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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.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Prime Minister Harper,
Madame Clarkson,
Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by expressing my profound appreciation for the great honour which this country has paid to me today by extending this generous gift of Honorary Canadian Citizenship.

I have been deeply moved by your gracious gesture — which I also regard as a tribute to the institution of the Ismaili Imamat, which I represent. It is a significant recognition of the values which our community of faith shares with the people of Canada.

His Highness the Aga Khan speaks during the foundation ceremony for the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture in Toronto May 28, 2010.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) view a model of the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture and their Park during the foundation ceremony in Toronto May 28, 2010.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L) arrive for the foundation ceremony for the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture and their park in Toronto May 28, 2010.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) view a model of the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture and their Park during the foundation ceremony in Toronto May 28, 2010.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) view a model of Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture and their Park during the foundation ceremony in Toronto May 28, 2010.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L) 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.

For the more than 70,000 Ismaili Muslims here in Canada, the foundation ceremony for the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre today is a fitting tribute to the man who has done so much to further our understanding of Islamic art and culture – and who continues to work tirelessly on humanitarian projects around the world.

This man is a visionary. Small wonder that he and Trudeau became so close over the years, a friendship that really began when Canada welcomed thousands of Ismaili Muslims fleeing Idi Amin’s Uganda back in 1972.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff poses with H.H. The Aga Khan at the Groundbreaking ceremony.

H.H. The Aga Khan attends Groundbreaking of Wynford Park Complex and Receives Honourary Canadian Citizenship

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/ID=1506981949

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

Listen to the Speech Here: http://ismaili.net/heritage/node/30034

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following remarks at the Foundation Ceremony for the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum and Park :

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.

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 today met with His Highness the Aga Khan in Toronto to take part in the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and Park. The Imam is on an official visit to Canada from May 26-28.

“Canada is honoured to have been chosen as the site for these important institutions,” said the Prime Minister. They will serve to promote pluralism, peace and tolerance through greater understanding of Islam.”

To most Canadians, he is known simply as the Aga Khan.

Few are likely to know much more about the man, considered to be the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, a community made up of more than 30,000 people in Toronto alone.