Mississauga: The three-day, 33rd Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community concluded on June 28, 2009 with representation from all levels of government, members of the media and over fifteen thousand delegates from Canada
On the final day of the conference, Mr. Farhan Khokhar, the National Communications Director of Canada’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, spoke of the future of Islam in the West. He contemplated that West will only accept the peaceful interpretation of Islam. Based on the Holy Qur’an, he elaborated on the teachings of, Jihad, Islamic model of governance, freedom of conscience and loyalty to the country.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Naseem Mahdi, Senior Vice President & Missionary Incharge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Canada, in which he provided the Islamic perspective on the current global economic crisis, highlighting some of the foundational principles of an Islamic economic model which promotes justice, productivity, stability and charity, as well as calls on all citizens and governments to recognize the dominion of God over all things and their responsibilities to Him regarding their wealth.
Awards and scholarships were handed out to Ahmadi Muslim students who excelled during the past year.
For the final day of the conference, the dignitaries present included: Peter Van Loan (Minister), Michael Ignatieff (Leader of the Opposition), Scott Simms, Jim Karygiannis, Judy Sgro, Mauril Belanger, Maria Minna, Navdeep Bains, Joe Volpe, Gurbax Malhi, Kirsty Duncan, Rob Oliphant, Ruby Dhalla, Harinder Takhar, Greg Sorbara, Reza Moridi, Bob Delaney, Lynda Jeffrey, Monte Kwinter, Laura Albanese, D. Kuldip Kular, Dr. Shafiq Qaadri, Amrit Mangat, Hazel McCallion (Mayor), Linda Jackson (Mayor), Suzanne Hall, Sue McFadden, Elaine Moore, Janet Davis, Mario Ferri, Peter Meffe, Tony Carella and Colin Best, Chief Armande Labarge (York Regional Police), Commissioner Jean Augustine and Preeti Saran (Consul General of India). Representatives of various faith groups, professions, academia and the media were also in attendance.
All dignitaries spoke highly of the peaceful contribution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to the Canadian Society. Michael Ignatieff commended the motto of the Community, “Love for All – hatred for None”. Peter Van Loan read the greetings from the Prime Minister Steven Harper, who recently called Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the “Benevolent face of Islam”.
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