Kalim Ahmed, Naib Local Amir, Jamaat Calgary, Canada
On 8 July 2023, the Baitun Nur Mosque in Calgary, Canada, welcomed the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. The event was a traditional breakfast gathering as a part of the largest outdoor show on earth, called the “Calgary Stampede”. This “Stampede Breakfast” was co-hosted by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and local Member of Parliament George Chahal.
The Prime Minister arrived at the Baitun Nur Mosque at 9:45am and was warmly received by localAmir, Mir Majeed Ahmad Tariq Sahib, Secretary of Public Affairs Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada, Asif Khan Sahib, local Secretary of Public Affairs, Naeem Bashir Chaudhry Sahib, and my humble self. After entering the mosque, the Prime Minister was greeted by a group of Lajna Imaillah members, who introduced him to the centenary of Lajna Imaillah. He then had a tour of the mosque and visited an exhibition displaying translations of the Holy Quran in over 70 languages. He appreciated the efforts of Jamaat in spreading the peaceful message of Islam around the world. Inside the main prayer hall, the Prime Minister appreciated the beautiful interior and posed for a group photo. Subsequently, an informal meeting of the Prime Minister with the local Jamaat office bearers was held. He was given the message of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa about the dangerous trajectory of the war in Ukraine and explained how Huzooraa is urging world leaders to strive to find mutually acceptable terms of agreement and make urgent efforts to find peace, lest the cycle of incessant violence rotate with ever greater fury. The Prime Minister remembered fondly his earlier meetings with Huzooraa. He was also briefed about the progress of the Jamaat and its contributions to Canadian society.
Afterwards, the Prime Minister addressed the public, who had gathered outside the mosque to see him. Addressing a large crowd of several thousand, including Federal Ministers, Members of Parliament, Mayors, Members of the Provincial Legislature, and a large number of mainstream media, he praised the efforts of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya to promote peace and harmony in society. He expressed his gratitude to the Jamaat for hosting the event and said that it was an honour for him to speak to the larger local community. He said that your message of “Love for All, Hatred for None” is the message the world is in dire need of, and your efforts to reach across communities to spread hope and positivity were incredibly touching.
The co-host of the event, MP George Chahal, said in his address, “It’s important that we bring everybody together and make sure we all stand up against hatred and discrimination in all forms.”
Among other high-profile guests who attended the event were Minister of Defence Anita Anand, Minister of Industry François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Tourism Randy Boissonnault, NASA administrator Bill Nelson, and Mayor of Edmonton Amarjeet Sohi,
The Prime Minister’s visit to the mosque was covered by the mainstream media and got widespread publicity. Some TV channels televised the event live. The event garnered significant coverage in the print media. The breakfast attracted individuals from diverse walks of life and cultural backgrounds.