June 6, 2005 – Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), was invested as an honorary Companion of the Order of Canada in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The ceremony was presided over by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada.
In presenting the honour to the Aga Khan, the Governor General said “I have been deeply impressed that you have been able to bring to everything you do, a generosity, importantly, a curiosity, an intelligence and above all, a deep compassion for other human beings.” “To do what you must with what you have is a lesson we must all learn,” she added.
The Aga Khan was invested as an honorary Companion, the Order of Canada’s highest formal civilian tribute, “in recognition of his life of generosity, of thoughtful stewardship, and of benevolent spiritual direction,” said the Governor General. “He is part of a very tiny group of international figures to whom our country pays its highest respects,” she added.
Extracts from AKDN Press Centre
Ismailimail 