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Memorandum of Understanding advances human development, global health, social justice and pluralism

By University Relations Staff

October 19, 2018

Signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Oct. 17, 2017 between the University of Calgary and the Aga Khan University, are, front row from left: Aga Khan University President Firoz Rasul and University of Calgary President Elizabeth Cannon. Standing behind are, from left: Aga Khan University Provost Carl Amrhein and University of Calgary Provost Dru Marshall. Photo by Riley Brandt, University of Calgary

Vancouver, Canada, October 19, 2018 – In an historic ceremony today attended by Her Honour the Honourable Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin of British Columbia and Honourable Premier John Horgan, His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), was conferred with honorary Doctors of Laws – the highest academic award - from both the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU).

Hazar Imam awarded joint Doctor of Laws by Universities of BC & Simon Fraser 2018-10-19

University’s highest honour to be conferred Oct. 17
By University Relations Staff
September 24, 2018

His Highness the Aga Khan will receive an honorary degree from the University of Calgary on Oct. 17.University of Calgary Chancellor Deborah Yedlin and President and Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Cannon are pleased to announce that His Highness the Aga Khan will be the recipient of an honorary degree at a special ceremony next month.

Earlier today, Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Vancouver to begin the Western Canada portion of his Diamond Jubilee visit. Shortly after his arrival, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Honourable John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia, who extended a warm welcome and congratulated him on his Diamond Jubilee.

Premier Horgan and Hazar Imam spoke about the Ismaili community's spirit of service and pluralism, and how this is an ideal reflection of the strength that diversity has brought to British Columbia.

Hazar Imam is welcomed to Vancouver by the British Columbia Premier John Horgan 2018-05-04

Hazar Imam arrives at His hotel in Vancouver, Canada 2018-05-04

Some politicians are focusing a great deal of attention on "Canadian values", particularly as they pertain to immigration.

There's an almost hysterical fear that if Canada permits people to move here who don't share these "values", which are rarely defined, then somehow the country will go down the drain.

The foremost purveyor of this idea in national politics has been former Conservative cabinet minister Kellie Leitch. She received a blizzard of free publicity from the media in her campaign to lead her party.

Earlier this month in Ottawa, the Global Centre for Pluralism officially opened its doors. The centre is a partnership between the Aga Khan and the government of Canada and is yet another important example of the bridge-building he has spearheaded along with support for important humanitarian causes in Canada and in the global south. The many institutions the spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims and his community have supported in Canada and around the world are shining examples of service to the community and the less fortunate.

His Highness Aga Khan signing his book "Where Hope Takes Root" for the Premier of British Columbia during his 2008 visit to the province to celebrate his Golden Jubilee

As we meet here tonight, a deeply moving occasion for me, my thoughts turned first of all to my late Beloved Father who would have been so encouraged to see such a large gathering of Ismailis concentrated in a new land where they have never been before and as I think of my Late Father, I am greatly encouraged by the strength, the resilience, the tremendous ability to adapt, that all of you here have shown in settling in this great, this wonderful country.

The Ismaili community across British Columbia will gather for a prayer Thursday evening to recognize His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan’s 76th birthday.

“It’s a very important time for everyone to celebrate and reflect on the vast work that His Highness has undertaken around the world,” said Ali Solehdin, a volunteer from within the Ismaili community.

For full text, please scroll down and download the attached pdf.

EXTRACTS:

p. 30

(ii) Ismaili Doctrine

One of the keys to the understanding of the Ismaili (Shia) doctrine lies
in the way Ismailis view man. Man is made up of body and soul participating
in two worlds: the higher world of the First (Aql, an expression of the Divine Volition,
and the lower world of Nafs, which has emanated from Aql and is the
principle of animation from which matter has originated. As man is far
removed from his origins in the higher world, he needs to acquire knowledge of

Ismaili Muslims from across the country will gather in Vancouver this weekend to celebrate the 2008 Canadian Ismaili Games.

The games, which celebrate 50 years of the Aga Khan's leadership, will take place May 2 to 5 and involve about 1,000 athletes. Winners will represent Canada at the Golden Jubilee Games in Nairobi, Kenya in June.

2007, July 10: The Ismaili community around the world is celebrating the golden jubilee of Prince Karim Aga Khan's ascension to the throne of the Imamat on July 11, 1957. 'Being the leader of the Ismaili community is not only a spiritual role, but it is also a material role,' said Iqbal Ahmed, a spokesman for Vancouver's Ismaili Muslim community.