His Highness Prince Agakhan Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim Community
The American Red Cross is holding a public blood drive at Shia Imami Muslim Community in the American Red Cross Bus, Centre Plaza, 225 Great ...
10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2012
Red Cross Blood Drive
His Highness Prince Agakhan Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim Community
Donation Types: Blood
10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2012
Subject: 2012 Ismaili Muslim Stampede Breakfast
Message: 2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the world famous Calgary Stampede. It is also the 27th year of the Ismaili Muslim community's participation in the Stampede Parade, among the largest parades in Canada with up to 400,000 in attendance and an audience of millions across the country and beyond. These pictures are from the 16th annual Ismaili Muslim Stampede Breakfast, held on July 7th 2012 and attended by thousands of Calgarians and many more from abroad.
Among the honoured guests this year were Alberta Premier Alison Redford, City of Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Federal Minister Jason Kenney, among others. The opening ceremonies featured the Ismaili choir singing O'Canada and remarks from the Chair of the Calgary Stampede Board, President and CEO of the United Way, Premier Redford and our beloved Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
The breakfast included pancakes, eggs (from shells, not boxes!) and bharazi (an east African dish made of pigeon peas in a coconut based spicy breakfast curry) along with tea and juice. There was live entertainment featuring singer songwriter Lori Kole and Arial recording artist Brent Mcathey and the Chinook County Line Dancers. For the children there were arts and crafts and face painting. Also featured at the breakfast was the 2012 Ismaili Muslim Stampede Float (highlighting work of the United Way of Calgary), which won two prizes this year: Best Overall Entry and Best Western Themed Entry. How wonderful that the best entry and best western entry at the centennial stampede parade was built by Muslims!
Mubarakhi to all those wonderful volunteers who make it happen!
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Hundreds of Ismaili volunteers ready to make London Olympic Games a success
A centrepiece of the 2012 Games, London’s iconic Olympic Stadium will welcome 80 000 spectators for tonight’s opening ceremonies. Photo: Shairoz MerchantToday’s opening of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games marks an historic moment for the city and for modern sport gatherings.
The numbers reflect the sheer scale of the event: Some 10 500 athletes from 204 countries will take part in 26 Olympic sports spread across 34 venues. More than 9 million tickets have been sold to spectators, and an estimated 20 000 members of the media will broadcast the Games around the world.
Get involved:
» Submit photographs of your experience of the Games to the
London Olympics 2012 Photography Project.
» Are volunteering or involved in the Olympic Games in some way?
Email us your story.
Thousands of person-hours have gone into organising and executing these Olympics. In response to a call for volunteers made early on by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps encouraged the Jamat to get involved. Approximately 680 members of the community registered to help in the Olympic effort.
Volunteer Rahim Shamji with members of the British Olympic team. Shamji will be a drummer in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo: Courtesy of Rahim ShamjiIsmaili drummers and dancers will perform in the opening ceremony, and Ismaili Olympic Ambassadors will spread across London to welcome foreign visitors and guide them through the meandering streets of the city. The community’s vast organisational experience is even being used to co-ordinate logistics for protocol guests.
So what has driven so many people to give their time to be part of London 2012?
“We have an inbuilt ethic for voluntary service,” says Sabrina Nanji, a volunteer responsible for making sure that all the foreign dignitaries, national and international Olympic committees are transported to the correct locations for the next two weeks. “I’m proud to be British so I wanted to get involved.”
A sign welcomes visitors to London’s Olympic Park. Photo: Shairoz MerchantRahim Shamji who will be one of 1 000 drummers in the opening ceremony says “I wanted to be part of the biggest sporting event in the world which represents one community and one world.”
Many volunteers are touched by the chance to meet and connect with so many Londoners of all stripes. Karim Nanji, Deputy Major of the Ismaili Volunteer Corps, is serving as a member of the “Flying Squad” — a mobile unit of Olympic Ambassadors that drops in wherever the crowd of visitors surges: “I have met people from different walks of life with different views of London – it demonstrates how multicultural and diverse our city is”.
“This is an event which goes beyond cultures and religions and re-enforces a common spirit,” says Zahra Jessa, who was selected as an Olympic torch bearer. Sara Nanji, a dancer in the opening ceremony, agrees: “I have met people who are able, and some who are disabled and who fight their disabilities; I have practiced with people from all walks of life who are coming together.” She feels fortunate to be part of the Olympics, with the immense sense of history that surrounds it.
Zahra Jessa runs as a torch bearer in the 2012 London Olympics on 25 July. Photo: Courtesy of Zahra JessaThere is also a keen build up of excitement among the volunteers. Jalil Balolia is looking after the Angolan women’s basketball team. The fluent Portuguese speaker and keen football player (he just dabbles in basketball!) is looking forward to sitting courtside at all of the games: “I really hope the Angolan team progresses!”
Meanwhile, Rahim Shamji can’t wait to see the stadium filled with 80 000 people. He promises that the opening ceremony will have “something for everyone.”
Olympic Ambassador Azmina Boghani agrees — she has seen dress rehearsals for the opening ceremony: “It showcases the best of [what is] British, from the mining communities in the North to the founding of the NHS, to the present day. The light show is spectacular and it will be extremely exciting to see the final product with all the fireworks and special effects!”
The 2012 Ismaili Walk raises funds for YWCA Metro Vancouver's Cause We Care House—a safe, affordable housing community for low-income single moms and their children in the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona area of Vancouver. ismailiwalk.org
Ismaili volunteers included in the 2012 B.C. Seniors Games in Burnaby
Excerpt:
“Our mission was to host the most memorable, inclusive and sustainable Games ever and I believe we are going to achieve that.”
That inclusiveness has included tapping into local multicultural communities, such as the Ismaili community, and local high schools during its volunteer recruitment to achieve an “ethnic and age diversity,” she said.
More than $250,000 was raised Sunday by about 1,500 people who got together in Stanley Park for the 21st annual Ismaili Walk.
The previous editions of the five-kilometre, family-friendly stroll through the park organized by the Ismaili Council for B.C. have raised more than $3.8 million.
The money goes to a variety of charities and institutions, with this year’s fundraising focus being the YWCA Cause We Care House — a housing community for low-income single mothers and their children.
The project is being developed in partnership with the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Public Library, said YWCA Metro Vancouver CEO Janet Austin.
The walk is a major production for the Ismaili community, with food and entertainment making the day-long event a festive celebration — especially when the weather co-operates as it did on Sunday
Ismaili Walk 2012
Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, on Sunday, September 23, I had the privilege of walking alongside 1,500 British Columbians at the twenty-first annual Ismaili Walk. This year men, women and children from across Vancouver gathered at Lumberman's Arch in Stanley Park where they enjoyed live music, delicious food and a festive atmosphere while supporting an important cause that is very close to my heart.
Twenty per cent of homes in British Columbia are headed by single mothers, half of whom live in poverty. Having spent six years serving as national president of the YWCA, I have worked with many of these women and am very familiar with the exceedingly vulnerable positions in which they are routinely placed. Whether it is deciding between paying the rent or buying groceries, or choosing between staying in an abusive relationship or leaving and living life in poverty, single mothers are forced to make impossible decisions each day.
This year the Ismaili Council for British Columbia partnered with the YWCA Cause We Care House, which is an integrated housing community that is being built to support some of Vancouver's most vulnerable families — single mothers bravely raising children in challenging economic conditions.
The YWCA Cause We Care House will provide safe and affordable housing to help women achieve economic independence by providing program space for much needed medical and employment services, Aboriginal infant development programs and literacy programs.
During this year's walk, we heard from Ms. Janet Austin, the CEO of the YWCA of Vancouver. Ms. Austin spoke of the great work the YWCA continues to do on behalf of single mothers while also shedding light on the vision they share with the Ismaili Muslim community in British Columbia.
The president of the Ismaili Council for British Columbia, Ms. Samira Alibhai, described this vision by stating:
Islam places a great emphasis on the principle of people and institutions coming together to make positive change. This walk is part of our tradition of service, giving back and helping those in need, and helping improve the overall quality of life in the society in which we live by making a meaningful contribution to our local is community.
During the walk we also had the honour of hearing from M.P. Andrew Saxton who delivered a message on behalf of the Right Honourable Prime Minister Harper. In his message, the Prime Minister stated:
Today British Columbians will lace up their sneakers to raise awareness and funds for this great cause. I would like to commend the Ismaili Muslim community for organizing this event, which over the past 21 years has raised more than $3.8 million for community organizations in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver.
Honourable senators, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Ismaili Muslim community, Ms. Alibhai, Ms. Austin and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this year's walk such a great success.
I also wish to congratulate all those who participated in the Ismaili Walk for Women for taking steps to help some of Canada's most vulnerable and marginalized populations
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