Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

People looking for property to rent in London may be interested in the possibility of a new educational facility at a multi-use development opening in Central London.

According to Property Week, the Aga Khan, the hereditary leader of the largest group of Ismaili followers of the Shia faith, is in talks with King's Cross Central is finalising details for opening an Ismaili studies and cultural affairs centre at one of its premises.

The Aga Khan hopes to build an Islamic cultural 'hub' in London.

The Aga Khan suffered a humiliating defeat in 2002 when his plans to build a museum of Islamic art on one of London's most desirable sites were thrown out, even though his £24 million bid was twice the size of any other.

The racehorse breeder and spiritual leader to more than four million Ismaili Muslims was said to have been furious with what he saw as unfair and xenophobic treatment of his philanthropy, and signalled that would turn his back on this country.

The Aga Khan IV is in advanced talks to create a centre for Ismaili studies and cultural affairs at London's £4bn King's Cross scheme.

It is thought that the Aga Khan Foundation and King’s Cross Central — the joint venture between Argent, London & Continental Railways and landowner DHL-Exel - are finalising details of an agreement to develop the proposed centre at the 67 acre site.

Toronto, May 29 (PTI) Canada has bestowed honorary citizenship upon the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of around 20 million Muslims worldwide.

The Aga Khan was in Toronto to launch a USD 285-million cultural centre for Ismaili Muslims and the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper conferred the honours on the spiritual leader, saying that the centre and museum will represent the country's pluralism and cultural diversity.

The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam.

Toronto, May 29: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Friday bestowed honorary citizenship on the Aga Khan and laid the foundation stone of what would be one of the largest Muslim art and culture centres in North America.

The Aga Khan is the Imam of over 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims spread around the world.

Of all the gifts ever given to Toronto, none is more beautiful than the Aga Khan’s.

The spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims came to town Friday to break ground on a remarkable project that will include a museum of Islamic art and an Ismaili Centre, both set in an exquisite seven-hectare park. Created by some of the world’s most sought-after designers, the complex and its contents will bring new depth to Toronto’s artistic life and its vaunted multiculturalism.

Fri, May 28: Canada bestows one of the world's most powerful men with its highest honour.

View the Video on the canada.com website:
http://www.canada.com/news/videos/index.html#ccEe6bvzfkczE_WKrmxa5gwiwwC...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Aga Khan were in Toronto Friday at the foundation ceremony for the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum and Park

The Ismaili Centre will be a gathering place for prayer and a space for intellectual discourse while the museum will be an education project of the Aga Khan Development Network, which will gather, preserve and display artefacts symbolizing the heritage of Muslim civilizations.

The two centres will be joined by a park and are expected to be completed by 2013.

Toronto, 28 May 2010 — His Highness the Aga Khan and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were in Toronto today to mark the Foundation of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park situated in the city’s Don Mills area.

There is an interesting debate brewing over a site in the historic suburb of Toronto's Don Mills: should we save a modernist building and compromise the designs of two internationally known architects, or should we allow these architects to disseminate global culture unencumbered by a '60s building?

The leader of the world's Ismaili Muslim community was in Toronto Friday to break ground on what is being billed as the largest Islamic art and culture centre in North America.

The $300-million development slated for Wynford Drive near Don Mills Road will cover 6.8 hectares and will include a museum, an Ismaili cultural centre and a park.

The Aga Khan, leader of the group of Shia Muslims known as Ismailis, said the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture is his gift to Toronto.

Nizar Kassam drove all the way from Chicago to Toronto to witness yet another “groundbreaking moment” of the 70,000-strong Ismaili-Canadian community Friday.

The 66-year-old Tanzanian-born Ismaili businessman was in town for the foundation ceremony of the new Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and Islamic park, to be located on a seven–hectare site at Wynford Dr., near Eglinton Ave. E. and Don Mills.

The Aga Khan is in Toronto today, marking the beginning of development on an Ismaili centre and the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture.

View the video at the CTV website:
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100528/aga-khan-centre-...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday conferred an honorary Canadian citizenship on the Aga Khan, making the billionaire descendant of the Prophet Mohammed and spiritual leader to 15 million Ismaili Muslim followers worldwide only the fifth person to be so honoured.

And though that "citizenship" is merely a symbolic gesture, if the Aga Khan (who lives in France) were to prove a model Canadian citizen, he would not be the first among his people to do so.

The Aga Khan, head of the world's Ismaili Muslim community, unveils plans for the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture and Prime Minister Stephen Harper bestows the spiritual leader with honorary Canadian citizenship. Includes short interviews of attendees.

View the Video at the CBC website:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/player.html?category=News&zone=arts/artdesign&si...

Global Toronto presents a News Clip on the Groundbreaking Event

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Aga Khan break ground at the future site of a $300-million cultural centre for Ismaili Muslims. Andrew Segal reports. May 28

View the clip at the Global Toronto site:
http://www.globaltoronto.com/video/index.html?releasePID=0EHMPetOUXW54yo...

The Aga Khan, head of the world's Ismaili Muslim community, was in Toronto to break ground for the construction of the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture, and he also received Honourary Citizenship of Canada, an Honour greater than the Order of Canada.

Watch the video at the CBC website:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/ID=1506981949

On June 19, 2009, on the advice of the Government of Canada, the House of Commons voted to bestow Honourary Canadian Citizenship upon His Highness the Aga Khan in recognition of His Highness’s leadership as a champion of development, pluralism and tolerance around the world and of his remarkable leadership as Imam of the worldwide Shia Ismaili Muslim community.

Spiritual leader to Ismailis worldwide says he has always felt at home in Canada

His Highness the Aga Khan and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveil the commemorative plaque for the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture and their Park during the foundation ceremony in Toronto May 28, 2010.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has bestowed honorary Canadian citizenship upon the Aga Khan.

The Aga Khan is in Toronto today, marking the beginning of development on an Ismaili centre and the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture.

TORONTO -- Canada has granted honorary Canadian citizenship upon the Aga Khan, a billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader of 20 million Muslims worldwide.

The Aga Khan was in Toronto on Friday to launch the development of a $285-million cultural center for Ismaili Muslims and the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture.

The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam.