Ismaili Centre Toronto: Photographs, Stories and Insights Celebrating Ten Years
May 2010 — September 2014: His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Stephen Harper
The Ismaili Centre Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum were inaugurated on Thursday, September 12, 2014, by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, and the then Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. Our first installment of the 10th anniversary of these beautiful buildings covered the Aga Khan Museum, which opened its doors to the public on September 18, 2014; this post covers ten years of the Ismaili Centre since the opening of the Jamatkhana — an exclusive space for Ismailis to meet for prayers — on Friday, September 19, 2014.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the inauguration ceremony of th Ismaili Centre Toronto,September 12, 2014
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September 12, 2014: The Ismaili Centre Toronto — Photographs from a Kit Presented to the Media
The “Muqarnas” is a finely crafted corbelled ceiling whose skylight provides a subtle transition from the outside to the serene Jamatkhana inside. A screen made from ribbons of steel separates the anteroom from the prayer hall. It repeats an 8 sided pattern exhibiting a geometric tool used by Muslim artists to create order and rhythm for contemplation. Photograph: Gary Otte.
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Inside the Jamatkhana, the central skylight panel descends to a white translucent onyx block. The walls of the Jamatkhana are lined with Canadian maple paneling repeating the word Allah (Arabic for God) in stylized Kufic calligraphy. Photograph: Shai Gil.
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The library hosts reading and story time sessions for children and acts as a welcoming space for the community. Photograph: Gary Otte.
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The social hall is a commanding space that is evocative of the elements seen throughout the building. This space is the primary social area for cultural performances, concerts, lectures, book launches, film screenings and weddings. The design in the background of the stage at left is based on an Ottoman textile. Photograph: Gary Otte.
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A number of exquisite art pieces are displayed in the social hall foyer, including a lattice work in a geometric pattern depicting the words Allah (Arabic for God), Muhammad and Ali intertwined and a medallion made of semi-precious stone. Photograph: Gary Otte.
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The Ismaili Centre has classrooms and meeting rooms designed for flexible programmatic activities such as committee meetings, educational programs and seminars. Photograph: Gary Otte.
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The Council Chamber, under its own skylight, is where the Ismaili community’s institutions meet. The crest of the Ismaili Imamat is on wall at left. Photograph: Gary Otte.
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September 19, 2014: Voices from the Heart – The Spirit of the Ismaili Community and its Volunteers on the Opening Night of the Jamatkhana
The Toronto Ismaili Centre’a Jamatkhana dome glows and reflects in one of five ponds in the Aga Khan Garden on the opening night, September 19, 2014. Visible from the Don Valley Parkway, the dome radiates light at night from the highest point of the site. Architect Charles Correa revisited and reinterpreted the traditional notions of a dome by playing with light, colour and symmetry to give the Ismaili Centre a unique glass crystalline dome. Photograph: Simerg/Malik Merchant.
Thousands of Ismailis living in Toronto and nearby areas had been waiting a week to find out when they could attend the Jamatkhana in the Ismaili Centre for prayers. Early morning, Friday, September 19, exactly a week after the Centre’s inauguration, news quickly spread — that the Jamatkhana would open the same evening! Hundreds of volunteers had been preparing for the day for weeks. The sudden announcement did not make them nervous. As excited as they were, Ismailis in the city heeded a call not to swarm to the Centre for the Jamatkhana’s opening. The opening day, a testament to the community’s unity and organization, went smoothly without significant issues.
Repeated four times, the beautiful Basmallah calligraphy by the renowned German Muslim artist Karl Schlamminger (now deceased), is on wall at the entrance door of the Ismaili Centre Toronto from the indoor parking garage. Photograph: Simerg/Malik Merchant.
Joyous Ismailis, who came for the Jamatkhan opening, greeted and hugged each other after hearing a Talika (a written communication) from their beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al-Hussaini Hazar Imam. The President of the Aga Khan Council for Canada, Mr. Malik Talib, read the message, after which he conveyed the community’s deep gratitude to the Imam for his benevolence by gifting the Jamat (community) with a marvellous new Ismaili Centre. The spirit of the occasion was evident as we took the following photographs and videos after the Jamatkhana ceremonies on a historic opening day.
Ismail volunteers and Aga Khan Council for Canada President Malik Talib and Vice President Moez Rajwani are pictured in the Social Hall with a few of the many hundreds of volunteers who served at the Ismaili Centre Toronto when the Jamatkhana opened on Friday, September 19, 2014. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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An Ismaili senior enjoys a glass of sherbet during the opening day of the Ismaili Centre Toronto Jamatkhana, September 19, 2014. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Ismaili volunteers at the Ismaili Centre Toronto when the Jamatkhana opened on Friday, September 19, 2014. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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A senior Ismaili Afghanistan settled in Canada was among hundreds who attended the opening of the Ismaili Centre Toronto Jamatkhana, September 19, 2014, Photo: Malik Merchant/Simerg. Copyright.
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The Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board’s literature counter after the completion of Ismaili Centre Toronto Jamatkhana ceremonies; September 19, 2014. Tasbihs (prayer beads) were among the most sought-after items. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Ismaili youth pictured at the Aga Khan Park after the completion of Ismaili Centre Toronto Jamatkhana ceremonies; Friday, September 19, 2014. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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May 23-24, 2015: Ismaili Centre — Doors Open Toronto
The Ismaili Centre Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum were added to the Doors Open exploration roster of more than 155 architecturally and culturally rich buildings across Toronto. It is estimated that more than 17,000 people visited the buildings. Visitors described their experience as rich, and complimented the hosts for their excellent organization and the explanations that were provided.
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March 21, 2018: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Visits Ismaili Centre Toronto to Convey Navroz — New Year — Greetings to the Ismaili Community
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Excerpts from Prime Minister Trudeau’s remarks at the Ismaili Centre Toronto
“Thank you. Thank you my friends. Navroz Mubarak. Hello everyone, and thank you for that incredibly warm welcome. I want to begin by thanking Malik Talib, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada, for his invitation, for his kind words.
“This is always a wonderful moment for me to come to this beautiful centre to see friends, old and new, and to celebrate a community that, for me, represents some of the very best of Canada. The sense of connection, the sense of service, the deep values that fold into every action of this community is, I think, a testament to both the success of this country and those upon whom this success rests.
“Often when I see members of the Ismaili community, they start thanking me and thanking my father specifically, and I always have to turn it around and say no, no, no, thank you. Thank you for being the embodiment of the vision that my father and so many others had.
“Thank you for showing not just Canadians, but the world, with and through your success and your devotion, both to your own identities but also to this shared identity we build as Canadians, what it is to be open and to prosper through being welcoming and engaging with the world and not closing oneself off. You are an extraordinary example of the very best of Canada, and every day I thank you for it.
“The over one million hours of community and volunteer service to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary that this community accomplished — it is an extraordinary achievement and a perfect example of the commitment that all you, but all of us should have every day to contributing to the community, to the country that surrounds us. It is a beautiful testament to the dedication to this country and to all its citizens.
Speech experts continue below
Prime Minister Trudeau at Navroz celebrations held on March 21, 2018 at the Ismaili Centre Toronto. Photograph: Simerg/Malik Merchant.
“It’s quite fitting we celebrate Navroz here, as the Ismaili community is known around the world for its commitment to pluralism. Tens of thousands of people see this symbol of diversity off the Don Valley Parkway every day. Navroz is a chance for all Canadians to honour the many communities that have observed this tradition for generations and the many contributions you have all made to Canada. This event is a testimony to the diversity that makes Canada stronger and Canadians better.
“While Navroz is a time of celebration and new beginnings, it also reminds us of our privilege during this time of change. As Canadians, we are fortunate to live in a country where our rights are enshrined in the Constitution, where our freedoms are entrenched in laws. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures that all Canadians can speak their mind, practice their faith, and stand up for what they believe in. Because of the Charter, every Canadian is entitled to a new beginning.
“I want to end by sharing with you the wise words of the Persian poet, Hafez, which I believe capture the spirit of this occasion. “Spring and all its flowers now joyously break their vow of silence. It is time for celebration, not for lying low.”
Credit for video and transcript: Prime Minister of Canada website. For video and complete transcript please click HERE.
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May 25-26, 2019: Ismaili Centre — Doors Open Toronto
A line-up outside the Ismaili Centre Toronto for the Annual Doors Open, May 25-26 2018. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Simerg.
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Doors Open visitors to the Ismaili Centre Toronto get a brief explanation of a work of calligraphy depicting the word Allah; May 25-26 2018. Photograph: Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.
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Doors Open visitors to the Ismaili Centre Toronto view a beautiful work of art, one of several created for the Centre, by the Late German Muslim artist Karl Schlamminger; May 25-26 2018. Photograph: Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.
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Doors Open visitors to the Ismaili Centre Toronto are introduced to a beautiful hand etched wall crafted over a period of 14 months by a father and son master artisan team from Tajikistan. Hanging from the ceiling are lamps styled from 11th century Fatimid Egypt; May 25-26 2018. Photograph: Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.
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July 2020: Ismaili Centre Toronto Photographs
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August 17-18, 2020: Poem and Pictures — Reopening of the Ismaili Centre Toronto Jamatkhana following Covid-19
POEM: AS WE REOPEN
By PARIN VERJEE
Approaching the doors of the Jamatkhana
Heads bowed in all humility
Lower your gaze
Pause a moment
Softly say a heartfelt prayer
Shukhrana, Al Hamdu’lillah
The blessed day has arrived
Quieten your thoughts
Touch your heart
Hand on your heart
Smile with your eyes
Greet gently
Gracious to one and all
Carry your mehmani in your heart
Let Allah’s light guide you
To His threshold
Let divine grace
Touch your praying hands
Embrace the silence
Be at peace
The sacred space
Awaits your soulful zikr
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Autumn-Winter, 2020–2021: Ismaili Centre Toronto Photographs
A view of the Ismaili Centre Toronto as fall approaches; September 28, 2020. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Simerg.
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The Aga Khan’s Aspiration: Peace Through Prayer
What we dedicate today is what we identify as an Ismaili Centre — a building that is focused around our Jamatkhana…As we inaugurate this building, we also have the opportunity to contemplate what it represents: the inspiring traditions of the past, the stirring challenges of the future, and the continuing search for peace through prayer — His Highness the Aga Khan, Inauguration of the Ismaili Centre Toronto, September 12, 2014.
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Spring 2021: The Ismaili Centre Toronto Photographs
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The Aga Khan on the Jamatkhana Dome and the Younger Generation’s Vision for the Ismaili Centre
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 Centre’s life….When our planning for the Toronto Ismaili Centre started in 1996, we decided to ask the younger generation of Ismailis about their vision for this building. What did they want it to represent? How did they see it functioning? In response, young people from the ages of 18 to 27 generously shared their aspirations with us. They told us that they wanted a building that would be forward looking, while also being anchored in traditional community values. They also wanted a building in which they could strengthen their personal relationships — a place where they could not only unite in prayer, but could also develop new life-shaping associations — amongst themselves and with other Canadians. — His Highness the Aga Khan, September 12, 2014.
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April-June, 2021. A Drone, the Birth of Goslings and Ismaili Centre Toronto Rooftop
A drone flown by an Aga Khan Park visitor passes close to the dome of the Ismaili Centre Toronto Jamatkhana; Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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This photo shows the interior of the Ismaili Centre Tooronto Jamatkhana Prayer Hall to contextualize its exterior dome shown in previous photographs. Photograph: Shai Gil/Ismaili Centre Media kit distributed September 12, 2014.
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September 25-27, 2022: Prince Amyn Aga Khan at the Ismaili Centre Toronto
On September 25, 2022, Toronto’s Mayor John Tory honoured His Highness the Aga Khan with a Key to the City. Prince Amyn Aga Khan, His Highness’ younger brother, accepted the Key on his behalf. The City of Toronto has also renamed the portion of Wynford Drive, between Don Mills Road and the east side of the Don Valley Parkway overpass, to Aga Khan Boulevard.
The Key to the City of Toronto was awarded on September 25, 2022, to Mawlana Hazar Imam for his work to improve the quality of life of people worldwide. The ceremony was held at the Ismaili Centre Toronto. Photograph: Zahur Ramji/IPL.
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Prince Amyn Aga Khan and Mayor of Toronto John Tory unveil the sign for Aga Khan Boulevard on Wynford Drive in a ceremony held on September 25, 2022, at the Ismaili Centre Toronto. Photograph: Asif Bhalesha/IPL.
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Prince Amyn Aga Khan attended the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, for Generations Toronto, a multi-generational housing development near the Ismaili Centre in Toronto. Distinguished guests included Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Toronto’s Mayor John Tory, and the Ismaili community’s local, national, and international leaders.
Toronto Mayor John Tory, Prince Amyn Aga Khan, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveil the ceremonial plaque for Generations Toronto at the Ismaili Centre Toronto on September 27, 2022. Photograph: IPL/Zahur Ramji.
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May 27 – 28, 2023: Toronto’s annual Doors Open draws thousands to Ismaili Centre
The annual Doors Open Toronto event is Canada’s largest Doors Open event and one of the three largest Doors Open even in the world. The event on the weekend of May 27-28, 2023 offered free and rare access to visit and see inside more than 150 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across the city. The Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum were among the buildings that participated in this well attended event. The Ismaili Centre Toronto was a major attraction as visitors waited patiently to see the Jamatkhana prayer hall housed under the huge glass dome; the dome is clearly visible for miles to motorists driving north on the Don Valley Parkway. Its view at night on days when it is lighted is dazzling. Many had also come to see Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s photographic exhibition The Living Sea: Fragile Beauty which wa on display until June 4 in the patio and the social hall of the Ismaili Centre.
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May 24 – June 4, 2023: Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s photographic exhibition The Living Sea at the Ismaili Centre Toronto
By SHAFIN VALLA
The Living Sea — Fragile Beauty: Photographs by Prince Hussain Aga Khan were displayed outdoors and in the Ismaili Centre Toronto social hall from May 24 – June 4, 2023.
The grandeur and majestic nature of Prince Hussain’s photography in the courtyard of the Ismaili Centre at dawn and into the sunrise were particularly breathtaking. The morning sun stroked the sea animals and changed their appearance by the minute. With the morning birds singing, the vast space on the patio of the Ismaili Centre had a feeling of peacefulness and serenity. While appreciating the beauty and wonders of creation, Prince Hussain’s stories and facts that were highlighted on several panels raised a deep awareness about the fragile beauty of the sea and its innocent creatures.
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Date posted: September 22, 2024.
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