OTTAWA Nov. 13, 2013 – The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is pleased to announce His Highness the Aga Khan as the 2013 recipient of the RAIC Gold Medal—its highest honour.
The selection of His Highness marks the first time in more than 30 years that a non-architect has been chosen to receive the Gold Medal, and recognizes the Aga Khan’s extraordinary achievements in using architecture as an instrument to further peaceful and sustainable community development around the world.
The RAIC Gold Medal was established to recognize “a person of science or letters related to architecture and the arts” and these terms aptly describe a man who has dedicated his life to the betterment of society, His Highness the Aga Khan.
His Highness became the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan.
He is also the Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), whose agencies work to improve the welfare and prospects of people in the developing world, particularly in Asia and Africa, without regard to faith, origin or gender. The underlying ethic of the AKDN is compassion for the vulnerable in society. Its annual budget for non-profit development activities is in excess of US$600 million.
The RAIC Gold Medal is awarded each year recognizing significant contribution to Canadian architecture.
http://raic.org/resources_archives/media_releases/2013/Gold_Medal_Release_e.pdf
http://dcnonl.com/article/id57964/–raic-gold-medal-for-aga-khan
http://www.canadianinteriors.com/news/gold-for-his-highness-the-aga-kahn/1002751166/?&
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