Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Members of Calgary’s Ismaili Muslim community are preparing for a visit from the Aga Khan next month.
The spiritual leader will be in Calgary from May 9 to 11 as part of a visit to Canada to celebrate his Diamond Jubilee anniversary.

The Aga Khan will visit Ottawa from May 1 to 4, including attending a dinner at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General, and will also visit Vancouver as part of the trip.

Volunteer Tasneem Rahim said the visit to Alberta is “a very significant occasion for Canada and the community.”

“His Highness has a very strong affinity for Canada, as do all of us here, but it’s a celebration also of like-minded values: pluralism, strength in diversity, compassion and care,” Rahim said. “So I think it’s a real big celebration for Canadians in general*

Rahim said she is part of a large team of volunteers from Calgary and Edmonton organizing the visit.
“Service is another very, very big element for our community, and it’s a very strong ethic,” she said. “That’s going to be an effort of huge, huge magnitude, but everyone's so excited.*

She added the last time the Aga Khan visited Calgary was during his Golden Jubilee in November 2008. His visit in May will consist of private community gatherings.
“It is an opportunity for the community to have a private gathering with His Highness and I think it’s one that many people have been really looking forward to — volunteers have been planning since the commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee last July,” she said.

“Coming closer to the end of a Diamond Jubilee year, we're very blessed to have him here.*