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Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam
At the Opening Ceremony of
The Ismaili Centre, Toronto
Friday, 12 September 2014

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Prime Minister Harper,

Words fail me — and that’s not often the case — but words fail me to thank you enough for your most gracious and warm comments on this occasion.

This is indeed a magnificent day.

It is not so often that we have an opportunity of this sort -- to come together in a beautiful setting, in a wonderful spirit of friendship, and to dedicate such a splendid architectural accomplishment.

Prince Amyn, brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, celebrated his 77th birthday at the Opening of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto which is coincidentally located at 77 Wynford Drive in the Don Mills area of Toronto. Prince Amyn played a major role in the building of the Aga Khan Museum. His Highness the Aga Khan recognized this role in the these words at the Opening Ceremony - "And, of course, it is with deepest admiration that I thank the person whose guiding hand has been so important at every stage of this project: a member of my family, my brother, Prince Amyn Aga Khan."

Toronto set to unveil first museum of Islamic culture in North America
Author: Peter Kuitenbrouwer National Post Canada
Luis Monreal is a ball of energy who speaks quickly and wields a large vocabulary. Born in Spain to a Catalan mother and a Basque father, he is fluent in French, Spanish, English, German, and (he smiles) “some Arabic.”

Peter J. Thompson/National Post

Peter J. Thompson/National PostA woman walks past art work made by Pakistan artist Aisha Khalid at the soon to be opened Aga Khan Museum..

By: Haroon Siddiqui Columnist, Published on Wed Sep 10 2014

The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, which will be inaugurated on Sept. 12, 2014, is an architectural jewel inspired by great Islamic structures, writes Haroon Siddiqui.

The $300 million Aga Khan Museum on Wynford Dr. — highly visible from the Don Valley Parkway — is more than a stunning architectural and cultural addition to Toronto.

2014, September 10:Toronto, Canada - H.H. The Aga Khan landed in Toronto this afternoon accompanied by his brother Prince Amyn. H.H. The Aga Khan was received at his landing by the Honourable Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Toronto's New Aga Khan Museum

Toronto's Aga Khan Museum will give visitors a permanent spot to see one of the top private collections of Islamic art anywhere. © 2014 The Aga Khan Museum/Tom Arban (photo)

Toronto

Plenty of museums around the world collect Islamic art—from ornate Persian carpets to Mughal miniature paintings—but there's never been a museum in North America focused solely on exhibiting these pieces, until now.

Aga Khan Museum announces September opening date

The Aga Khan Museum’s exceptional collection of over 1 000 objects will be complemented by a vibrant performing arts programme. Photo: Tom Arban
The Aga Khan Museum’s exceptional collection of over 1 000 objects will be complemented by a vibrant performing arts programme. Photo: Tom Arban

Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada

February 28, 2014

Thank you Prime Minister for those most generous and gracious words.

Thank you also for the unique honour in asking me to address your Parliament yesterday. It was a moving day for me because I was talking to one of the most important partners that we have in any part of the world. (applause)

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:15 pm Post subject: Aga Khan at Child Care Summit in Toronto 28-30 May 2014

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Prime Minister Harper Toronto.

Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach

Toronto, Ontario

28 April 2014

It isn’t every day, or decade, that the city gets a beautiful new museum, not just paid for and fully stocked, but located in a part of town where architectural excellence is rare.

Toronto’s next important cultural institution, the Aga Khan Museum, and the Ismaili Centre next door will open this fall on Wynford Dr. near Eglinton Ave. and the Don Valley Parkway. The two stone-clad structures sit in a formal Islamic garden adapted to one of the most visible sites in Toronto, a 6.8-hectare high point known to countless commuters.

[Aga Khan: ‘Without a doubt, I am seriously worried’ about the world

John Stackhouse

Toronto — The Globe and Mail

Published Saturday, Mar. 01 2014, 12:06 AM EST

Last updated Saturday, Mar. 01 2014, 12:08 AM EST

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader to the world’s 15 million Ismaili Muslims and an honorary Canadian, visited Canada this week to speak to a rare joint session of Parliament, and inspect the new Ismaili centre in Toronto, due to open this summer. He also sat down with The Globe and Mail’s Editor-in-Chief John Stackhouse for an hour on Friday.

Of two notable speeches from very different Muslim leaders scheduled this month for influential audiences in Canada, only one was delivered. In Ottawa, Zijad Delic, executive director of the Canadian Islamic Congress, had been asked to speak at National Defence headquarters, but that invitation was revoked by Defence Minister Peter MacKay over charges that the congress’s leaders have taken extremist positions in the past (even though Delic is widely seen as a moderate). There was never any doubt, however, that the second speech would go off without a hitch.

A Toronto lawyer who settled a copyright dispute with the Aga Khan says he has no regrets about how the high-profile case played out.

Alnaz Jiwa had previously refused to believe the Aga Khan was the man behind the action requesting he halt distribution of unauthorized copies of the imam’s teachings but at a face-to-face meeting in Toronto on Oct. 15, he got the message straight from the source.

“If he doesn’t want us to do something, there is no way I am going to do it,” Jiwa tells Law Times.

In a world where technology and human migration push people of differing backgrounds increasingly “in each other’s face,” spiritual leader the Aga Khan hailed Canada as a country that has got pluralism right.

The religious leader — imam — of the world’s 14 million Shia Ismaili Muslims praised this country for allowing citizens to keep their identity as they become Canadian.

The Aga Khan, second from right, chats to former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson at Koerner Hall in Toronto Friday night. Peter Simon, president of the Royal Conservatory of Music is on Clarkson's left, and John Ralston Saul is on the Aga Khan's right.

The Right Honorable Adrienne Clarkson, Mr. John Ralston Saul, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mesdames et Messieurs:

When I first received this invitation, I was deeply honored. But I was also, perhaps, a bit intimidated.

I was impressed by the Lecture’s prestigious history, the contributions of nine former Lecturers, and the Lecture’s focus on Canada’s civic culture.

2010-10-15: Heritage news was able to speak briefly with the defendants to ask our burning questions: Did the discovery happen? How long? What was accepted by whom? What was not mentioned? What were the main messages? Here are some answers:

- The discovery did happen, Hazar Imam arrived at 10:40am. Mr Gray brought also the real Plaintiffs Sachedina and Manji. {there was no Affidavit from H.H. The Aga Khan in this case which was solely supported by Affidavit from Sachedina and Bhaloo unauthorised by the Imam according to their own sworn replies at previously held Discoveries]

Toronto, 14 October 2010 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Toronto today, where he will deliver this year’s lecture at the 10th annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium.