Visit caps first season for cultural and architectural masterpiece, the world’s northernmost Islamic garden.
A visit from the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary imam of the world’s roughly 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims, highlighted the official inauguration ceremony today of the Aga Khan Garden, Alberta. The garden, located 15 minutes southwest of Edmonton at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, is a gift from the Aga Khan to the university.
“It seemed like an unlikely dream to many,” the Aga Khan told guests at the ceremony, held next to the garden’s central courtyard, known as the chahar bagh. “After all, the great tradition of Islamic gardens has its roots in very different times and places.”
The garden was almost a decade in the making, with the Aga Khan announcing his gift in 2009 during his convocation address upon receiving an honorary degree from the U of A for his lifelong contributions to humanity.
“It’s a beautiful gift to Alberta, to its people and its economy,” said Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who was joined at the inauguration by Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell and U of A president David Turpin.
“Now we have one of the most elegant and beautiful gardens in Canada, and I would suggest maybe the world,” Notley added. “Anyone considering a trip to the region just got yet another reason to come here.”
More at the source: NIALL McKENNA – Folio.ca – October172018
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