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Toronto, May 29 (PTI) Canada has bestowed honorary citizenship upon the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of around 20 million Muslims worldwide.

The Aga Khan was in Toronto to launch a USD 285-million cultural centre for Ismaili Muslims and the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper conferred the honours on the spiritual leader, saying that the centre and museum will represent the country's pluralism and cultural diversity.

The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam.

Toronto, May 29: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Friday bestowed honorary citizenship on the Aga Khan and laid the foundation stone of what would be one of the largest Muslim art and culture centres in North America.

The Aga Khan is the Imam of over 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims spread around the world.

Of all the gifts ever given to Toronto, none is more beautiful than the Aga Khan’s.

The spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims came to town Friday to break ground on a remarkable project that will include a museum of Islamic art and an Ismaili Centre, both set in an exquisite seven-hectare park. Created by some of the world’s most sought-after designers, the complex and its contents will bring new depth to Toronto’s artistic life and its vaunted multiculturalism.

Fri, May 28: Canada bestows one of the world's most powerful men with its highest honour.

View the Video on the canada.com website:
Not available any more, they have removed it.

Fri, May 28: Canada bestows one of the world's most powerful men with its highest honour.

View the Video on the canada.com website:
http://www.canada.com/news/videos/index.html#ccEe6bvzfkczE_WKrmxa5gwiwwC...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Aga Khan were in Toronto Friday at the foundation ceremony for the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum and Park

The Ismaili Centre will be a gathering place for prayer and a space for intellectual discourse while the museum will be an education project of the Aga Khan Development Network, which will gather, preserve and display artefacts symbolizing the heritage of Muslim civilizations.

The two centres will be joined by a park and are expected to be completed by 2013.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper bestows honorary Canadian citizenship on the Aga Khan.