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

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...

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.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper bestows honorary Canadian citizenship on the Aga Khan.

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.

2005: Above Perched on Top of a Hill in the Postwar Haven of Don Mills, the Bata International Centre Will Likely Be Replaced by a More Ambitious Architecture Commission Financed Through the Aga Khan.

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-...

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

The Aga Khan, left, and Stephen Harper look over a model of the Aga Khan Centre and Museum, which will be built in Toronto by 2013.

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...

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

Global Toronto News VIDEO report of the Groundbreaking

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...

2010-05-28: H.H. The Aga Khan Speaks at the Foundation Ceremony of the Wynford Park Complex after receiving Honourary citizenship from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

2010-05-28: H. H. The Aga Khan at the Foundation Ceremony of the Wynford Park Complex in Toronto.