Special coverage of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Canada: An eyewitness account of the Groundbreaking of the Laval Jamatkhana; a beautiful audio account of the Didar with Ismaili youth in Montreal; and earlier, the Aga Khan meets the Prime Minister and the Governor General of Canada; and more

Aga Khan and Carney
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in Ottawa, March 25, 2026. Photograph: Still from the video shown below.

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Aga Khan in Laval
Mawlana Hazar Imam , His Highness the Aga Khan, addresses guests at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Laval Jamatkhana, March 27, 2026. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
Aga Khan Laval Jamatkhana
Mawlana Hazar Imam , His Highness the Aga Khan, signs a copy of the designs for the new Laval Jamatkhana in Québec, March 27, 2026. Photo:graph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
Aga Khan Laval Jamatkhana
L to R: Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval; Mawlana Hazar Imam;, His Highness the Aga Khan; and François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue break ground on the new Laval Jamatkhana, March 27, 2026. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
Aga Khan at Laval Jamatkhana
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, centre, and François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance; and Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval pose for a group picture with vocalists and musicians iat the Groundbreaking ceremony of the Laval Jamatkhana, Québec, March 27, 2026, Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.

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Laval Jamatkhana
An artistic rendition of the upcoming Laval Jamatkhana, project lead architect: Farouk Noormohamed, Photograph: Idesign Awards
Aga Khan Laval Jamatkhana
Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval; François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue; and Mawlana Hazar Imam , His Highness the Aga Khan, unveil a plaque to commemorate the groundbreaking of Laval Jamatkhana, March 27, 2026.
Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
Laval Jamatkhana guests.
Abdulmalik Thawer, a pioneer of the Jamatkhanas established in Ottawa since the mid 1980s, and Salim Ahmed, a long-serving leader of the Ismaili community in Canada, at the Foundation Ceremony of the Laval Jamatkhana, March 27, 2026. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.

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Laval Jamatkhana guests
Friends — and now leaders of Ismaili Jamat and institutions — at the Foundation Ceremony of the Laval Jamatkhana, March 27, 2026. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.

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Guests at the Ground-breaking ceremony of Laval Jamatkhan, March 27, 2026, March 27, 2026. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.

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Stage Laval Jamatkhana
A view of the simple yet elegant stage, with the unveiled Groundbreaking plaque at right, March 27, 2026. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
Naheed Nenshi and Malik Merchant at Laval Jamatkhana groundbreaking
Naheed Nenshi, left, former Calgary Mayor, now the leader of the NDP Alberta, with the author Malik Merchant, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of Laval Jamatkhana, March 27, 2026. Photograph: Naheed Nenshi for Malik Merchant.

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Aga Khan Laval
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval, and leaders of the Jamat and AKDN listen as François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue delivers remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Laval Jamatkhana, March 27, 2027. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
Aga Khan Laval
François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue delivers remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Laval Jamatkhana, March 26, 2027. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.

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AUDIO-Narrative of Youth Mulaqat in Montreal

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Aga Khan arrived in Montreal
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is received upon his arrival in Montreal, Quebec, by Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada and the Honourable Manon Jeannotte, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, March 26, 2026. Photograph: Akber Hakim / AKDN.
Aga Khan meets Jamati leaders upon his arrival
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is welcomed by a delegation of Ismaili leaders from the Quebec Jamat upon his arrival in Montreal, as the Aga Khan Ismaili Council President Ameerally Kassim-Lakha looks on, March 26, 2026. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim

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Aga Khan hosts lunch in Ottawa
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, hosted over 40 Canadian Ministers, Senators, and Members of Parliament to a luncheon at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, March 26, 2026. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.

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Aga Khan at Parliament
His Highness the Aga Khan walks through the hallway of Parliament Hill’s West Block before his meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Ahead of him is Sébastien Carrière, Chief of Protocol of Canada, who earlier welcomed him to Canada upon his arrival at Ottawa Airport, March 25, 2026. Photograph: © Jean-Marc Carisse, Ottawa.

I have many fond memories of His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, having taken hundreds of photos of him during his visit to Canada as the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismailis. My memories go back as far as the 1990s. Still, one of the moments that stood out for me was when the Aga Khan, along with other world leaders, watched Justin Trudeau — who later became Canada’s Prime Minister — lay his head on the casket of his father, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, at his funeral in Montreal in October 2000.

Aga Khan at Trudeau funeral
The photograph shows former Prime Mininister Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s family, friends, colleagues, and official guests in attendance to observe his passing. His son, Justin, rests his head on the casket of his father.. In attendance next to Cuban President Fidel Castro are former Governor-General Romeo Leblanc, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Other notables present at the ceremony not shown in this photograph include past Canadian Prime Ministers John Turner, Joseph Clark, Brian Mulroney, and Jean Chrétien, October 2000. Photograph: © Jean-Marc Carisse, Ottawa.

However, the last series of photos I took of the Aga Khan was on May 16, 2017, when he, along with the then Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable David Johnston, inaugurated the Global Centre for Pluralism. It was my pleasure to share my report and photos with Barakah’s readers. In my forthcoming book, which highlights my lifetime career as a photographer, I will include some photos of the late Aga Khan, along with those of many other world leaders.

Aga Khan and Prime Minister Carney
His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney in Parliament Hill’s West Block hallway following their meeting in the Prime Minister’s office.March 25, 2026. Photograph: © Jean-Marc Carisse, Ottawa.

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Aga Khan and Mark Carney
His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney in Parliament Hill’s West Block hallway following their meeting in the Prime Minister’s office. In this photo, the Ismaili Imam is almost silhouetted with dramatic lighting, March 25, 2026. Photograph: © Jean-Marc Carisse, Ottawa.

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Aga Khan and Prime Minister Carney
His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney in Parliament Hill’s West Block hallway following their meeting in the Prime Minister’s office, March 25, 2026. Photograph: © Jean-Marc Carisse, Ottawa.

Of course, I was saddened by the death of the late Aga Khan in February 2025, and I wondered whether I would be able to photograph his eldest son, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, who succeeded him as the 50th Hereditary Imam.

My excitement was overwhelming when I heard about the Aga Khan’s official visit to Canada from March 25, 2026. Being at the Parliament Hill’s West Block to photograph Prince Rahim Aga Khan made me feel privileged, and I want to share this special moment with you all.

Aga Khan and Mark Carney
His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney in Parliament Hill’s West Block hallway following their meeting in the Prime Minister’s office, March 25, 2026. Photograph: © Jean-Marc Carisse, Ottawa.

I wish to note to readers that I was the only photographer capturing the hallway conversation between His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Carney after they met in the Prime Minister’s office, which was covered by a pool of photographers. Like his predecessor, the new Aga Khan exhibited radiance. I consider this a unique opportunity that came my way.

CORRECTION: In an earlier version, we referred to the meeting location of His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Carney in the Parliament Building. Specifically, His Highness met the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s office, located in the West Block of Parliament Hill. The Parliament Building stands at the centre of Parliament Hill, with main office blocks on both the west and east sides.

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 His Highness the Aga Khan, was welcomed to Rideau Hall by Canada's Governor General, Mary Simon,
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, was welcomed to Rideau Hall by Canada’s Governor General, Mary Simon, on March 25, 2026. She was installed on July 26, 2021, as the 30th Governor General, becoming the first Indigenous person to hold the position since Confederation. She represents His Majesty King Charles III in Canada. Photograph: Website of the Governor General of Canada.

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March 25, 2026: Part 1 of the special edition of the Ismaili Update (Video)

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Aga Khan with Prime Minister Carney
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is received by the Prime Minister of Canada, at Parliament Hill in Ottawa during his first official visit to Canada. The leaders discussed the strong ties between Canada and the Imamat, grounded in common values and shared interests, March 25, 2026.Photograph: X post, Prime Minister of Canada.
Aga Khan and Carney delegations
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney with their respective delegations, March 25, 2026.
Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim

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Aga Khan and Carney at Parliament Hill
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, accompanied by leaders of the Ismaili Jamat and AKDN institutions, March 25, 2026. Photograph: AKDN / Tia MacPherson.

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Aga Khan and Chief of Protocol
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is welcomed to Canada by Sébastien Carrière, Chief of Protocol of Canada, March 25, 2026. Photo:graph: IPL / Akbar Hakim
Aga Khan with Ismaili leaders
Ameerally Kassim-Lakha, the President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada, introduces Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, to a delegation of Ismaili leaders upon his arrival in Ottawa to commence his visit to Canada, March 25, 2026. Photograph: Photo: IPL / Akbar Hakim.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 29 

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2 comments

  1. Malik, I entirely agree with the comments of Muslim Harji. You have again done a very thorough job informing your readers around the world about the first visit to Canada of our beloved Hazar Imam, Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V.

    Having been in Canada since 1975, our family has been fortunate to be part of the congregation to attend many past visits to Canada of our late Imam Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV – the first visit being in November 1978.

    From your postings about the current visit and the details on other media sources thus far, the visit to Eastern Canada is undergoing very well Alhamdulillah.

    We most sincerely hope and pray for the visit to Toronto and all the events planned for the next few days to also be executed meticulously by the dedicated volunteers in the community. Inshaallah.

    Malik, we also pray that you get the updates done in timely fashion for the benefit of all.

    Ahsante sana na Mungu akujalie maisha njema..

    Kamrudin Abdulrasul Rashid,

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

    March 27, 2026.

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  2. Dear Malikbhai,

    Your special coverage of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Eastern Canada is truly admirable. Your dedication and thoughtful reporting keep the Jamat informed and inspired.

    Asante

    Love, Light & Cheers

    Muslim Harji

    Like

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