“Today marks an important day.

The formal Proclamation marking January 29th of every year as a National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia was published today in the Gazette.

We thank the government for taking this step to officially mark this day in the hearts and minds of all Quebecers and Canadians,

as a reminder of the innocent lives lost,

and the work ahead of us to eradicate Islamophobia,

hate and racism from our country.”

The National Council of Canadian Muslims

 

 

Proclamation Requesting to Observe January 29 of Every Year as a National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia: SI/2021-17

 
Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 155, Number 9
 

Registration
SI/2021-17 April 28, 2021

OTHER THAN STATUTORY AUTHORITY
 

Proclamation Requesting to Observe January 29 of Every Year as a National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia

 

Richard Wagner
Administrator of the Government of Canada

[L.S.]

Canada

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

François Daigle
Acting Deputy Attorney General

Great Seal of Canada

TO ALL TO WHOM these presents shall come or whom the same may in any way concern,

GREETING:

A Proclamation

 
Whereas six persons were killed and 19 persons were injured by a gunman who entered the Islamic Cultural Centre of the City of Québec shortly after the end of evening prayers on January 29, 2017 and opened fire;

Whereas this act of terror devastated the families and friends of the victims, Muslim communities in Quebec, across Canada and around the world, and all Canadians;

Whereas it is important that Canadians have an opportunity to honour the memory of the victims, to recognize those who selflessly and courageously put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and to express solidarity with the survivors of this tragedy;

Whereas Islamophobia, racism, violent extremism, and the denial of these realities are at the root of this horrifying crime;

Whereas it is important that Canadians denounce Islamophobia and all other forms of racism, hate and religious discrimination and take action to combat them;

Whereas it is important that Canadians resolve to build a foundation for change by removing barriers and promoting a more inclusive and equitable country for all, where every person is able to participate and succeed fully and safely;

And whereas, by Order in Council P.C. 2021-276 of April 8, 2021, the Administrator of the Government of Canada in Council directed that a proclamation do issue requesting the people of Canada to observe January 29 of every year as a National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia;

Now Know You that We, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council for Canada, do by this Our Proclamation request that the people of Canada observe January 29 of every year as a National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.

Of all which Our loving subjects and all others whom these presents may concern are required to take notice and to govern themselves accordingly.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused this Our proclamation to be published and the Great Seal of Canada to be affixed to it.

WITNESS:

Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Richard Wagner, Administrator of the Government of Canada.

AT OTTAWA, this fourteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-one and in the seventieth year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

 

 

Simon Kennedy
Deputy Registrar General of Canada

 

 

 

 

Mariam Manaa of the Muslim Association of Canada on why a Masjid is the right place for a vaccination clinic :

 

Mariam Manaa was speaking with Jason D’Souza,

who is sitting in for regular host Ismaila Alfa,

on CBC Metro Morning broadcast from Toronto during the 6 o’clock hour today.

Reflections on Islam

Special Ramadan 2021 Daily Radio Program

Hosted by Ezzedin Gad

Everyday ~ Continuing Today : Tuesday April 27 2021

 

30 minutes before Maghrib/Sunset according to Toronto Local Time,

Today at 7:51 p.m.

Livestream : http://ReflectionsOnIslam.tv/radio/

Only listeners in Ontario can livestream online at this time.

30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan.

This 30 Masjids project began in Ramadan of 2011.

Idea was simple.

Visit 30 Different Masjids around Toronto,

Break my fast there, pray, learn about each Masjid,

Its history, their congregation, local stories,

Then blog about it each day.

Repeat.

For 29 or 30 Days until Eid Al Fitr.

For Ramadan 2013,

30 Masjids Toronto transformed into 30 Masjids Ontario.

Travelling around the Province I blogged daily about Masjids and Musallahs,

Large & Little in Big Cities & Small Towns.

Orangeville would have been one of those visits,

But in Ramadan 2013,

Orangeville had no Masjid nor Musallah.

Today it does.

Muslims of Dufferin Centre,

Located at 294 Broadway in Orangeville, Dufferin County.

A house transformed into a Musallah,

Serving between 100 & 200 Muslim Families living in Orangeville & surrounding towns in Dufferin County.

It opened about 5 years ago.

Tuesday April 27 2021 was my first visit.

Shaikh Yehya Soliman,

Imam of Muslims of Dufferin,

greeted us through our car window with Physical Distancing.

Because Masjids are closed throughout Ontario,

or limited to 10 people inside,

Doing my daily 30 Masjids visits to blog about different daily Ramadan experiences would not be possible.

Drive-Thru Iftars at different Masjids make it somewhat possible.

I would have loved to have learned more about the Muslims of Dufferin,

Listen to Shaikh Yehya Soliman’s stories,

Meet the local congregation.

But a car full of Muslims pulled in behind us,

It was our time to go.

InshAllah,

During a future Ramadan,

Pandemic disappeared & Lockdown free,

It will be time to return for an Iftar.

This time sitting down instead of Driving Through.

Sitting down at home in front of the Iftar from the Drive-Thru.

Rice Pudding for Dessert.

Two soft and high quality dates.

Bread, boneless achar chicken, salad, pakoray, regular chicken, and side container of biryani rice.

This might have been the best presented, and complete Iftar take away of all my travels.

They even included a plastic spoon.

  Just add water

as the saying goes.

Shout-Out to Islamic Relief Canada for teaming up with Muslims of Dufferin,

Making today’s Drive-Thru Iftar happen,

And for making my belly full.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @muslims_of_dufferin

Day 15 Morning of Ramadan 2021,

Muslim Association of Canada opens up Registration for their Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic to be held at MAC Islamic Community Centre of Ontario (ICCO) in Mississauga.

Here’s MAC’s Official Statement :

MISSISSAUGA – April 27, 2021:

Following the announcement on April 24th regarding the partnership of MAC with Peel Public Health and the Ontario Government to use the MAC Islamic Community Centre of Ontario (ICCO) as a vaccination popup clinic in Mississauga,

the registration is now open to book an appointment for vaccination.

To receive the registration link email vaccine@macnet.ca and to sign up for updates click here.

The appointments begin April 30th and end May 11th for individuals 18 years of age and older who live in any of the Peel hot spot postal codes.

The clinic will run seven days a week with varying appointment times including appointment times after iftar.

Please note that Peel Public Health (PPH) is responsible for managing and overseeing the distribution and administration of vaccines for their entire region.

For more information on vaccination in Peel

please visit https://peelregion.ca/covid19vaccine

or call Peel Public Health for COVID-19 inquiries,

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,

Monday to Friday at 905-799-7700.

If you are aware of individuals in hot spot areas in Peel who have barriers to vaccination please email vaccine@macnet.ca.

For more information on MAC vaccination sites and Islamic opinions on vaccination visit www.macnet.ca/covid19.

To support MAC in running their educational programs and maintaining and developing their centres,

kindly donate at www.macnet.ca/donate and you will receive an official tax-deductible donation receipt.

Thank you again for all your efforts to keep our community safe.

Together we can help keep ourselves and our communities safe and healthy.

May Allah SWT protect us all.”

Available for those 18 years and older living in the following Peel Region, Ontario, Hot Spot postal codes :

  • L4T, L4W, L4X, L4Z
  • L5A, L5B, L5C, L5K, L5L, L5M, L5N, L5R, L5V, L5W
  • L6P, L6R, L6S, L6T, L6V, L6W, L6X, L6Y, L6Z
  • L7A, L7C

Perhaps 15 minutes after MAC went live with its announcement,

Vaccine Hunters Canada tweeted this :

Full readable view of the image embedded in their tweet :

BUT,

As we all can imagine and expect,

The booking website crashed under the strain of so many people attempting to reach it all at once.

7,000 Available Appointments,

All gone.

Confirmation emails to be sent out in 24 hours,

Expect something in your inbox by Thursday April 29 2021.

Some More coming . . .

So how do you get notified via email ?

 

CLICK HERE and FILL OUT THIS FORM . . .

( opens in new browser window )

 

…TO BE NOTIFIED when NEXT BATCH OF APPOINTMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE at MAC ICCO

 

I felt an incredible about of frustration in even putting together this blog post,

Even when most of it is only selecting and embedding relevant tweets.

Why ?

Why is this Frustrating ?

Not only for me blogging,

but for every Peel Region Muslim trying secure their first vaccine dose,

Because . . .

 

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُون

Do people think once they say,

“We believe,”

that they will be left without being put to the test ?

— Surah Al-`Ankabūt (The Spider),  Qur’an 29:2

CODA

“Islamic Centre of Kingston – Spiritual Resting Point for Commuters Travelling on 401.”

By Sister Naila | Gatineau, Quebec

The Islamic Centre of Kingston has become a home away from home for our family.

Mash Allah, every time we needed a place to pray, rest, break our fast – the exit for the masjid would show up.

I moved to Gatineau during Ramadan of 2017 for work-related purposes.

As we drove from the GTA to Gatineau,

I remember thinking that I did not want to miss any salaahs in Jamaat while travelling.

The skies got darker as we drove towards Gatineau;

we started searching the GPS for a masjid to stop at.

Allhamdulillah,

we came across the Islamic Centre of Kingston.

Masha Allah, as we walked into the masjid, we were welcomed with open arms.

There were brothers there with iftaar asking us and other travellers to join them.

There was even a group of three brothers travelling from Paris – they were driving through Canada and made a stop over at the masjid.

It was at this point when we decided that the Islamic Centre of Kingston would become a regular stopover for our travels.

We have even advised others travelling for work to stop over in Kingston.

For us, it is now a family Ramadan Tradition to stop for Taraweeh at the Islamic Centre of Kingston.

I have always admired the Islamic Centre of Kingston.

As a young child, I would hear about the classes, youth programs, sleepovers the masjid had.

I remember thinking how many great community leaders have called the Islamic Centre of Kingston their home.

As an adult, each time I walk into the masjid,

I cannot help but wonder how great the masjid is,

as they have been able to raise their youth to have confidence and a firm belief in their Muslim Canadian identity.

It is important to invest our time and money into an institution that represents the Canadian Muslim Community – one which provides love and security for our future generations.

This Ramadan, give back to your home – the Islamic Centre of Kingston.

Dr. Jibran Khokhar,

Neuroscientist and Muslim Society of Guelph community member,

discusses important issues surrounding mental health in the context of Ramadan.

Sunday afternoon April 25 2021 was

Islamic Centre of Canada‘s First Ever “Drive-In” Iftar !

Because of Safety Guideline changes

by The Province of Ontario for Houses of Worship,

Plus the Logistics necessary to meet them,

ICC’s originally intended Drive-Thru Iftar was cancelled

for the second weekend of Ramadan 2021.

ISNA instead did a Drive-In Iftar in place of the Drive-Thru.

You had to pre-register choosing one of two Drive-In timings.

We booked the earlier 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. reservation.

Experience was pleasant & MUCH more than that too.

A physical connection with this Masjid,

OR ANY Masjid

during Ramadan 2021,

Even as constrained as

Remaining inside your car

On the parking lot

Outside of the masjid the whole time,

Is “Ramadan Changing”.

That missing Ramadan feeling feels less missing.

Difference between last weekend’s Drive-Thru Iftar

& this Sunday’s Drive-In Iftar ?

Wondering about this & found an answer while waiting in the car.

During regular Ramadans,

Some Masjids provide Public Iftars where men & women line-up separately,

Await their turn to pick-up their own Iftar Dinners,

First Come, First Served,

Cafeteria Style,

Then go & sit somewhere inside the Masjid to eat.

Other Masjids have people sit down in pre-determined places,

While Volunteers deliver Iftar Dinner plates to them.

Network theory in practice.

One is the Fast Food Counter,

The other is Table Service.

Sunday’s Drive-In Iftar was the second one.

Where else are we seeing this during Ramadan 2021 ?

Muslims lining up at Pop-Up Vaccination Clinics to get their first dose,

OR

Booking one at a Clinic.

“Just a reminder that tomorrow we will be having our drive through Iftaar at Noon generously donated by one of our families!

We have secured written guidance from Brampton bylaw enforcement and have the ok to go forward!

Please follow guidance from volunteers at the event so we stay compliant to our permission.

Drive Thru is from 6:30-7:30 or until supplies last!”

Alhumdulillah,

What a wonderful Drive-Thru Iftar Pickup experience courtesy of All the volunteers at Noon Academy in Brampton.

We were able easily pay our Zakat al Fitr in cash.

It took all of less than 10 minutes.

The Iftar Dinners were just enough to fill the belly without going overboard

This is the second Saturday in Ramadan 2021.

Noon Academy intended to offer a Drive-Thru Iftar last week on the First Saturday of Ramadan 2021,

But as you can read below,

Noon Academy prudently decided to wait until today.

Join us today and tomorrow for our weekend Iftar Drive thru program.

Our drive thru starts at 7 pm and runs to about 8 pm.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in shaa Allah.

Please make sure to spread the word and like and share this video.

Jazakum’Allahu khairan

Also don’t forget to donate to Abu Huraira this Ramadan.

Visit our website,

www.abuhuraira.org/Ramadan.”

Abu Huraira Management

“One year ago,

we invited you to share your thoughts and stories about RAMADAN 2020 and you responded!

We are excited to share this documentary FILMED BY YOU during an unprecedented time in history when mosques around the world were closed for the FIRST time and Muslims everywhere were forced to fast “alone.”

Or were they?

PREMIERE:

On Saturday, April 24 at 5PM UTC / GMT we will be premiering The Year We Fasted Alone here on our Snow Angel Films YouTube Page!

Please join us for the live screening and be sure to share your thoughts in the chat!”

The Year We Fasted Alone is a documentary filmed by YOU that captures global Muslim voices during the unprecedented Ramadan of 2020.

(length: 44 mins – for full film captions / subtitles please click the CC under the scroll bar or gear icon on mobile phones).

“To everyone who shared their stories, experiences and voices for this project, thank you so much.

Together your submissions weave a universal story of love, loss, grief, struggle, resilience, joy, laughter and hope.

We hope you enjoy the film!

Ramadan Kareem and best wishes to all!”

BACKGROUND about the making of TYWFA:

Last year, in Ramadan 2020, I was feeling the anxiety of our time and felt motivated to put something positive out into the world.

I recalled the film project LIFE in a DAY,

which brilliantly invited people from around the world to submit stories of their lives on a single day.

I immediately thought,

wouldn’t it be wonderful to capture Muslim stories and voices from around the world during this unprecedented moment in history – where,

not only are we living through a pandemic,

but we’re also experiencing Ramadan through it as well.

What does Ramadan look like without mosque and community?

How are individuals, families and communities adapting and how are they feeling?

What issues and experiences can be brought to light through the Ramadan + Pandemic experience?

What do we perhaps take for granted at the best of times?

My hope is that in seeing each other’s stories side by side,

we might find inspiration and feel more connected and less alone.

This project started in a whirlwind after Ramadan 2020 had already begun,

so there was little time to spread the word,

do translations of the “call for submissions” and reach far and wide.

But I thought I’d still give it a go!

Ultimately,

I was elated to receive 35 submissions from 12 countries,

which were just enough to craft together a beautiful story to mark this unique time.

This project has been a joy to make.

It’s made me feel less alone and I realize how remarkable it is that one can make a collaborative film with people from all over the world without leaving home.

That is a miracle of our time.

Even when standing still,

we can find ways to act and move forward.

I pray that,

like the people in the film,

we as humanity continue to reflect,

gain perspective,

and inshaAllah (God willing),

find ways to improve life for everyone – people, animals and nature.

Best Always,

Nilufer Rahman”

Canada’s First Masjid, The Al-Rashid Mosque,

Opened on December 12 1938 in Edmonton, Alberta.

On April 16 2021,

The First Friday of Ramadan 2021,

Canada’s oldest Muslim Community experienced this:

A 14 year old Muslim boy in Edmonton named Pazo, who is also black, was beaten.

His school, Rosslyn School, where the attack took place, is across the street from the current location of the Al-Rashid Mosque.

14 year old Pazo’s school,

Rosslyn School,

where the attack took place,

On the First Friday of Ramadan 2021

Is across the street from,

And line of sight of Current location of Edmonton’s

Al-Rashid Mosque . . .

“In this second Jumuah Khutbah of Ramadan 1442/2021 (April 23),

our Imam Dr. Hamid Slimi speaks about how we can learn moderation and balancing from Fasting and Ramadan

and also speaks on the parables of water, earth and vegetation in the Qur’an especially on the occasion of Earth Day.”