A website dedicated to photographs and videos from Canada and around the world with an emphasis on nature, wildlife, food, travel and sport as well as art, architecture and culture. In culture, the focus will be on projects related to the work of His Highness the Aga Khan, his Ismaili Muslim community and Islam in general.
Winter 2021/2: Toronto’s First Snowfall, and Scenes from Aga Khan Park at its Snowy Best
A beautiful scene of falling snow at Aga Khan Park near the main car entrance of the Ismaili Centre Toronto; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Snow began falling in Toronto and surrounding areas last night, Saturday, November 27, 2021; earlier it had been a mainly clear day with some cloud cover. The East Don Trail looked marvellous from my window this morning (Sunday, November 28), with trees covered in snow. At once I knew where I should be — the Aga Khan Park, of course! As regular readers know, my heart and spirit are always at the Aga Khan Park, the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre with its unique Ismaili Jamatkhana prayer hall. Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is the builder of these magnificent landmarks in Toronto for the enjoyment of everyone in the city as well as visitors from around the world.
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A young woman dressed in a beautiful red gown has her picture taken at Aga Khan Park, under continuing light snowfall with around 7 cms of snow already on ground by noon on November 28, 2021. Parts of Toronto received between 8 and 14 cms of snow by nightfall. The Ismaili Headquarters Jamatkhana dome forms the backdrop in this lovely scene. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A close-up of a tree covered in snow at Aga Khan Park Toronto, looking like large cotton balls; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A partial view of the front wall of the Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum, with snow covering its rooftop; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Night time view of the Aga Khan Museum, with with lit-up trees at Aga Khan Park covered with snow; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Bench at Toronto’s Aga Khan Park, behind the Ismaili Centre and the Jamatkhana dome, covered with snow; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A view of the main car entrance of the Ismaili Centre Toronto on a snowy day, November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
The dome of the Toronto Ismaili Headquarters Jamatkhana with slabs of snow near its top; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
I thought I had be the the first to set my footprint on the fresh now that was already on the ground at the Aga Khan Park. But I lost the race; others before me had done the honours. In front of the museum, by one of the ponds, a beautiful lady dressed in red, was having her photo taken. I congratulated her for her bravery, and she told me she did not feel anything on her skin, because of the cold temperature. It was -1°C or 0°C but felt like -7°C. There was around 7 cms of snow on the ground, and while I had lost the race to be the first with my snow boots footprint, I did not feel disheartened. My faithful and humble Olympus OMD E-M10 camera was ready.
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Tables at the patio of the Aga Khan Museum Toronto’s Diwan Restaurant covered in snow; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A beautiful view of the grounds of the Aga Khan Museum covered in snow with the Aga Khan Museum east side wall at right and the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome in the distant background facing east. In the centre of the picture is one of several exhibits of photos captured by Christopher Wilton-Steer during his four-month long 40,000 kilometre journey from Venice to Beijing; November 28, 2021, Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A view of the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome from a slope at Toronto’s Aga Khan Park, near the Eglington Street entrance. Children enjoy the slope for tobogganing during winter. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
The Aga Khan Museum Toronto courtyard with some snow on its heated floor, and on little bushes in the far corner; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
The ponds of the Aga Khan Park Toronto containing an art exhibit created by artist Ghazaleh Avarzamani lie covered in snow in this beautiful view of the Aga Khan Museum taken from the Ismaili Headquarters Jamatkhana; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
One of several exhibits of photos captured by Christopher Wilton-Steer during his four-month long 40,000 kilometre journey from Venice to Beijing, with the dome of the Ismaili Jamatkhana forming a backdrop on a snowy day; November 28, 2021, Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
As a footnote, yesterday as I was going down in my building’s elevator, I saw a South Asian mother carrying her little daughter, around 2 years of age, who looked very very happy. The reason the baby was happy and excited was because her mother was taking her outside, The baby, the mother told me, had been bored at home. That’s the Canadian spirit; to go out and enjoy even though it may be cold. Children are truly inspiring! Listen to their cries of boredom, and do the necessary — it may be hard on the parents but children are children. Fulfill their wish when they are right and eager about it.
LAST WORD, WITH DAY AND NIGHT PHOTOS OF THE JAMATKHANA
And soaring above it all is the great crystalline dome that you have observed, through which light from the prayer hall will provide a glowing beacon, symbolising the spirit of enlightenment that will always be at the heart of the [Ismaili] Centre’s life — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, September 12, 2014.
A view of the dome of the crystalline Toronto Ismaili Headquarters Jamatkhana on a snowy day from the east side of Aga Khan Park; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A night time view of the snow covered crystalline dome of Toronto’s Ismaili Headquarters Jamatkhana; November 28, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Date posted: November 28, 2021.
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Beautiful scenes….
Another set of wonderful photos, not to mention bravery in snow.
Lovely pictures as usual. I am enjoying your snowfall too in Toronto.
Breath taking. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.