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BCMA organizers visit of Honourable Christy Clark
10-08-2014
On the invitation of the BCMA, Honourable, Premier, Christy Clark Visited the BCMA Burnaby Mosque on October 2nd, 2014 to meet with community leaders from across lower mainland and community members. On behalf of the BCMA and BC’ Muslim community, we would like to extend our gratitude to the Honourable Premier for the visit.
Mr. Aspha Dada, Emcee the event, thanking the Premier, and provided a brief history of the BCMA and Muslims in BC.
Mr. Musa Ismail, President, BCMA, addressed the audience and the Premier outlining the concerns and challenges faced by the Muslims in BC. He assured the Premier on behalf of the community for the full support in contributing and participating in the welfare and development of BC and Canada, and working towards “Peace and Harmony” among all Canadians. He provided the growth based on Stats Canada census, among Muslim community in BC, from 106 Muslims in 1931, 1300, in 1971 to 100,000 plus today, and projected to grow to 230,000 plus by 2035 in BC alone.
Mr. Ismail also highlighted how small community, initially, in association with Pakistan Canada Association in 1966 built a mosque, and today BCMA represents fourteen large mosques across BC from Prince George to Kelowna and in lower mainland. In addition to that there are twenty plus locations where prayers are held, as well as operating government subsidized private Muslim schools. He thanked the premier for the government funding towards private Muslim schools.
Mr. Ismail also highlighted the chartable services being offered by BCMA and other Muslim organizations such as the Muslim Food Bank, such as assisting financially the poor and needy. He pointed out that over the past few years BCMA alone has raised over a million dollars in donation to assist disaster ridden areas around the world, from Syria to Somalia, and Pakistan, “But this is what we do, we are charitable organization and we practice that, day in, day out.”
Honourable, Premier Clark, addressed the audience, thanking them for providing her with the opportunity to visit the mosque and meet with the community members. She offered her best wishes and blessings on the occasion of Eid-al-Adha.
Premier Clark, addressed the issue of Temporary Foreign Workers, pointing that there are people who oppose such initiatives, “Not for their economic interests, but because they are from somewhere else.” She asked the Muslim community to engage in this dialogue, “Because Canada was built by people who came from somewhere else.”
Premier Clark stated unequivocally, “we are not a static country. We are not a country of status quo. We are a country of one people, a country that embraces differences.” She also acknowledge the changing face of Canada, where projected Muslim population of Canada will be well over 2 million by 2035. It demonstrates that “Canada is a country that is uniquely focussed on the future rather than holding on to the things of the past.”
Premier Clark’s secondly wanted to address the issue with global focus, Israel and Gaza, Syria, Iran, Iraq as they unfold around the world, primarily based on differences in beliefs and faiths. She stated, “Between the three great monotheistic religions, we have a common father,” she added “We are all sons and daughters of Abraham, and in that we are related and our remembrance and recognition of that common beginning should lead us all to embrace peace.”
Mr. Daud Ismail, Chair, BCMA Burnaby Branch while addressing the audience and thanking Premier for the visit reiterated what the other speakers had highlighted.
The Premier after the formal event took time to mingle and meet with community members.
Br. Musa Ismail expressed his delight to welcome the Premier and attend the first ever meeting with the Muslim community at large. He stated, People were overwhelmed to have received the Premier. She won lots of heart by her candid remarks and her willingness to meet and greet almost all those who were present.
May Allah give us strength and opportunity to welcome her again in very near future.
Let me take this opportunity on behalf of BC Muslim Association and all Muslims of British Columbia to convey our sincere “Thank You” to the Premier and her great team for making this possible.
Overall, we would like to congratulate the BCMA Executives for inviting the Premier, and facilitating an opportunity to interact with decision makers in Victoria.
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