He was received at the airport by Government of Canada representatives the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie; Ambassador Marc-André Blanchard, Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; as well as Senator Mobina Jaffer and Members of Parliament Arif Virani and Yasmin Ratansi. Mawlana Hazar Imam was also received by President of the Ismaili Council for Canada Malik Talib and AKDN Resident Representative for Canada Dr Mahmoud Eboo, as well as Jamati and AKDN leadership.

This visit takes place at the invitation of the Government of Canada and will include an official dinner held at Rideau Hall, hosted by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, the Governor General of Canada, as well as meetings at the Global Centre for Pluralism.

“The Diamond Jubilee provides an opportunity for people everywhere, here in Canada and elsewhere, to re-dedicate themselves to the ethics and values that underpin our partnerships with communities around the world to help improve quality of life. It is an opportunity to give back and look forward,” said Dr Eboo.

Remarking on the importance of this visit, Malik Talib added that the visit was “an opportunity to celebrate the deep and lasting relationships Mawlana Hazar Imam has built with Canadian institutions over his 60 years of service and to recognise the contributions of Canadian Ismailis from coast to coast.”

Following his time in Ottawa, Mawlana Hazar Imam will travel to Vancouver and Calgary, where he will meet with the Jamats of British Columbia, Edmonton, and the Prairies.

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Western Canada is a continuation of his previous visit to Eastern Canada in November 2017. The Jamats across Canada joyously celebrate the arrival of Mawlana Hazar Imam and are preparing with great excitement for the Mulaqats to come.