First anniversary of the opening of the Ismaili Centre Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum

Opening of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto
Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prime Minister Stephen Harper opened the Ismaili Centre Toronto on September 12, 2014. Guests included Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim, Princess Salwa and Prince Hussain, as well as dignitaries and institutional leaders.

The Ismaili Centre includes a place of prayer (Jamatkhana) for the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim community as well as spaces for social, educational and cultural activities. It is the second such centre in Canada and joins a network of Centres located in Vancouver, London, Lisbon, Dubai, and Dushanbe.

“…we have sought to create places and spaces of true enlightenment. And, in doing so, we have also been strengthened by a pronounced spirit of friendship. And what a joy it is to celebrate that spirit, at a time when so much of the world’s attention is focused on climates of belligerence.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam
Speech at The Ismaili

The Aga Khan Museum, which shares a park with the Ismaili Centre Toronto, was opened on the same day in a separate ceremony.

Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki designed the Aga Khan Museum, Indian architect Charles Correa designed the Ismaili Centre, and Lebanese architect Vladimir Djurovic designed the formal garden of the Aga Khan Park. The Canadian firm Moriyama & Teshima were the architects responsible for integrating all aspects of the project.

Video of the opening ceremony at The Ismaili

Opening of the Aga Khan Museum
Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prime Minister Stephen Harper presided over the opening of the Aga Khan Museum.

Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Vice Chairman of the Aga Khan Museum Board of Directors, and the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages addressed the audience in the auditorium of the museum.

“I believe strongly that art and culture can have a profound impact in healing misunderstanding and in fostering trust even across great divides. This is the extraordinary purpose, the special mandate, to which this Museum is dedicated.”
Prince Amyn
Speech at The Ismaili

Video of the opening ceremony at The Ismaili

More information and photo galleries at The Ismaili