Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Calgary Airport on Saturday morning where leaders of the Canadian Jamat had gathered to bid him farewell. Upon his departure, Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed his happiness with the visit and conveyed his congratulations to all the volunteers for their excellent work.

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Western Canada was a continuation of his earlier visit to Eastern Canada in November of 2017. The visit began on 1 May in Ottawa, where Hazar Imam completed several days of work related to the Global Centre for Pluralism.

While in Ottawa, Mawlana Hazar Imam was hosted to a dinner held in his honour by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada. The dinner was attended by Princess Zahra, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Canadian Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Joe Clark, and former Governors General Adrienne Clarkson and David Johnston.

Mawlana Hazar Imam then travelled to Vancouver on 4 May, marking the beginning of his Western Canadian visit. After spending three days in Vancouver meeting with the Jamats of British Columbia, Mawlana Hazar Imam departed for Calgary on 7 May.

Over the course of his visit to Western Canada, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Jamats of British Columbia, Edmonton and the Prairies. Hazar Imam also held meetings with government officials in both Western Canadian Provinces meeting with Premier John Horgan of British Columbia in Vancouver and Premier Rachel Notley of Alberta in Calgary.

At the conclusion of the visit, Ismaili Council for Canada President Malik Talib offered a loyalty address to Mawlana Hazar Imam on behalf of the Canadian Jamat. President Talib expressed gratitude for Hazar Imam’s vision, leadership, care, guidance, and for the establishment of a range of institutions in Canada and around the world. Ismaili Council for Canada Vice-President Karima Karmali presented a special offering to Mawlana Hazar Imam as a token of the Jamat’s gratitude, love and affection. The gift is a manuscript copy of the Diwan by Nasir Khusraw, a renowned Ismaili thinker and writer, and one of the foremost poets of the Persian language. 

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Western Canada has been a source of tremendous happiness and joy for the entire Canadian Jamat providing them an opportunity to both celebrate their beloved Imam’s Diamond Jubilee, and to reaffirm their commitment to the Ismaili Imamat. The visit has also provided the Canadian Jamat an opportunity to acknowledge the longstanding partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and the Canadian government. It is a partnership built on similar values and a profound commitment to helping improve the quality of life for people around the world.