The inauguration of this building, a designated heritage site that originally housed the Dominion Archives of Canada, and subsequently the Canadian War Museum, coincides with Canada’s 150th birthday, giving Canadians an opportunity to celebrate deeply cherished values, in common with those of the Ismaili Imamat and community.

“Pluralism does not mean the elimination of difference,” Hazar Imam said in his remarks, “but the embrace of difference. Genuine pluralism understands that diversity does not weaken a society, it strengthens it. In an ever- shrinking, ever more diverse world, a genuine sense of pluralism is the indispensable foundation for human peace and progress.”

When speaking of Canada’s role in bringing the idea of the Global Centre for Pluralism to fruition, Mawlana Hazar Imam focused on the public- private partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Canada. Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly highlighted Canada’s strengths: its respect for rights and freedoms, its welcoming, open society, and its multicultural character.

The Global Centre for Pluralism has found a home in Canada for a multitude of reasons, perhaps the most significant of which is that at the core of the Canadian identity, there is a respect for diversity. As His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, noted: “Here in Canada, when we look around for this pluralism story, and listen for it, we begin to realize that in fact it isn’t a new story we need, but rather a very old one that continues to unfold. It’s a story of partnership: balanced, reciprocal and respectful.”

These same values are echoed in the partnership between Canada and the Ismaili Imamat, not only in the creation of the Centre, but also with many other Imamat projects in Canada, past, present and future, such as the Aga Khan Museum and Park in Toronto, and the upcoming Aga Khan Garden in Alberta. These projects exemplify what can happen when we are committed to practicing pluralism, even when the world is becoming increasingly polarized. Mawlana Hazar Imam acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead for the Global Centre for Pluralism, but also expressed hope for its success: “As we celebrate the progress we have made today, we also recognize the growing challenges to our mission, as nativist and nationalist threats to pluralism rise up in so many corners of the world. In responding to these challenges, the Global Centre for Pluralism has planned a variety of new initiatives.”

These include the Global Pluralism Awards, which will recognize pluralism in action around the world, as well as a distinguished series of new publications. These initiatives will help Canada and the Global Centre for Pluralism show the world that pluralism is a viable path to peace. Perhaps then, the role of the Centre isn’t simply to help create a more tolerant world, but rather one where diversity is not only accepted, but embraced as a conduit for prosperity and harmony.

Source: This article was originally published on Ismaili Canada Magazine - Summer 2017 edition.