CANADA 2008 Padhramni, Event, News and Testimonies

Dates, testimonies, articles, descriptions
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http://www.ottawacitizen.com/building+l ... story.html

New building to be a link between Islam, Canada


By Elizabeth McMillanDecember 6, 2008 10:01 PM



OTTAWA-A new building on Sussex Drive will be a link between the spiritual dimensions of Islam and the cultures of the West, the Aga Khan said Saturday.

“It affirms our intent to share, within a western setting, the best of Islamic life and heritage,” he said. “It will be a site for robust dialogue, intellectual exchange and the forging of new partnerships” with the Canadian government, civil society and other international organizations.

Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, known as the Aga Khan, is the spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili muslims, who number more than 15 million worldwide.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, which will serve as his office in Canada, a conference centre and will be be home to the Aga Khan’s development agencies. The organization has partnership programs with CIDA and several Canadian universities.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the Canadian government shares with the Aga Khan Development Network a commitment to “tolerance, compassion and community service.

“Social integration can occur without sacrificing cultural identity,” he said of the Ismaili community in Canada. “We are proving that there can be unity in diversity.”

Mr. Harper called the building an “architectural masterpiece,” adding that “the work that will develop here will help lift the darkness of poverty.”

The Aga Khan said his vision for the building was “a certain mystique, centred around the beautiful mysteries of rock crystal.” It was designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki and it features a high, domed glass ceiling.

Guests at the opening ceremony included former governor general Adrienne Clarkson, Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, members of Parliament, diplomats, representatives from the Ismaili community and heads of the Aga Khan network agencies.

The Aga Khan said the Ismaili community has had strong links to Canada since it provided refuge to Ismaili muslims when Idi Amin forced them to leave Uganda in the 1970s. He called Canada’s international leadership “thoughtful, empathetic and avoiding both intellectual pretensions and dogmatic simplifications.”
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
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Updates from theismaili.org

Friday, 5 December 2008

Mohamed Manji, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada, welcomes Mawlana Hazar Imam and Princess Zahra to Ottawa. Photo: Gary Otte
Commencing the second leg of his Golden Jubilee visit to Canada, Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Ottawa this afternoon, accompanied by Prince Amyn, Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya.

Prince Amyn and Prince Rahim, who travelled separately, stopped over in Toronto and visited the site of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum, on Wynford Drive.

On Saturday, Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, will officially inaugurate the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building. Members of Hazar Imam’s family will also attend the ceremony.

Additional photos are available in the gallery. Also see the video of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s arrival in Ottawa. Further details on Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Canada will continue to be posted at TheIsmaili.org.

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/622/Canada-visit

****
Speech by MHI at the Inaugural Ceremony of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa, Canada06 December 2008
http://www.akdn.org/speeches_detail.asp?ID=699


Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mrs. Harper
Chief Justice Beverly McLaughlin and Mr. McCardle
Madame Adrienne Clarkson and Mr. John Ralston Saul
Your Excellencies
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Je voudrais commencer mes commentaires aujourd’hui en vous souhaitant la bienvenue dans le nouveau bâtiment de la Délégation de l’imamat ismaili à Ottawa. Nous sommes ravis que vous participiez à cette journée importante pour nous.

My warmest thanks go out to all of you for being part of this wonderful occasion. I particularly want to thank the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, for the honour of his presence, at a time of immense global challenges for those who bear the responsibilities of national leadership.

Let me also express my gratitude to the former Governor General of Canada, Madame Adrienne Clarkson. She was present at the Foundation Stone Ceremony for this building - and she thoughtfully predicted then, that this edifice would not be just another monumental structure, but would, both in its unity and its transparency, represent, as she put it, “the way in which the world can work when we are all at our best.”

I am also deeply grateful to the National Capital Commission and to all those who helped to design, construct and decorate this Delegation building, including all those who so generously volunteered their energies. This is the third important new Canadian building with which I will have been associated over the last five years. It affirms our intent to share, within a western setting, the best of Islamic life and heritage. This new Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, like the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum to be built in Toronto, reflects our conviction that buildings can do more than simply house people and programmes. They can also reflect our deepest values, as great architecture captures esoteric thought in physical form.

When I invited Professor Maki, a master of form and light, to design this building, I made a suggestion to him - one that I hoped would help connect this place symbolically to the Faith of Islam. The suggestion I made focused on creating a certain mystique, centred around the beautiful mysteries of rock crystal.

Why rock crystal? Because of its translucency, its multiple planes, and the fascination of its colours - all of which present themselves differently as light moves around them. The hues of rock crystal are subtle, striking and widely varied - for they can be clear ormilky, white, or rose coloured, or smoky, or golden, or black.

It is because of these qualities that rock crystal seems to be such an appropriate symbol of the profound beauty and the ever-unfolding mystery of Creation itself – and the Creator. As the Holy Quran so powerfully affirms, “Allah is the Creator and the Master of the heavens and the earth.” And then it continues: “Everything in the heavens and on earth, and everything between them, and everything beneath the soil, belongs to Him.”

But in Islamic thought, as in this building, beauty and mystery are not separated from intellect - in fact, the reverse is true. As we use our intellect to gain new knowledge about Creation, we come to see even more profoundly the depth and breadth of its mysteries. We explore unknown regions beneath the seas - and in outer space. We reach back over hundreds of millions of years in time. Extra-ordinary fossilised geological specimens seize our imagination - palm leaves, amethyst flowers, hedgehog quartz, sea lilies, chrysanthemum and a rich panoply of shells. Indeed, these wonders are found beneath the very soil on which we tread - in every corner of the world - and they connect us with far distant epochs and environments.

And the more we discover, the more we know, the more we penetrate just below the surface of our normal lives - the more our imagination staggers. Just think for example what might lie below the surfaces of celestial bodies all across the far flung reaches of our universe. What we feel, even as we learn, is an ever-renewed sense of wonder, indeed, a powerful sense of awe – and of Divine inspiration.

Using rock crystal’s irridescent mystery as an inspiration for this building, does indeed provide an appropriate symbol of the Timelessness, the Power and the Mystery of Allah as the Lord of Creation.

What we celebrate today can thus be seen as a new creative link between the spiritual dimensions of Islam and the cultures of the West. Even more particularly, it represents another new bridge between the peoples of Islam and the peoples of Canada.

Many of you may remember that my personal involvement with Canada dates back more than three decades when, at a time of great upheaval in Uganda, many members of the Ismaili community and others found here a new home in which they could quickly re-build their lives. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and expressing habits of mind and spirit which have long been central to the Canadian character, this country provided a welcoming haven to those who had been victimised by history.

Since that time, Ismailis from other parts of the world have also come to Canada, contributing not only to Canadian society, but also to the diverse mosaic of the global Ismaili community.

One of the principal reasons, I believe, for the great rapport between the Ismaili and Canadian communities through the years is our shared commitment to a common ethical framework - and especially to the ideals of pluralism. By this I mean not only social pluralism, which embraces a diversity of ethnic and religious groups, but also pluralism in our thinking about government, and pluralism in our approach to other institutions. One of the reasons governments have failed in highly diverse settings around the world is that dogma has too often been enshrined at the price of more flexible, pluralistic approaches to political and economic challenges.

Within Islam itself, we can see a broad sense of pluralism, including a variety of spiritual interpretations, and a diversity of governments and social institutions.

The spirit of pluralism, at its base, is a response to the realities of diversity – a way of reconciling difference on the one hand with cooperation and common purpose on the other. It is an attitude, a way of thinking, which regards our differences not as threats but as gifts - as occasions for learning, stretching, growing - and at the same time, as occasions for appreciating anew the beauties of one’s own identity.

The challenge of pluralism is particularly important for those who are called upon to lead diversified communities and to act in diversified environments. It is a challenge to which Canadians have responded nobly through the years - and it is also a challenge which has been central to our work through the Aga Khan Development Network, what we callAKDN.

The AKDN’s principal focus, as you know, has been the under-served populations of Central and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Our approach has observed the principles of neutrality and pragmatism, but this has not always been an easy matter. Turbulence and discontinuity have characterised these regions, including the transition from colonial rule, the struggles of the Cold War, the tensions of the nuclear age, the rise of new nationalisms - of both the right and the left, as well as revolutions in communications and transportation which have so dramatically increased encounters among different peoples. Our Network has inevitably been drawn into a tangled variety of social and cultural contexts - including highly fragile, conflictual and post-conflictual situations. Our response has always been to focus on the pursuit of pluralistic progress.

Even against the most daunting challenges, social and economic progress can and must be a shared experience, based on a cosmopolitan ethic and nurtured by a spirit of genuine partnership.

When we have talked of development in this context over the years, we have always found responsive interlocutors in Canada. We recognise together the interdependence of economic progress on one hand and inclusive governmental structures on the other. We affirm together the centrality of communication and education in any progressive formula. We both embrace the interdependent role of various social sectors - private and governmental and voluntary - including the institutions of pluralistic civil society.

For the last quarter century, Canada, especially through CIDA, has been actively collaborating with the Aga Khan Development Network to support sustainable development in marginalised communities in Africa and in Asia. In the course of this work we have seen at first hand Canadian global leadership at its best – thoughtful, empathetic and avoiding both intellectual pretensions and dogmatic simplifications.

Our work together in northern Pakistan is one rich chapter in this story. Our newer efforts in places like Tajikistan and Afghanistan have opened further horizons. We could also point directly to early childhood programmes in Africa. Or we could speak of our projects in higher education, working with Canadian universities such as McMaster, McGill, University of Toronto, University of Alberta, and University of Calgary.

The establishment of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat represents yet another step on a long path. It will give us another platform for strengthening and extending our relationship. It will be a site for robust dialogue, intellectual exchange, and the forging of new partnerships –with government, and with the institutions of civil society and the private sector of Canada and so many other countries. To be able to site this building on Confederation Boulevard, in close proximity to your major national institutions as well as representations from abroad, is itself a symbol of the outgoing, interactive spirit which must guide our response to global challenges.

It is our prayer that the establishment of the Delegation will provide a strongly anchored, ever-expanding opportunity for rich collaboration - in the devoted service of ancient values, in the intelligent recognition of new realities, and in a common commitment to our shared dreams of a better world.


Thank you.
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Post by kmaherali »

Updates from theismaili.org

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/622/Canada-visit

Saturday, 6 December 2008

The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Canada. Photo: Gary Otte

Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, officially inaugurated the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat today. The opening ceremony followed a luncheon meeting between Hazar Imam and the Prime Minister, at the Prime Minister’s official 24 Sussex Drive residence.

The ceremony was held in the glass-domed atrium of the Delegation building in the presence of Prince Amyn, Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya. The 350 guests also included senior government ministers, former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, several members of Parliament, diplomats, senior leaders of the global Jamat as well as heads of various AKDN agencies and institutions.

In his address, Mawlana Hazar Imam remarked that “the establishment of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat represents yet another step on a long path. It will give us another platform for strengthening and extending our relationship. It will be a site for robust dialogue, intellectual exchange, and the forging of new partnerships — with government, and with the institutions of civil society and the private sector of Canada and so many other countries.”

Prime Minister Harper thanked Mawlana Hazar Imam for establishing the Ismaili Imamat’s first Delegation building in the world in Ottawa. He commented that for half a century, Mawlana Hazar Imam has provided spiritual guidance for Ismailis and worked to improve the quality of life in some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.

“Your name has become synonymous with humanitarian aid and development in countries beset by conflict and poverty,” said the Prime Minister. “Just as importantly you have worked tirelessly as a bridge-builder between faiths and cultures.”

Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prime Minister Harper then unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat.

Also see AKDN’s coverage of the event, including additional photos and Mawlana Hazar Imam’s speech, as well as the press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.

Additional photos are available in the Delegation opening gallery. Further details on Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Canada will continue to be posted at TheIsmaili.org.
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Image

Opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, Canada on 6th December 2008.

Exclusive from Heritage Staff: 30 Meg+ photo gallery soon here.
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Post by kmaherali »

There is a YouTube summarizing the Canada GJ Padhramni at:

http://www.youtube.com/GoldenJubileeCanada
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Updates from theismaili.org

Sunday, 7 December 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam waves as he prepares to depart Canada, completing his Golden Jubilee visit to the country. Photo: Gary Otte

Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Ottawa today, following the inauguration of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa yesterday. Hazar Imam’s departure marked the completion of his Golden Jubilee visit to Canada.

Additional photos are available in the Delegation opening gallery and the main Canada visit gallery.

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/622/Canada-visit
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Exclusive High resolution photos from Heritage Correspondent:

http://ismaili.net/heritage/node/19043

Opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat.
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Post by kmaherali »

Link to the Prime Minister's speech.

http://pm.gc.ca/grfx/media/PC_20081206_ ... amat_e.mp3
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Post by kmaherali »

Transcript of the PM's speech at the opening of the DII


Peace, Prosperity and Equality Through Pluralism

6 December 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
Dear colleagues,
Distinguished guests.

Thank-you your Highness for your kind introduction.

Ya ali madat. It is a great pleasure to see you again. May I also say
what a great pleasure it is to welcome your family to Canada.

Your Highness, though we met for the first time only three years ago, I
feel like I have known you a long time. My long-time university
roommate, Alnoor Lakhani, is an Ismaili, and he kept a picture of you in
our room. He told me much about you, but I have to admit that when I
think of that picture and see you today, I still have one question: how
is it that you never age?

Off the top, your Highness, let me congratulate you on your Golden
Jubilee as Imam of the world's Shia Ismaili Muslims. For half a century
you have provided spiritual guidance for Ismailis and worked to improve
the quality of life in their communities.

Your name has also become synonymous with humanitarian aid and
development in countries beset by conflict and poverty.

And perhaps most importantly of all, you have acted as a bridge-builder
between faiths and cultures. In a world still riven by sectarian strife,
this is very important work indeed.

Your highness, I am honoured to be with you today on the occasion of the
opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat. And on behalf of the
government and people of Canada, I want to thank you for choosing to
build the Delegation - the world's first - in our nation's capital.

This architectural masterpiece is a spectacular addition to our
magnificent mile of history here in Ottawa. And like a giant quartz
crystal plucked from the Canadian Shield, this beautiful atrium
illuminates the openness and timeless purpose of the Delegation. The
work done here will help lift the darkness of poverty, ignorance and
inequality that afflicts so many in our troubled world.

Your Highness, Canada is a fitting choice for the Delegation. Our
country and the IsmailI Imamat are bonded by our shared values;
tolerance, compassion, community service and, especially, our devotion
to pluralism - the essential ingredient for harmony in our modern,
interconnected world.

We are also bonded by a long and fruitful relationship. Canada has been
providing generous support for the health, education and economic
development work of the Aga Khan Development Network for over 25 years.

And, of course, we are bonded by the tens of thousands of Ismailis who
call Canada home. Beginning with their flight from brutal repression in
Uganda, Ismailis have adapted quickly and successfully to life in
Canada, becoming leaders in our communities. Their success has
demonstrated that in a genuinely pluralistic society, social integration
can occur without sacrificing cultural identity.

In a very real way, this glorious building will serve as a permanent
Canadian monument to that success. In its modern, state-of-the-art
design and essentially secular purpose, the work done here will be
infused with the ancient traditions and tenets of the IsmailI faith, as
embodied by your tireless efforts to teach the world there is more that
unites than divides us.

This is the IsmailI way, as your Highness noted when you initiated the
delegation here in 2005, and I quote: "Ismailis are a transnational
community who are, first and foremost, active and loyal citizens of the
countries where they live."

So it is with the Ismailis of Canada. The blossoming of the Ismaili
community in Canada offers a ray of hope to the world. By demonstrating
that diverse congregations of the great faiths can co-exist and flourish
peacefully here, we are proving that there indeed can be unity in
diversity.

It is crucial that this message be heard in countries and regions where
religious persecution and sectarian violence destroy the lives of
innocent human beings. This message will be transmitted from Canada to
the world through the programs, policy and diplomacy that will emanate
from this Delegation of the IsmailI Imamat.

These efforts will complement the work of the Global Centre for
Pluralism, also here in Ottawa, which was initiated last year as a
partnership of our government and the Aga Khan Development Network.
Working together, your Highness, we are effectively making Canada the
headquarters of the global effort to foster peace, prosperity and
equality through pluralism.

Sectarianism has been part of the human condition for millennia; it will
not easily give way to pluralism and harmony. But this vision has been
the inspiring lifelong goal of the Aga Khan.

And when it is achieved, ladies and gentlemen, I believe the world will
look a lot like Canada.

Thank you.
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Post by kmaherali »

Link to the PM's site on the DII opening.

http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media_gallery.asp?m ... y_typ_id=3
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Post by kmaherali »

embassymag.ca

December 10 2008 - http://embassymag.ca/page/printpage/cha ... 12-10-2008

The Stately Launch of the Ismaili Delegation
by Jeff Davis

A full hour before he showed up, a throng of more than 100 of his followers waited patiently on Sussex Drive Saturday afternoon, enduring the cold for the chance of a mere glimpse of their spiritual leader.

When the Aga Khan arrived at the opening ceremony of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, accompanied by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, a great cheer arose from the crowd outside.

This in turn set off a round of excited giggling from the throngs of dignitaries inside the dramatic main atrium of the delegation.

In his remarks, Mr. Harper said that though they met just three years ago, he felt that he has known the Aga Khan for a long time. In his dorm room at the University of Calgary, he explained, an Ismaili roommate had a photo of him on the wall.

"How is it you never age?" Mr. Harper asked the princely spiritual leader who has reigned now for a half century.

Many Ismaili power players from the Canadian Government turned out for the event, including former Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan Arif Lalani, who flew all the way from London, England for the event.

Other Ismailis from DFAIT and CIDA were also present, many of them volunteering for the grand opening because they couldn't secure an invite.

Also present was another high-placed Ismaili, Alykhan Velshi, who serves as Immigration Minister Jason Kenney's director of communications and has played a role in the government's outreach to minority voters.

Mr. Velshi joked that he scored some major points with his parents by getting them on the guest list for the historic opening.

After unveiling a commemorative plaque, the Aga Khan waded into the throng of people waiting to meet him.

From the government were Transport Minister John Baird, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, Minister of State for Status of Women Helena Guergis and her new husband, defeated Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer.

From the bureaucratic ranks were David Mulroney, chief of the PCO Afghan task force, his CIDA counterpart Stephen Wallace, and former deputy minister of foreign affairs Peter Harder. Also present was Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin, former ambassador to Washington Derek Burney, former Liberal foreign minister Bill Graham, former ambassador to the UN Allan Rock, and Herb Gray, the longest serving MP in Canadian history.

Also on the scene were the Aga Khan's personal friends, former governor general Adrienne Clarkson and her spouse, writer John Ralston Saul. The two backed the Aga Khan to become an honourary companion of the Order of Canada, an honour given to those who have demonstrated the highest degree of merit to Canada and humanity on the international scene.

Showing off the new building was Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, who designed the delegation, his first work in Canada.

The Aga Khan said the delegation will be a home base for the Aga Khan Development Network.

Dear Headquarters...

Diplomats had no shortage of news to report back to their foreign ministries this week, as the Conservative government narrowly dodged being deposed by the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition.

Chatter House heard many a diplomat this week say they had reported that Prime Minister Stephen Harper was the architect of this whole mess, sparking it with a hyper-partisan swipe at the public funding of political parties.

One diplomat said he reported back that the Conservatives have a young, brash Cabinet lacking the guidance of an older, wiser eminence grise to keep them from steering into the ditch. Such potential wise men, like former Progressive Conservative PMs Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark, he noted, are now at loggerheads with the government.

A few also said they saw such a coalition clash coming a mile off, based simply on the numbers held by each party in the House.

Few, however, saw anything resembling a "crisis," but rather the normal workings of a parliamentary democracy.

Imperial Visit Next Summer

Japanese Ambassador Tsuneo Nishida announced last week that Japanese Emperor Akihito and his consort Michiko Shoda will visit Canada next summer.

Mr. Nishida announced the visit at a reception held in honour of the emperor's birthday last week at the Chateau Laurier.

Out for the event, and perhaps the excellent eats, were Japanese-Canadian CIDA Minister Bev Oda, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Gerald Keddy and Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai.

Diplomatic Forum Going Ahead

After being delayed by the election, the yearly Diplomatic Forum is set to take place from December 15 to 18. It will be held in Quebec City at the Chateau Frontenac hotel.

jdavis@embassymag.ca

http://embassymag.ca/page/printpage/cha ... 12-10-2008
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Golden Jublie

Post by From_Alamut »

I have found another beautiful video of Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam on [Youtube] based on Golden Jublie. I hope everyone like it Inshallah.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igsvpcKgRDM
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Post by No_problem »

Canada's Conservatives Send Khushiali Video Greetings 2008

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=J9k3zMNHQIA
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Post by HH2 »

news release from Minister Kenney<BR><BR><A href="http://www.marketwire.com/press-release ... 81.html</A>
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Post by Admin »

FORWARDED AS RECEIVED

BRAVO TO ALL BADGE AND NON BADGE VOLUNTEERS!!!
SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING, APPRECIATING AND CARING FOR YOU.

kEEP IT UP

FORWARDED AS RECEIVED:

Ashad is with the Police Force in Ottawa...worth reading

Hello Family...

I just wanted to share an email which was sent out by one of our
volunteer leads for transport, involved with the planning for the Darbar
and the DII (Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat) visit. Please read the
last part of the email (written by Ashad) of his experience with Mowla
Bapa.

Ashad has pretty much been with Hazar Imam since he arrived in Ottawa on November 18... and has been involved with HI private security detail for most of his meetings and ventures until he departed from Toronto after Sunday's Darbar to go to Calgary. And then again since Friday December 5th when Hazar Imam arrived in Ottawa for the opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building.

In Ashad's email to Nimet (who was the coordiantor for DII) he is
describing what happenned just before Hazar Imam left for the airport
for his departure on Sunday.

This was completely unexpected.. the volunteers were waiting in the
Atrium for Hazar Imam to come down from his residence and get into his
Motorcade... but when he came down the elevators he walked across the
Arium to where the volunteers were standing and... well you read the
rest!

I just wanted to drop a quick note to all of you
(Zia/Rehan/Aleem/Mumtaz/Karim - if I have missed anyone, please make
sure that they receive this email) to say thank you for allowing me to
work with you and for being a part of the past two visits by Mowlana
Hazar Imam and the delegates that participated in the events. Also
serviced by our team were the "out of town" volunteers and groups
that assisted with the DII event - I know they truly appreciated our
accomodations of their transportation needs.

Your dedication and efforts were appreciated by all and praised by many
- thank you for delivering on our goals of "White Glove Service" to
all that were a part of the events - you all went above and beyond and have once again raised the bar.

To the team leads - thank you for the opportunity to learn from you and
for taking control of all aspects of our service delivery.

I would also like to share a story from Ashad Jiwa which describes how
Hazar Imam feels about all of us that do the "behind the scenes" work
that we sometimes feels goes unappreciated - please know that the person that matters the most does recognize our work and appreciates it -
please read on below and once again - THANK YOU ALL! -->

Please read and share the below beautiful account of Ashad's experience
with Hazar Imam. Please send this to your teams and ask them to share
with their families. The sacrifices you have all made and the
sacrifices of your families have not gone un-noticed. We pray that
Mowla accepts your seva always and the seva of your families. Amen.

Sent: Sun Dec 07 16:25:27 2008
Subject: DII this morning




Hi Nimet, hope all is well.

I am sure that you've probably already received this message but just in
case, I really wanted to share this with you and the event planning
team.

I was at the Delegation building this morning organizing the Police
Escort for Malawna Hazar Imam's motorcade. I was fortunate enough to be present when Mawlana Hazar Imam addressed approx. 10-15 volunteers.

The experience was so emotional that the following is just a brief
summary of what I can remember and share with you.

We were all lined up in the Atrium, Mawlana Hazar Imam came down from the 2nd level, came out from the VIP room and walked towards the
volunteers.

As He approached the volunteers, He said "What's with this line,
standing like birds on a wire, come closer come closer".

At this point, I remember we were all around Him in a semi circle, He
thanked the volunteers for all the hard work, He said "I know that all
the hard work is done behind the scenes, the event last night was
magnificent, magnificent." He talked about the leadership present at
the event and how they were so impressed with the event.
(At this point, I really thought about your team and how hard all of
them work and the countless hours they put into organizing the event.)

He mentioned that He is often asked how He pulls this off, and He tells
everyone that He has a "secret weapon" referring to His volunteers.
He gave His blessings to all the volunteers and then gave special blessings
to their families who have also supported the volunteers.

He then ended by saying:

"Please take my blessings back to your families; please don't forget
to take my blessings to your family." And He then said Kanavadan three
times.

Nimet, I would really appreciate if you could share this with the core
team as they really deserve it.

Regards,

Ashad
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Post by Admin »

AS RECEIVED

Ya Aly Madad.

My name is Charlene. I had a wonderful opportunity to be part of the Golden Jubilee, in Calgary, and had a chance to speak with the Aga Khan. I was asked again and again to describe my experiences -- “Tell us what happened.”, “Tell about what you did because it is about all of your experiences.” As I sat down countless times to write about my experience, I found myself conflicted and hung up on the details. As I processed all the events that impacted me from the onset of me being introduced to the Ismaili community and the preparation for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations, I found that my story morphed into more of a reflection piece instead of an account of events. Here is my story…
In the beginning I just wanted to help. I wanted to share something with someone that I care about. It was supposed to be a special occasion for him and all of you. This event was not about me and did not pertain to me in any way. I was just there to fulfil a purpose; to help in any way I could to assist in accomplishing a monumental task. I got to help set up and network the computers, I became the spokesperson to inform and guide the non-Ismaili group on the 24th and I even got to serve food for a while. It is true, I got to share some of my skills and talents but, in the big scheme of things, I kept thinking how insignificant these things were. For me, helping was not about recognition; it was about being able to help. It wasn’t what I did; it was how it made me feel doing them. The tasks I did meant something because I was with a loved one and I was able to share something that was important to him. They meant something because it showed me how well we work together, how we can accomplish goals, how we communicate and how we see things similarly. And, it was also about the love I felt helping people that I would normally never meet.


I always considered myself agnostic. I don’t believe either way. Maybe there is a higher power, maybe there isn’t. To me it is about exploration; show me. I haven’t prayed for years. Not only would it be hypocritical but also, I have not understood the purpose or reason behind it. To me it was about finding your own inner strength. It’s not about relying on something else to pull you through but having the faith in yourself to be able to do it on your own. Knowing that I live the way, I guess religions preach; live in kindness, take care of others, live the golden rule, peace and trying to find that, live with empathy and compassion and live with a sense of moral value that is taught in every single religion however it is written. I didn’t need to have a spiritual being guiding my decisions because my path was already predestined to live the way I am supposed to live. This event was about your spiritual growth, a path for you to fulfil your spiritual destiny. This event was not about my spirituality or my spiritual growth but upon reflection, I seemed to change and therefore it did become about my spiritual journey. It became about the energies that I felt, the sense of community, the connections that were made and the overwhelming sense of something bigger. People talk about divine intervention, they talk about divine beings, they talk about God and the powers that be and I guess the powers that be put me in a place that I never thought I would ever go. I found myself doing things I didn’t even fathom I would be doing. It was what I experienced and how I look at things differently now.

As a non-Ismaili, the Aga Khan is just an important man who seems to live by his own accord. He walks the walk and talks the talk. What he is doing, what he has already done, his goals and how he leads his people are inspirational. I admit I was excited to see him up close and hoped to have him speak to me. Who wouldn’t? Just imagine, being in the presence of such a great man. At the start, the people around me were full of anticipation, excitement and a bit of anxiety as we waited patiently for it to become our turn to talk with him. We were curious as to what he would say and nervous about not breaking protocols that had been reinforced earlier. There was not a spiritual vibe per say as we saw him as just a man. I tried to learn about him and your faith but have only scratched the surface. As he walked closer, I thought he would step past me as I was at a break in the line but as he came closer to me I was surprised when he stopped right in front of me. What happened next with the energies was different than I have ever experienced before. When he stopped, all the energies around me went calm. I mean an overwhelming CALM; as if no one was around and it was perfectly safe with no one watching. The only energy was a powerful, magnetic, peaceful energy that was coming from the man who was standing in front of me. Then he spoke to me. As he was speaking I was almost hypnotized by his eyes. I found myself drawn into them and then feeling overwhelmed causing me to look away only to long to be drawn into them again. We had been told not to make eye contact and yet, I could not avoid it. I listened and heard what he had to say with absolute clarity and I was able to remember every word (I will share what he said later). The Aga Khan spoke with such gentleness and kindness. He illuminates grace, warmth and a sense of understanding that makes you feel safe and at peace. I didn’t know the impact of his presence until after I processed things but whoa, the energies I felt! Something I have never felt with such magnitude.

Something that I could not explain but, when I expressed my experience to the people, in the Prayer hall who watched me talk with him, they said “That is exactly what you should have felt”. They said that positive energies attract positive energies and that he was attracted to mine. I don’t know about that but he did seem to break from the pattern when he stopped and talked with me.

It has taken me a while to process this whole experience and upon reflection I have learned some things about myself. Thinking of others is normal for me. Although I have not prayed in years, during your prayers on Sunday night, as I was helping take down the computers, I found myself with an overpowering need to pray for those who could not be present, whether they were not there either physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually and for the strength to carry them through. I had an overwhelming sense of calm and clarity when I was doing the impromptu speeches in the non-Ismaili room, something that I have NEVER experienced when usually I am so nervous and afraid. Working with little to no sleep and my body was still able to tolerate it. And best of all the energies that were present as your Imam stood in front of me and what they represent for me. WOW!

People said I was destined to be there and all the things I did, as insignificant as I might think, were just steps so I could fulfil that destiny. I had to help. I had to become a part of something bigger. I had to see the big picture. I had to feel the energies. I had to be in the present. I had to put myself forward knowing that this was more important than my fear. Looking back, for everything did, I was rewarded with a gift of some sort of spirituality. I don’t think it is about conversion. I think it was about me finding that maybe I have faith. Maybe that was my destiny. I was lifted to some sort of spirituality that I thought was lost forever. Who knows where that will take me?

Before I finish, I want to take this opportunity to thank you
for asking me to write this as it gave me an opportunity to really look at the weekend and what I took home from it. I would also like to thank everyone for all the kindness and warm greetings that my children and I received that made us feel welcome, a part of your community, for allowing me to partake in your Golden Jubilee and to experience this phenomenal event. I hope you enjoyed reading this as I enjoyed writing it.

Now as promised, the following is what your Imam explained when he spoke to us. He started out by asking why the woman beside me and I have walking aids. After we answered, he made a joke about the woman breaking her foot dancing, and not skiing and said ‘that would have made for a good story’. He then thanked us for supporting our loved ones in their spiritual journey and then proceeded to explain that the prayer hall was space given to the Ismaili’s because of their commitment to the Imam and their spiritual growth. We (non-Ismailis) cannot go into it because we would distract them from their spiritual growth. He said, “You can imagine the chaos there would be with all the diversity”. We had to agree. We then thanked him for everything he does for peace and he responded with, ‘the commitment that our loved ones have to the Imam and their spiritual growth is also a commitment to what he represents and believes. As family members supporting our loved ones in their spiritual journey, we also share that commitment to peace. He then thanked us all because together our commitment to peace gives him the power to fulfill his destiny and purpose to bring peace.’ We thanked him again; he bowed his head slightly, turned away and walked to the next group. Peace and calm surrounded me.
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Post by kmaherali »

Burnaby to get new park

By Wanda Chow - Burnaby NewsLeader

Published: December 19, 2008 2:00 PM
Updated: December 19, 2008 2:32 PM

0 Comments Burnaby will be marking the golden jubilee of the Aga Khan with a new 13-acre park in the Central Valley.

The “contemplative nature park” will be built on city-owned land but funded, designed and constructed by the Aga Khan Development Network, said city parks director Dave Ellenwood.

“Right now we’re just very excited at the prospect of working with such a prominent organization.”

The park was agreed upon when the Aga Khan met with Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan last month as part of an eight-day visit to Canada to mark the 50th anniversary of his becoming Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.

Burnaby was chosen as the home to the first Shia Muslim settlement in Canada over 35 years ago and is the location of the award-winning Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre on Canada Way, the first such purpose-built building in the country.

The park will be a triangle-shaped parcel of land across from 8-Rinks, bounded by the Burnaby Lake Jamatkhana (at Sprott Street and Kensington Avenue), Highway 1 and Sprott.

The property is currently covered in brush. While the concept plan won’t likely be completed until spring or summer, indications are some brush will be removed, and the park will feature preserved wetlands, water features and trails, Ellenwood said.

Construction should begin within the next year and a half.

While the value of the Aga Khan’s gift will not be known until design plans are completed, Ellenwood noted that he recently contributed about $50 million for a facility in Toronto, although that involved construction of buildings, which are not planned for the Burnaby project.

“We are honoured to create this park on the occasion of His Highness’s Golden Jubilee as the City of Burnaby’s recognition and thanks to the Aga Khan and the Ismaili community for making Burnaby home,” said Corrigan in a press release.

“We have benefitted from their enterprise and contributions to civil society. We are looking forward to partnering with the Aga Khan who has tremendous experience in the area of building community spaces to enhance the already rich mosaic of Burnaby.”

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com

http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vanc ... 66144.html
Mehreen1221
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Post by Mehreen1221 »

Recently in Vancouver, Canada, His Highness said in an interview that "...Hundreds, if not thousands, of Muslim leaders would have told the Western world exactly what to expect when Saddam Hussein was eliminated..."

As we all know, there is no more recognized and accepted Muslim leader than His Highness The Aga Khan Himself in Western World...I am wondering what He had or would have told to western world regarding aggression against Republic of Iraq and consequences of that.
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Post by kmaherali »

Mehreen1221 wrote: As we all know, there is no more recognized and accepted Muslim leader than His Highness The Aga Khan Himself in Western World...I am wondering what He had or would have told to western world regarding aggression against Republic of Iraq and consequences of that.
In an interview below MHI expressed his views....

This conversation between His Highness the Aga Khan and Peter Mansbridge, host of CBC Television's Mansbridge One on One, originally aired on October 28 and 29, 2006.
Source: http://www.dmpibooks.com/book/douglas-m ... /interview

PM: How much of the problem in Afghanistan is a result of the decision on the part of the Americans and the British to move into Iraq?

AK: Very substantial indeed. The invasion of Iraq was something that has mobilized what we call the Ummah, the community of Muslims around the world. Every Muslim I have ever talked to has felt engaged by this.

PM: On what level?

AK: Well, Baghdad is one of the great historic cities of the Islamic world. Iraq is not a new country, it is part of the history of our civilization. It has been a pluralist country, with great philosophers, great historians, great scientists. Reverse the question again. What would the Christian world think if a Muslim army attacked Rome? I think there would be a general reaction in the Christian world, not just an Italian reaction.

PM: But it seems even in the Muslim world that invasion has caused major divisions, the clash within Islam itself, between Shia and Sunni.

AK: That was entirely predictable. Entirely predictable. What you were effectively doing was placing a Sunni minority government in a country that had a Shia demographic majority. And again, take the case out of its situation. What would happen—I'm sorry to come back to this, but it's important—if a Muslim army went into Northern Ireland and replaced one Christian interpretation with another? Imagine the fallout that would cause in the Christian world itself.

PM: So what happens now? Can Iraq be put back together? And who would be doing that?

AK: That's a very, very difficult question. I would not want to predict the answer, because I think that the whole process of change in Iraq has regional dimensions that have got to be managed. They are not just national dimensions in Iraq. Those regional dimensions also were predictable, let's be quite frank about it, and I think they are going to have to be managed with very, very great care.

PM: Is the answer, as some suggest, the splitting of the country into three regions, with the main two combatants, the Shia and the Sunni, actually separated by borders?

AK: That's really an issue where the leaders of the three communities have got to agree or not. In my life, in the past fifty years, I have been uncomfortable with the creation of unviable states. So I would ask the question: if you did do that, what components of Iraq would be stable, viable states in the future
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Post by Mehreen1221 »

Well, I have read this interview and other prior and subsequent interviews/speeches of His Highness the Aga Khan on the subject and that is why I am kind of confused about His stands on the issue.

First, this particular interview was conducted in October 2006 so at that point any kind of suggestions or warnings against or in favor of the invasion of Iraq from anyone would not have made any significant difference as pretty much everyone knows that, however the country of Iraq was under constant aggression since 1990, full fledge invasion of Iraq had already started in March 2003 and Baghdad had fallen in April 2003.

What I am looking for is what His Highness or any other particular Islamic leader had told, prior to the regime change in Iraq, to the western governments about what consequences to expect for after or during this bloody conflict.

I know that His Highness had met with then British Prime Minister Tony B liar in early 2003 but I don’t know what His discussion was with him or with any other western government officials in this regard. I also understand that His Highness is in a position where he has to tread extremely careful without getting tangled in the political quagmire when dealing or commenting about issues, particularly the conflicting ones, between Islamic world and western world.

But as a member of Arab Baath Socialist Party, I think I am trying to figure out what His Highness’ official stand is on this matter. So far I have gotten only vague suggestions ad impressions from Him.

Beside that, one has to first realize that IF the current situation in the area is the result of actions perpetrated by West and it’s regional allies for the greater benefits of the public in the area OR was it a mischievous scheme to control the area by destroying the Iraqi society and destabilizing the region for the economic and political interests of aggressors and traitors in the area. I think, the whole discussion to resolve the issue can not go anywhere until we find out the actual cause of the conflict which in my view is the later one I described.
Last edited by Mehreen1221 on Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:21 pm, edited 3 times in total.
nagib
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Post by nagib »

He said in November 2001 that he was in principle against any invasion of any country. You can read his interview with LBC on http://www.ismaili.net/Syria/interview/lbc.html

He also said in an interview after Afghanistan and before Irak that Irak was not Afhganistan and things will not be the same. But I am not sure why this is discussed in this thread? It is better to move this discussion to current issues not to G.J. Padhramni.
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Post by Mehreen1221 »

Nagib,
Why this is discussed here is because His Highness' recent visit to Canada was not a silent film ...He said things and the discussion is revolving around what He said and meant... though I do agree that it should not go beyond that and it has not yet...

The link you provided is about His interview mainly focused on Afghanistan and general issues other than Iraq pacifically. I don't see any direct links between comments in two interviews regarding Iraq...

beside that, I just wanted to mention that most of these interviewers are so naïve and incompetent to even sit one on one with His Highness, there questions are so childish and crude that I wish His Highness would simply just walk out on them…they seem like they have no basic knowledge of genuine Islamic faith, history, cultural ethos and universal values and have not done any research about the points they are asking Him about. It seems like that all they know about Him or Islam or Muslim world is coming only from CNN or any other news outlet. My 14 year old niece is even more professional and knows more about the subjects here. And His Highness has been repeating same things over and over for over last several years…but again next interviewer is bringing up the same things as they don’t believe on what He had said before…or they just don’t understand Him. I think it is the graciousness and patience of His Highness that He faces these morons with smiles. If it was Aga Khan III, I think, He would have taken His belt out to someone…LOL
Last edited by Mehreen1221 on Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:52 pm, edited 7 times in total.
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Post by aknak »

when a 1000 years off history or historic advancement has been erased....600-1600....how easy isit going to be to change that .....! Be patient and give it time belive me things will turn around and the mistakes will be pointed out .....the issue about sadam had to come to light as only a few were the receipents of the glories of the monetory side when the masses were deprived.....or would you rather have it that way.....!
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Post by kmaherali »

Anather view of MHI's arrival at Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDGuqfRp8Qk
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Post by From_Alamut »

An Article based on: The Esoteric Symbolism of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat

Please check the reference:
http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2008/1 ... li-imamat/

http://ismailimail.files.wordpress.com/ ... olism1.pdf
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Re: CANADA 2008 Padhramni, Event, News and Testimonies

Post by From_Alamut »

kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Royal vist brings Ismaili students together

Carleton students gathered to welcome Prince Karim Aga Khan IV to Ottawa this December

by Farhan Devji


The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat was inaugurated with a ceremony on Dec. 6 on Sussex D Flags announce the Golden Jubilee of His rive ( Photo: Farhan Devji )

Highness, though we met for the first time only three years ago, I feel like I have known you a long time,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Prince Karim Aga Khan IV at the inauguration ceremonies of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on Dec. 6.

“My long-time university roommate, Alnoor Lakhani, is an Ismaili, and he kept a picture of you in our room,” added Harper, as the falling snowflakes became visible through the translucent walls of the elegant $54 million landmark.

Alnoor Lakhani isn’t the only one who keeps a reminder of His Highness the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of over 13.5 million Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world.

Among the 70,000 Ismaili Muslims in Canada, approximately 1,250 live in the Ottawa region, and roughly 35 attend Carleton University, according to Ottawa Ismaili Students Association President Shelina Jamal.

Hafiz Moledina, a public administration master’s student, says he also keeps a picture of the Aga Khan in his dorm room.

“Canada and the Aga Khan have had a very fruitful relationship since the early 1970s, and I feel this shows the level of admiration and confidence His Highness has for our country,” he says.

Flags announce the Golden Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan


The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, located on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, will serve to house the Aga Khan Development Network’s main offices. According to an official press release from the office of the Prime Minister, the AKDN is a “group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities in the developing world.” Additionally, the Delegation building will provide the Aga Khan a place of residence on his visits to the nation’s capital and operate as an embassy of sorts – the first of its kind - for the Ismaili Muslim community.

“My parents, like many Ismaili Muslims in Canada, fled their home countries in East Africa in order to escape political persecution and instability. Canada welcomed them with open arms,” Moledina says, who is originally from Vancouver, B.C.

“Therefore, I feel this building is a reflection of not only the enhancement of the Aga Khan’s relationship with Canada, but also the progress the community has made in this country.”

The opening ceremonies of the delegation building were closed to the general public, but even so, a group of Ismailis lined up on Sussex Drive in sub-zero temperatures, hoping to catch a glimpse.

Their prayers were answered, as the Aga Khan smiled and waved to them before he welcomed Harper into the building.

One particular Carleton student, however, didn’t have to wait outside. Alisha Dharshi, also an Ismaili, volunteered at the opening ceremonies as an usher.

“The experience was amazing,” says Dharshi, a second-year history and theory of architecture major. “Already I was so excited just to see the building, as it’s not open to public at the moment. I felt so honoured to be part of the building opening.”

Dharshi says while she has several positive memories from her experience at the Delegation opening, she says she’ll never forget the giant smile on the Aga Khan’s face as he saw all his volunteers celebrating after the ceremony.

“For me, it felt like he was watching his children, just enjoying seeing them celebrate.”

His Highness the Aga Khan speaks at the inauguration

Although Dharshi is proud to say she hails from Brampton, Ont., but she says she feels very fortunate to be in Ottawa for this event.

“Wow, I feel so lucky that [the building’s] here in Ottawa. I would never have been able to be involved if it was not here,” she says. “Also, the fact that the building has joined so many others on the Confederation Boulevard is momentous. It’s joining buildings that have been there for so long, holding so much history within the walls. It was time for a building like this to take its place amongst them and create history itself.”

As Moledina explains, the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat is a beacon of hope for a better and more serene future.

“It’s a demonstration of what the community can do to bring Canadians of all backgrounds together in order to help tackle and solve some of the world’s most serious challenges, namely global poverty.”

http://www.charlatan.ca/index.php?optio ... &Itemid=32
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Re: CANADA 2008 Padhramni, Event, News and Testimonies

Post by From_Alamut »

Check this video clip on [Youtube], A Spiritual Journey to Ismailsm Brothers and Sisters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOeeCmdE ... re=channel
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Post by Admin »

http://archrecord.construction.com/news ... gakhan.asp

In Ottawa, Maki Completes First Building for Aga Khan
January 29, 2009

By Tim McKeough

Maki and Associates has completed the first building in the world specifically designed for the Aga Khan and his agencies.

The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims and founder of the coveted Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which honors projects in communities where Muslims have a significant presence. The new, 95,000-square-foot building, known as the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, is located in Ottawa, Canada, and houses offices for the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada and Aga Khan Development Network, a group of secular agencies with a variety of activities in the developing world that promote health, education, economic development, and revitalization of historic cities.

Maki and Associates has completed the first building in the world specifically designed for the Aga Khan and his agencies.

Image
Image courtesy Aga Khan

Maki and Associates has completed the first building in the world specifically designed for the Aga Khan and his agencies.


The rectilinear building’s most dramatic feature is a multi-faceted glass dome with triangular fiberglass shades that control sunlight. The dome’s shape is a direct response to the Aga Khan’s request for a building inspired by rock crystal, which he admires for “its translucency, its multiple planes, and the fascination of its colors—all of which present themselves differently as light moves around them,” he stated on December 6 during an inauguration ceremony at the building.

Located beneath the dome is a 55-foot-high atrium, its glass walls partially obscured by cast aluminum screens with an Arabesque-type pattern. Beyond the atrium is a traditional walled exterior garden, or char bagh. On the exterior, the building is clad in crystallized glass ceramic panels, which are intended to reflect subtle changes in the color of natural light throughout the day.

The Aga Khan noted that the project “reflects our conviction that buildings can do more than simply house people and programs. They can also reflect our deepest values, as great architecture captures esoteric thought in physical form.” The Aga Khan and his institutions have two other new buildings in the works in Canada—an Islamic art museum designed by Maki, and a religious and community center designed by Charles Correa. Both projects are in Toronto. In addition, the Aga Khan has established a Global Centre for Pluralism in the former Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

“Together, these projects represent a permanent institutional commitment to Canada,” says Khalil Shariff, CEO of the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada. Shariff notes that Canada was a natural choice for the organization because many Ismaili Muslims moved to the country during turmoil in Uganda more than three decades ago; about 100,000 live in Canada today. “There’s also a long history of active collaboration between Canada and the non-denominational institutions of the network,” adds Shariff, noting that the Aga Khan Development Network has worked closely with the Canadian International Development Agency for the past 25 years to reduce poverty in Asia and Africa. “There’s a convergence of values between the work we’re doing,” he says, “and what Canada stands for and represents in the world.”
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