Jamat reflected on the importance of the Ismaili Centres, and what it means for Canada to be home to another one of these landmark buildings.
“The creation of the Centre, I think, speaks volumes about how Canada truly has become our home,” said Alym Amlani of Vancouver, who noted that many members of the Jamat came to the country more than 30 years ago.
Thousands of volunteers across the country joined together to prepare for celebrations that occurred the week of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit. Here, two volunteers hang artwork for the Jamat to enjoy. Photo: Alnoor Merali
Abdulla adds that once complete, the projects will tell “the story of the Ismaili community, and how we have come to live and thrive in Canada.”
In Toronto, members of the Jamat were filled with excitement: “This is a type of project you can't find anywhere else in Toronto,” said 8-year-old Rayyan Esmail. “Hazar Imam wants not just Ismailis to visit the Museum and Park, but people of all different cultures and religions. The Park will have gardens, trees, fountains and pools for everyone to enjoy.”
The Aga Khan Museum — which will be built adjacent to the Ismaili Centre and share the Park with it — aims to become a place of education and cultural exchange, not only for Canadians, but for visitors from around the world. In addition to preserving the past, the Museum will speak to contemporary expressions that point towards the future.
A Calgary Qawali group performs at a celebratory banquet held in Toronto. Photo: Moez Visram
Tabish Bhimani of Montreal has spent some time reflecting on the potential of the Museum and his hopes for it. “This is a long-time coming,” he said. “It’s about more than artefacts and history; it’s about arts and culture. It will add vibrancy and colour and will be a hub for different forms of expression to come together.”
The Museum will also become a place for people to develop mutual understanding. Saliha Hashuri of Montreal, who is originally from Afghanistan and who immigrated to Canada in the mid-1990s when she was about 11 years old, noted:
« Dans notre société, dans les années passées, le nom et la culture de l’Islam ont vraiment été mal interprétés. Je trouve qu’à travers le musée et tout ce qui va être présenté dans le musée qui démontre l’Islam du passé, de toutes les différentes cultures, ça va être plus facile pour les gens de voir c’est quoi, vraiment, l’Islam, que c’est une culture de paix. »
(“In our society, in recent years, the name and culture of Islam were very poorly understood. I think that through the Museum and through everything that will be presented in the Museum that illustrates the Islam of the past and [its] many cultures, it will be easier for people to see what Islam really is, that it is a culture of peace.”)
A volunteer assist seniors arriving at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto for the day’s events and celebrations. Photo: Shazad Ali
Hashuri hopes that through music and art, the Museum will help bring individuals together and provide hope for people like herself, that their culture will never be lost.
Noorin Fazal, a Secondary Teachers Education Programme (STEP) teacher from Vancouver, has taken part in the maintenance of the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby for more than 10 years, and has fond memories. She feels the Centre in Toronto will help to further shape her identity.
“When I speak about myself as an Ismaili Canadian, I can easily refer to the Toronto Centre as an example of how our community bridges din and dunya — faith and world. In every leaf, every artefact, every action, every breath, I can remember the values of Islam as my anchors, and I can live by them,” she said.
Youth volunteers take a moment to join in the fun and have their faces painted. . Photo: Zahir DayaLynley Lewis agrees. As the Conductor of the Vancouver Ismaili Muslim Youth Choir, he has participated in a number of concerts and workshops held at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby: “It is my hope that the arts and cultural experience of the Jamat will continue to be broadened and that the efforts made towards building bridges with other communities will only help to extend mutual trust, cooperation and understanding between diverse peoples.”
It is this sense of optimism and contribution that will stay with the Jamat as the celebrations come to an end, and construction of the project moves forward.
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1018/mailshot
After years of eager anticipation since the projects were formally announced in 2002, the Jamat across Canada came together to celebrate the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park, which are being established in Toronto.
Jamati members in Toronto celebrate the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Aga Khan Museum and their park by participating in traditional raas dancing. . Photo: Akber Devji
“I am very proud to be a Canadian Ismaili Muslim,” said Sadiq Abdulla, a member of the Canadian Ismaili Muslim Youth Choir. “The establishment of the Centre, Garden, and Museum will serve as a physical manifestation of how our community has integrated itself [in Canada].”
The new Centre will become part of a network of Ismaili Centres established around the world, and will be the second in Canada after the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, which is commemorating its 25th anniversary this year.
A variety of special events were held on Friday, 28 May, including a video of the Foundation Ceremony proceedings, and activities and entertainment for all members of the Jamat, followed by dinner, music and traditional dancing.
Ahead of the Foundation Ceremony formalities, the Canadian Ismaili Muslim Youth Choir performed for the guests gathered under tents erected at the Wynford Drive site. “The repertoire we selected comes from a variety of countries in which Ismailis and other Muslims live,” explained Noshin Samji, a member of the Choir.
Tents were setup where members of the Jamat could have mendhi applied to their hands in celebration of the occasion. Photo: Alnoor Merali
Their performance spoke to the diversity and pluralism that characterises the Muslim world, and which the new Museum, the Ismaili Centre and their Park will showcase. “My favourite piece was Kad Procvatu Behari,” added Samji. “The harmonies are beautiful and the Bosnian lyrics, about the desire to reunite with the Divine, are so moving.”
The Choir also performed later that evening at the Direct Energy Centre, where the Toronto Jamat had gathered to celebrate.
Amidst the festivities, members of the Jamat reflected on the importance of the Ismaili Centres, and what it means for Canada to be home to another one of these landmark buildings.
“The creation of the Centre, I think, speaks volumes about how Canada truly has become our home,” said Alym Amlani of Vancouver, who noted that many members of the Jamat came to the country more than 30 years ago.
Thousands of volunteers across the country joined together to prepare for celebrations that occurred the week of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit. Here, two volunteers hang artwork for the Jamat to enjoy. Photo: Alnoor Merali
Abdulla adds that once complete, the projects will tell “the story of the Ismaili community, and how we have come to live and thrive in Canada.”
In Toronto, members of the Jamat were filled with excitement: “This is a type of project you can't find anywhere else in Toronto,” said 8-year-old Rayyan Esmail. “Hazar Imam wants not just Ismailis to visit the Museum and Park, but people of all different cultures and religions. The Park will have gardens, trees, fountains and pools for everyone to enjoy.”
The Aga Khan Museum — which will be built adjacent to the Ismaili Centre and share the Park with it — aims to become a place of education and cultural exchange, not only for Canadians, but for visitors from around the world. In addition to preserving the past, the Museum will speak to contemporary expressions that point towards the future.
A Calgary Qawali group performs at a celebratory banquet held in Toronto. Photo: Moez Visram
Tabish Bhimani of Montreal has spent some time reflecting on the potential of the Museum and his hopes for it. “This is a long-time coming,” he said. “It’s about more than artefacts and history; it’s about arts and culture. It will add vibrancy and colour and will be a hub for different forms of expression to come together.”
The Museum will also become a place for people to develop mutual understanding. Saliha Hashuri of Montreal, who is originally from Afghanistan and who immigrated to Canada in the mid-1990s when she was about 11 years old, noted:
« Dans notre société, dans les années passées, le nom et la culture de l’Islam ont vraiment été mal interprétés. Je trouve qu’à travers le musée et tout ce qui va être présenté dans le musée qui démontre l’Islam du passé, de toutes les différentes cultures, ça va être plus facile pour les gens de voir c’est quoi, vraiment, l’Islam, que c’est une culture de paix. »
(“In our society, in recent years, the name and culture of Islam were very poorly understood. I think that through the Museum and through everything that will be presented in the Museum that illustrates the Islam of the past and [its] many cultures, it will be easier for people to see what Islam really is, that it is a culture of peace.”)
A volunteer assist seniors arriving at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto for the day’s events and celebrations. Photo: Shazad Ali
Hashuri hopes that through music and art, the Museum will help bring individuals together and provide hope for people like herself, that their culture will never be lost.
Noorin Fazal, a Secondary Teachers Education Programme (STEP) teacher from Vancouver, has taken part in the maintenance of the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby for more than 10 years, and has fond memories. She feels the Centre in Toronto will help to further shape her identity.
“When I speak about myself as an Ismaili Canadian, I can easily refer to the Toronto Centre as an example of how our community bridges din and dunya — faith and world. In every leaf, every artefact, every action, every breath, I can remember the values of Islam as my anchors, and I can live by them,” she said.
Youth volunteers take a moment to join in the fun and have their faces painted. . Photo: Zahir DayaLynley Lewis agrees. As the Conductor of the Vancouver Ismaili Muslim Youth Choir, he has participated in a number of concerts and workshops held at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby: “It is my hope that the arts and cultural experience of the Jamat will continue to be broadened and that the efforts made towards building bridges with other communities will only help to extend mutual trust, cooperation and understanding between diverse peoples.”
It is this sense of optimism and contribution that will stay with the Jamat as the celebrations come to an end, and construction of the project moves forward.
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1018/mailshot
THE SENATE
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Senate met at 1:30 p.m., the Speaker in the chair.
Prayers.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Ismaili Centre
Hon. Mobina S.B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, on Friday May 28, Senator Kochhar and I had the privilege of attending the foundation ceremony for the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and Park in Toronto hosted by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and his royal family.
After the ceremony was completed, I struggled to find the words to describe the significance of the Aga Khan's generous contribution. Nothing I could say would do this project justice. It was not until I awoke the following morning to a Toronto Star article that read: "Of all the gifts ever given to Toronto, none is more beautiful than the Aga Khan's" that I realized what the Aga Khan had bestowed upon not only Torontonians, but all Canadians.
The Aga Khan's project, which will be crafted by several world-renowned architects, comprises three elements. These elements include: an Ismaili Centre that will feature a circular prayer hall; an Islamic museum that will be the first of its kind in the English-speaking world; and a welcoming park that will connect these two buildings together and will be designed to resemble the traditional Islamic gardens in Alhambra, which flourished during the great era of Spanish history when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together harmoniously.
Although the Ismaili Centre, park and museum will indeed be rich in beauty, this beauty extends far beyond the aesthetic and architectural merit of its design. The true appeal of the Aga Khan's project lies not only in the vast gardens, glass domes or serene pools that these grounds will showcase. The true beauty lies in the concepts and ideologies this project seeks to promote, and in the message it sends to the world.
This message is one that Prime Minister Harper described at the ceremony as being ". . . dedicated to the promotion of ethnic, cultural and religious interchange . . ." and is one that ". . . truly inspires our own hopes for a better world."
Honourable senators, Muslim societies constitute over a quarter of the world's population. However, many people, particularly those who reside in the Western world, have limited knowledge of Islam.
The Aga Khan's project will help those who are currently misinformed and blinded by a veil of ignorance with an insight into the plurality within Islam and the relationship that Islam has with other traditions. The Aga Khan continuously assures us that once this veil is lifted, we will be able to recognize what our societies are experiencing is not a clash of civilizations, but rather a clash of ignorance.
Honourable senators, in our great country, we are open to understanding and embracing diversity. We no longer dwell on the differences between various religions and cultures. Instead, we embrace our commonalities and this embracing, in turn, enables us to live together in peace and harmony. As the Aga Khan so eloquently stated in his closing remarks, this project is ". . . a proud gift from our generation to future generations — even as it celebrates so fittingly what past generations have given to us."
http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/3/parlbus/cham ... 40&Ses=3#2
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Senate met at 1:30 p.m., the Speaker in the chair.
Prayers.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Ismaili Centre
Hon. Mobina S.B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, on Friday May 28, Senator Kochhar and I had the privilege of attending the foundation ceremony for the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and Park in Toronto hosted by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and his royal family.
After the ceremony was completed, I struggled to find the words to describe the significance of the Aga Khan's generous contribution. Nothing I could say would do this project justice. It was not until I awoke the following morning to a Toronto Star article that read: "Of all the gifts ever given to Toronto, none is more beautiful than the Aga Khan's" that I realized what the Aga Khan had bestowed upon not only Torontonians, but all Canadians.
The Aga Khan's project, which will be crafted by several world-renowned architects, comprises three elements. These elements include: an Ismaili Centre that will feature a circular prayer hall; an Islamic museum that will be the first of its kind in the English-speaking world; and a welcoming park that will connect these two buildings together and will be designed to resemble the traditional Islamic gardens in Alhambra, which flourished during the great era of Spanish history when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together harmoniously.
Although the Ismaili Centre, park and museum will indeed be rich in beauty, this beauty extends far beyond the aesthetic and architectural merit of its design. The true appeal of the Aga Khan's project lies not only in the vast gardens, glass domes or serene pools that these grounds will showcase. The true beauty lies in the concepts and ideologies this project seeks to promote, and in the message it sends to the world.
This message is one that Prime Minister Harper described at the ceremony as being ". . . dedicated to the promotion of ethnic, cultural and religious interchange . . ." and is one that ". . . truly inspires our own hopes for a better world."
Honourable senators, Muslim societies constitute over a quarter of the world's population. However, many people, particularly those who reside in the Western world, have limited knowledge of Islam.
The Aga Khan's project will help those who are currently misinformed and blinded by a veil of ignorance with an insight into the plurality within Islam and the relationship that Islam has with other traditions. The Aga Khan continuously assures us that once this veil is lifted, we will be able to recognize what our societies are experiencing is not a clash of civilizations, but rather a clash of ignorance.
Honourable senators, in our great country, we are open to understanding and embracing diversity. We no longer dwell on the differences between various religions and cultures. Instead, we embrace our commonalities and this embracing, in turn, enables us to live together in peace and harmony. As the Aga Khan so eloquently stated in his closing remarks, this project is ". . . a proud gift from our generation to future generations — even as it celebrates so fittingly what past generations have given to us."
http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/3/parlbus/cham ... 40&Ses=3#2
June 28, 2010
http://dcnonl.com/article/id39447
CHARLES CORREA ASSOCIATES
The $300 million project being spearheaded by the Agha Khan in Don Mills.
Vanbots had early input into Aga Khan’s Toronto landmark
PATRICIA WILLIAMS
staff writer
Contractor Vanbots brought its “builder’s hat” to the table during the pre-construction phase of a $300 million project now under way in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood.
The company, a division of Carillion Construction Inc., provided advice during design development on both constructability and budgeting.
“Budgeting was particularly critical, since there are two significant buildings as well as a large landscaping package and underground parking,” says vice-president Don Griffin. “We’ve got pretty good intelligence on the local subcontractor market.”
The project, being spearheaded by the Aga Khan, consists of the first-ever Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art, an adjacent Ismaili Centre and a series of landscaped gardens.
The official groundbreaking was in late May.
Site clearance is currently underway. Substantial completion is scheduled for the end of 2012.
Designed by Indian architect Charles Correa, the Ismaili Centre will be the newest addition to a network of such centres worldwide and the second in Canada.
FUMIHIKO MAKI/MAKI AND ASSOCIATES
The project includes the Aga Khan Museum of Islamic Art.
Clad in French limestone, the building will include a 1,100-square-metre prayer hall, 400-square-metre multipurpose social hall, library and offices. The centre features an innovative double-glass roof.
The 10,000-square-metre museum, designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, will house exhibition space, 350-seat auditorium, reference library and multi-media centre as well as classrooms and workshops.
Architects of record for the complex are Toronto’s Moriyama & Teshima Architects, who previously collaborated with Maki on the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building in Ottawa.
On the Don Mills project, the firm is responsible for preparation of contract documents, contract administration, obtaining necessary approvals, client liaison and consultant co-ordination.
Daniel Teramura, partner in charge of the Ismaili Centre project, said the glass roof over the prayer hall “is probably the most distinctive feature” of the centre from an architectural perspective.
“It’s really quite unique,” he said. “It is actually a double glass structure. This creates a thermal buffer zone, which allows us to create a comfortable interior environment.”
The glass roof was designed in collaboration with structural engineers Halcrow Yolles.
Griffin, whose firm is acting as construction manager on the project, said key construction challenges in addition to the centre’s glass roof structure include the angled external walls of the museum and the overall level of finishes.
“The expectations are very high,” said Griffin, a professional engineer and LEED-accredited professional.
The two buildings will be united by a landscaped park designed by Lebanese landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic in collaboration with Moriyama & Teshima Planners. The park will incorporate a formal garden, reflecting ponds and more than two kilometres of walking trails.
Key subtrades currently on site include Blu-Mar, York Excavation, Gilbert Steel, Alliance Forming, Avenue Structures, Premform Ltd. and Coredale.
http://dcnonl.com/article/id39447
CHARLES CORREA ASSOCIATES
The $300 million project being spearheaded by the Agha Khan in Don Mills.
Vanbots had early input into Aga Khan’s Toronto landmark
PATRICIA WILLIAMS
staff writer
Contractor Vanbots brought its “builder’s hat” to the table during the pre-construction phase of a $300 million project now under way in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood.
The company, a division of Carillion Construction Inc., provided advice during design development on both constructability and budgeting.
“Budgeting was particularly critical, since there are two significant buildings as well as a large landscaping package and underground parking,” says vice-president Don Griffin. “We’ve got pretty good intelligence on the local subcontractor market.”
The project, being spearheaded by the Aga Khan, consists of the first-ever Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art, an adjacent Ismaili Centre and a series of landscaped gardens.
The official groundbreaking was in late May.
Site clearance is currently underway. Substantial completion is scheduled for the end of 2012.
Designed by Indian architect Charles Correa, the Ismaili Centre will be the newest addition to a network of such centres worldwide and the second in Canada.
FUMIHIKO MAKI/MAKI AND ASSOCIATES
The project includes the Aga Khan Museum of Islamic Art.
Clad in French limestone, the building will include a 1,100-square-metre prayer hall, 400-square-metre multipurpose social hall, library and offices. The centre features an innovative double-glass roof.
The 10,000-square-metre museum, designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, will house exhibition space, 350-seat auditorium, reference library and multi-media centre as well as classrooms and workshops.
Architects of record for the complex are Toronto’s Moriyama & Teshima Architects, who previously collaborated with Maki on the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building in Ottawa.
On the Don Mills project, the firm is responsible for preparation of contract documents, contract administration, obtaining necessary approvals, client liaison and consultant co-ordination.
Daniel Teramura, partner in charge of the Ismaili Centre project, said the glass roof over the prayer hall “is probably the most distinctive feature” of the centre from an architectural perspective.
“It’s really quite unique,” he said. “It is actually a double glass structure. This creates a thermal buffer zone, which allows us to create a comfortable interior environment.”
The glass roof was designed in collaboration with structural engineers Halcrow Yolles.
Griffin, whose firm is acting as construction manager on the project, said key construction challenges in addition to the centre’s glass roof structure include the angled external walls of the museum and the overall level of finishes.
“The expectations are very high,” said Griffin, a professional engineer and LEED-accredited professional.
The two buildings will be united by a landscaped park designed by Lebanese landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic in collaboration with Moriyama & Teshima Planners. The park will incorporate a formal garden, reflecting ponds and more than two kilometres of walking trails.
Key subtrades currently on site include Blu-Mar, York Excavation, Gilbert Steel, Alliance Forming, Avenue Structures, Premform Ltd. and Coredale.