The Government of Canada and the Ismaili Imamat share a longstanding partnership grounded in common values and shared interests, which reflects a commitment to creating a more prosperous, just and inclusive world. Building on this partnership, Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan outlined a number of new initiatives — March 25, 2026.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The original page about His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Canada has been split into two pages. This page now focuses solely on events, announcements, and news from his arrival in Canada on March 25, 2026, until his departure seven days later on March 31, 2026. Pre-arrival details are available on a separate page HERE.
Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT
Page last updated: March 31, 2026, 12:47 AM EDT. Share this page with your family and friends in Canada and around the world with this short link: https://wp.me/p7IezD-gL0.
MARCH 25-31, 2026: ANCHOR LINKS COVERING HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN’S OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA
Please visit this page frequently for updates on His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Eastern Canada from March 25 to 31, 2026. For quick access to our stories on this page, please click the following anchor links:
- March 30, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan inaugurates Generations Toronto and its Care Facility
- March 30, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan to preside over the inauguration of GENERATIONS Toronto
- March 29, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan meets Inter-faith spouses
- March 29, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan graces Ismail youth with Didar
- March 28, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan meets Ismaili and AKDN leaders
- March 28, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan is welcomed to Toronto
- March 27-28, 2026: The Ismaili Update Video Part 4 — The Didars in Montreal and departure for Toronto
- March 27, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan performs the groundbreaking of new Laval Jamatkahana — an eyewitness account
- March 26-27, 2026: The Ismaili Update Video Part 3 – Youth Mulaqat (March 26) and Laval Jamatkhana Groundbreaking (March 27)
- March 26, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan’s Mulaqat with the youth: An audio narrative
- March 25-26, 2026: The Ismaili Update Video Part 2 — Meets Governor General (March 25) and hosts lunch reception for a group of parliamentarians (March 26), and arrives in Montreal (March 26)
- March 26, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Montreal
- March 26, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan hosts a reception for Canadian Ministers, Senators and MP’s
- March 25, 2026: Photographs of His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney by renowned Ottawa photographer, Jean-Marc Carisse
- March 25, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan meets with Canada’s Governor General
- March 25, 2026: The Ismaili Update Video Part 1 — Arrival and Meeting with Prime Minister
- March 25, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan meets Prime Minister Mark Carney,
- March 25, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney release a joint statement
- March 25, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Canada
- March 25, 2026 to Current: Didar and mulaqat schedule
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March 30, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan inaugurates Generations Toronto
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Statement on LinkedIn by Natalia Kusendova-Bashta
Was pleased to join Premier Doug Ford , Graham McGregor , Andrea Khanjin , and Todd McCarthy today for the inauguration of the new Generations Toronto Campus, including its new long‑term care home. The 60‑acre campus was officially opened by His Highness the Aga Khan and is part of a broader national effort to improve health outcomes for seniors. Generations Toronto brings together long‑term care, affordable housing, health‑care services, childcare, and other community supports in one integrated setting. Please click Natalia Kusendova-Bashta to watch a video of her statement
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March 30, 2026: Final word — a joyful day concludes, looking toward a bright future across GENERATION for many GENERATIONS.
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March 29, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan meets Inter-faith family members
In an atmosphere of warmth and celebration of the shared values that unite communities in Canada and across the globe, His Highness the Aga Khan hosted an inter-faith gathering with Ismailis and their spouses near the Ismaili Centre. In his remarks, the Aga Khan spoke of the importance of acceptance, respect and kindness. “I think that these events — and your marriages — are to a certain degree pluralism in action,” he said. “And so I think it’s going to be more and more important that we remain open, that we remain welcoming and that we share this message of openness.”
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March 26, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan graces Didar to Ismaili youth (first meeting)
On Sunday, March 29, Mawlana Hazar Imam granted a first youth mulaqat at the Ismaili Centre, Toronto. Hazar Imam was presented with an art installation entitled Stewards of the Earth. The design is a digital tree, with each leaf portraying a digital pledge from Jamati and inter-faith family members from across Canada, describing how they will care for the environment and live more sustainably.
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Scheduled for Monday, March 30, 2026: Live broadcast as His Highness the Aga Khan presides over the inauguration of GENERATIONS Toronto
The inauguration of GENERATIONS Toronto will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026. Ismaili TV will broadcast the event live, with specific times listed below for various cities, so viewers can plan to join this important occasion. The Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, and the Mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow, will perform the opening in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan. Generations is a landmark project in the Toronto area rooted in an innovative model of intergenerational living.
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MARCH 28, 2026
March 28, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan meets Ismaili leadership from across Canada
His Highness the Aga Khan attended an Institutional Reception at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, where he met with senior Ismaili community and AKDN leadership from across Canada. In his remarks to guests gathered at the event, Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed his gratitude to the leaders and volunteers, past and present: “I’d like to thank you all for your service — the volunteers, but also their spouses and also their families, because I know the work that you do has a cost in time and in stress and other things, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. I appreciate it and I think the whole community appreciates it.”
External links for coverage of the event:
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March 28, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan is welcomed to Toronto
His Highness the Aga Khan was warmly received upon his arrival in Toronto on Saturday, March 29, 2026. Among those receiving him were the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taleeb Noormohamed, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, as well as government and Ismaili institutinal leaders.
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March 27-28 (Consolidation): Part 4 of the special edition of the Ismaili Update
Part 4 highlights Mawlana Hazar Imam’s first and second Didars to the Jamat of Eastern Canada in Montreal, as well as the art installation presented to him during the visit.
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March 28, 2026: Mawlana Hazar Imam graces Jamat in Montreal with second Didar
Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
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MARCH 27, 2026
March 27, 2026: Mawlana Hazar Imam graces Jamat in Montreal with first Didar
At the Montreal Jamati Didar venue, Mawlana Hazar Imam visited the Illuminated Threads art installation. More than 3,700 pieces of traditional fabric from members of the Jamat across Canada were submitted to bring this piece together. The installation has four pillars, each representing a different tradition — South Asia, Central Asia, Iran, and Syria –with the centre representing a unified Canadian Jamat, including inter-faith families.
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March 27, 2026: The Laval Jamatkhana Groundbreaking Ceremony
(1) An eye witness account by MALIK MERCHANT
If there is one thing I would have wished on the morning of Friday, March 27, 2026, it is that I understood French. I genuinely missed and thought of my daughter, Nurin, as fantastic and heart-warming speeches were being delivered by the Minister (80% French) and the Mayor of Laval (100% French), who appreciated the work of the Ismaili Imamat and the Ismaili community. The speeches, along with Mawlana Hazar Imam’s response. underscored the importance of the historic day. The credit for the Jamatkhana, he humbly said, was not his but belonged to his father, our beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim, who envisioned the 7 high-profile Ismaili Centres built around the world since the foundation ceremony for the London Ismaili Centre was first laid in 1979. It was to open six years later in 1985.
At the large vacant construction site, which all of us at the event centre watched live, Mawlana Hazar Imam and his two guests, Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval; and François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue were introduced to the new building via several panel displays. The historic moment came when he signed a copy of the designs for the new Laval Jamatkhana, thereby finalizing them. Joining him to the signing were the Minister and the Mayor. Another beautiful moment occurred when all three broke ground on the new Laval Jamatkhana by turning over the soil with their spades.
We waited a few moments before Mawlana Hazar Imam finally arrived at the site of the formal plaque unveiling ceremony.
To me, the events at the Jamatkhana site, as well as at the formal unveiling ceremony, felt like witnessing the laying of the foundation for another high-profile Ismaili Centre, the eighth in the world. Although not designated as such, the ceremony conveyed that impression. The stunning design and architecture of the building by father-daughter duo Farouk Noormohamed and Aliya, the entire program — including on-stage performances of Canada’s National Anthem, Quranic verses, their translations, the Quebec Aga Khan Council President’s speech, and the confident presence of the Master of Ceremonies — as well as the lively energy in the hall, made this event truly memorable. Indeed, Hazar Imam’s response that, Inshallah, he would like to return to its opening, enhanced that feeling.
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One memorable and jovial moment was when Mawlana Hazar Imam and his two cheerful guests began walking down the hall. The Emcee gently reminded them that the plaque marking the Laval Jamatkhana’s foundation was yet to be unveiled. Halfway down the red carpet, they turned around, went to the stage, and unveiled the silver plaque to a thunderous applause. The three joined their hands in another round of fantastic applause.
Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
The day ended with hugs and happiness all around. I met friends after years, some of whom led the Ottawa Jamat. where I spent many years, to new heights through their significant contributions over the past several decades, and others, much younger, who have begun their roles as Jamati or institutional leaders only in recent years.
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Many took the opportunity to remember this historic day by taking selfies and photos on the stage and even alongside the plaque. I patiently waited until the last moment to take photos of the stage and the plaque.
Finally, as I stepped out of the hall, I did not realize that Mawlana Hazar Imam was still inside the building with his guests. A large, enthusiastic crowd patiently waited for their exit from a curtained hall. When they finally emerged to thunderous applause, Mawlana Hazar Imam took a moment to greet many members, exemplifying his leadership, compassion and love for the Jamat. In one special instance, he offered a loving hug to a Jamati member standing on the stairwell. It brought tears of happiness to the gentleman. Outside the building, to my joy, I met Naheed Nenshi, who led Calgary, now my residence, as its very popular for Mayor for two terms. Now he leads the Provincial NDP Party, hoping to defeat the incumbent Premier during the next election in 2027, or earlier. He offered to take a selfie, which he said he had become an expert at.
Mawlana Hazar Imam’s style and manner differ from those of his beloved father, Shah Karim Shah. Mawlana Hazar Imam, while remembering and missing his father immensely, is continuing to build on the incredible legacy and accomplishments of the 49th Imam, as he leads us toward a momentous future in turbulent and uncertain times.
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(2) Groundbreaking marks new chapter for Jamat in Greater Montreal
The following account of the Foundation Ceremony of the Laval Jamatkhana has been adapted from The.Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili community:
Earlier today [Friday, March 27, 2026), Mawlana Hazar Imam participated in a groundbreaking ceremony of the Laval Jamatkhana, a new space that will serve the Ismaili Jamat and broader community in Greater Montreal. The event brought together local community and civic leaders to mark the start of construction on a project years in the making.
The Laval Jamatkhana project will transform a previously vacant site into a sustainable community landmark. The Jamatkhana will serve as a place of gathering and spiritual reflection for Ismailis. But the broader development is open to all. Community programming, cultural events, and dialogue initiatives are planned to be accessible and inclusive, welcoming residents from across Laval. The aim is to build something that belongs to the neighbourhood as much as to the community that built it.
Within Canada, Québec is home to a large Ismaili population, many of whom arrived in the 1970s. Over the past five decades, the community has become a familiar part of Canadian civic life — in business, public service, and the arts. In Laval specifically, that presence has continued to expand, making the case for a dedicated facility both practical and timely.
“Today, the Ismaili community in Québec is actively engaged across all areas of society,” said Nilab Ferooz, President of the Ismaili Council for Québec and the Maritimes. “Our community contributes meaningfully to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of this province. We are proud to count among us entrepreneurs, educators, health professionals, public servants, and deeply engaged citizens.”
“Today, we are not merely laying a cornerstone or pouring concrete. We are building a bridge between cultures and generations,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue. “This is an ambitious project that embodies what the Ismaili community has brought to Québec and Canada for more than fifty years: inclusion, innovation, service, and pluralism.”
In attendance were national and provincial leaders of the Jamat, volunteers, and supporters. In his remarks, Mawlana Hazar Imam thanked them for the project’s progress thus far and looked forward to its completion.
“I’m grateful to all of you,” he said, “for doing what our community is supposed to do, which is to enrich, and to serve, and to help make colourful the societies in which we live.”
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March 26-27, 2026 (Consolidation): Part 3 of the special edition of the Ismaili Update
The Ismaili Update 3 reports Mawlana Hazar Imam’s mulaqat with the younger members of the Jamat on March 26 in Montreal and the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Laval Jamatkhana on Friday, March 27.
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MARCH 26, 2026
March 26, 2026: Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s youth Mulaqat in Montreal: An audio reflection
The following inspiring audio narrative is in response to the youth mulaqat with Mawlana Hazar Imam in Montreal on March 26, 2026. It was circulated on social media. The reflection of the Didar is by the Kamadiani, representing the youth who gathered in Montreal for a Didar with their beloved 50th Imam. A Kamadiani is a leader — one of four, along with Mukhi, Mukhiani, and Kamadia — who periodically officiates at the youth Majlis (gathering) in Jamatkhanas.
A BEAUTIFUL REFLECTION OF THE YOUTH DIDAR IN MONTREAL
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Following the youth mulaqat, an art installation was presented to Hazar Imam, crafted by carpenters and painted by young artists. The piece, titled Open Door, reflects themes inspired by Hazar Imam’s guidance. This door is accompanied by digital submissions from youth across Canada describing the knowledge they are pursuing and how that knowledge can open doors for one another.
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March 25-26, 2026 (Consolidation): Part 2 of the special edition of the Ismaili Update (Video)
The Ismaili Update, Part 2, covers Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Rideau Hall on March 25, 2026, where the Governor General hosted a dinner in his honour. The next day, March 26, Mawlana Hazar Imam hosted a lunch reception at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat for a group of parliamentarians and, in the afternoon, departed Ottawa for Montreal, where he was welcomed by federal and provincial leaders.
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March 26, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan is welcomed to Montreal by Quebec’s Lieutenant Governor
On March 26, 2026, after hosting more than forty Canadian Ministers, Senators, and Members of Parliament at a luncheon in Ottawa, His Highness the Aga Khan flew into Montreal, where he was greeted upon arrival by the Honourable Manon Jeannotte, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec; Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada; and a delegation of leaders from the Quebec Jamat.
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March 26, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan hosts Canadian Ministers, Senators and MP’s to a reception in Ottawa
Delegates from a diverse range of Canada’s political parties, including Canadian Ministers, Senators, and Members of Parliament, attended a luncheon hosted by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building on Sussex Drive in Ottawa. Those present included individuals who have supported the work of the Ismaili Imamat, the AKDN, and the Ismaili Muslim community in areas such as immigration, settlement, housing, and international development.
Addressing the delegates present, Hazar Imam spoke about the decades-long partnership between successive Canadian governments and the Ismaili Imamat, and he thanked those in attendance for their support.
“Your presence here, and your commitment to the friendship between Canada and the Imamat is deeply felt and appreciated,” he said. “Thank you for all that you do, and for your service to Canada — and humanity.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam then left Ottawa for Montreal, where he will preside over the foundation ceremony of the Laval Jamatkhana and grant Didar and mulaqats to the youth and the Jamat of Quebec and Maritime Provinces.
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MARCH 25, 2026
March 25, 2026: Jean-Marc Carisse, captures beautiful moments of His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney at Parliament Hill
Introduced by JEAN-MARC CARISSE
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.
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.
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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.
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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March 25, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan is welcomed by the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, to Rideau Hall
On March 25, 2026, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, welcomed His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V (Mawlana Hazar Imam) to Rideau Hall on his first official visit to Canada since acceding as the 50th Hereditary Imam in February 2025. She hosted a dinner for Mawlana Hazar Imam, which was attended by Prime Minister Mark Carney and several current and former leaders of the country. The Prime Minister had earlier met Mawlana Hazar Imam in his office at Parliament Hill.
As part of Hazar Imam’s first official visit to Canada, the event at Rideau Hall marked a milestone in the longstanding relationship between Canada and the Ismaili Imamat.
Reflecting on the partnership, Hazar Imam said: “My late father, who many of you knew well, had a strong belief in — and affection for — Canada, for its people, its values, its steadfast commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of respect, dignity, and pluralism. It is my intention to continue to strengthen and build on this valued relationship and to make available all of the capabilities of the Imamat in our work together.”
“Many of the guests gathered here tonight have dedicated their lives to pluralism and peace. So too has the Ismaili community in Canada,” said Governor General Mary Simon. “In today’s global context, your work—and the values we share—stand as a stabilizing force. For this, and for our continued partnership and friendship, we thank you.”
External links: A selection of website which have covered the Rideau Hall event:
- The Ismaili: Mawlana Hazar Imam hosted at Rideau Hall
- AKDN: His Highness the Aga Khan marks inaugural visit to Canada, renewing 50 years of partnership
- The Governor General of Canada: Meeting with His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V
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March 25, 2026: Part 1 of the special edition of the Ismaili Update (Video)
The Ismaili Update, Part 1, celebrates Mawlana Hazar Imam’s arrival in Canada and his meeting with the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada. Please watch the YouTube video and scroll down for Barakah’s dedicated coverage of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Canada.
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March 25, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in the Nation’s Capital
On Wednesday, March 15, 2026, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V during his first official visit to Canada, from March 25 to 31, 2026.
Prime Minister Carney welcomed His Highness the Aga Khan to Canada and thanked him for his leadership and profound contributions to global development and governance. The leaders recognised the strong ties between Canada and the Imamat — reinforced by the contributions of 120,000 Ismailis in Canada.
Building on this historic relationship, Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan released a joint declaration with new partnerships to improve housing affordability in Canada and collaborate on economic development programming internationally.
Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim
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First, Prime Minister Carney welcomed a series of investments by the Ismaili Imamat in multi-generational not-for-profit housing projects across Canada to improve the supply of affordable housing. In addition, through Build Canada Homes, the Government of Canada will forge a long-term partnership with the Ismaili Imamat to develop a series of low- and middle-income housing projects.
Second, the leaders announced the creation of an Economic Partnership Platform to improve development financing. FinDev Canada and the Aga Khan Fund will collaborate to pool public and private capital to identify investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, and agriculture in Africa and Asia — regions crucial to Canada’s growing relationships abroad.
Third, Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan tasked officials to identify areas for future collaboration in education and skills development that can harness Canada’s strengths in talent, workforce, and expertise to support partner countries.
The leaders discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East and underscored the need to prevent further regional escalation. His Highness the Aga Khan emphasised the effect that continuing tensions are having on civilians, including Ismailis.
Prime Minister Carney announced the upcoming appointment of a new Representative of Canada to the Ismaili Imamat, the Honourable David Lametti, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, who will further deepen this collaboration.
Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan agreed to remain in contact.
NOTE: Please read the report of the meeting at the source HERE.
External links: Please visit the following websites for coverage of the event on Parliament Hill:
- The Ismaili: Mawlana Hazar Imam meets with Canadian Prime Minister
- AKDN: His Highness the Aga Khan marks inaugural visit to Canada, renewing 50 years of partnership
- Global News: Carney’s leadership ‘needed more than ever,’ Aga Khan says during 1st Canada visit
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CPAC YouTube video of the Prime Minister and the Aga Khan meeting
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March 25, 2026: Joint declaration released by Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan
- The Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney welcomed this first official visit of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V to Canada, from March 25 to 31, 2026.
- The Government of Canada and the Ismaili Imamat share a longstanding partnership grounded in common values and shared interests, which reflects a commitment to creating a more prosperous, just and inclusive world. Building on this partnership, Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan today outlined a number of new initiatives.
- The Prime Minister welcomed a series of investments by the Ismaili Imamat in multi-generational not-for-profit housing projects across Canada designed to address the affordable housing crisis. Through Build Canada Homes, the Government of Canada will work on a long-term partnership with the Ismaili Imamat, to be established through a Memorandum of Understanding. By creating a pipeline of projects, the partnership will facilitate more affordable homes being built, for low-and moderate-income households across Canada.
- The international work of the Government of Canada and the Ismaili Imamat shares a commitment to inclusive economic development, including in enhancing the competitiveness, productivity and resilience of emerging and developing economies. Working together, there is an opportunity to align international development efforts with private investment in ways that benefit country partners while advancing our common interests. To deepen this joint commitment, Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan today announced the creation of an Economic Partnership Platform that will advance joint initiatives. This will include formalizing the partnership between FinDev Canada and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to align efforts in fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia Pacific regions across infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and financial institutions.
- The partnership between the Government of Canada and the Ismaili Imamat involves working together in Canada and around the world, across a wide variety of common priorities. An important element of this partnership is a shared dedication to building prosperity, pluralism and capacity in geographies of mutual interest. In this spirit, Canada and the Aga Khan Development Network are working together on joint development programming in Syria, to address immediate recovery needs and to promote longer-term sustainable development. This also involves partnerships in Africa and Asia, including the establishment of strategic partnerships in support of economic opportunity, health, and education, involving where appropriate other like-minded countries in new practical coalitions to achieve stronger results.
- The Government of Canada and the Ismaili Imamat have a shared interest in building the workforce of the future, in better connecting Canadian innovation with the world, and in advancing energy initiatives in emerging and developing economies. In this spirit, Prime Minister Carney and His Highness the Aga Khan tasked the Canada-Ismaili Imamat Joint Steering Committee to identify areas for future collaboration related to:
- Education, language and skills development that will serve to strengthen the economies of our partner countries, while aligning with our respective priorities;
- Connecting Canadian innovations and technology advancements in areas such as agriculture, climate action, health, and education to generate pathways and opportunities for scaling Canadian technologies in new global markets; and,
- Joint work on energy initiatives in developing regions, such as exploring support for peace and energy-security in the African Great Lakes region through the Regional Economic Integration Framework, including the Ruzizi III Hydropower Project, the first regional public-private partnership hydropower project in which the Industrial Promotion Services of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development is one of the principal sponsors.
- Finally, the Prime Minister and His Highness the Aga Khan welcomed the naming of the Honourable David Lametti, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York as the new Representative of Canada to the Ismaili Imamat. Ambassador Lametti will advance collaboration at a strategic level and involve the entirety of the Government of Canada.
- The Canada-Ismaili Imamat Joint Steering Committee, created under the 2014 Protocol of Understanding between the Government of Canada and the Ismaili Imamat on the Creation of a Strategic Partnership, will oversee the implementation of mutually determined deliverables and report progress annually.
NOTE: Please read the joint declaration at the source HERE.
Related post on social media
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External links: Please visit the following websites for coverage of the event on Parliament Hill:
- The Ismaili: Mawlana Hazar Imam meets with Canadian Prime Minister
- Global News: Carney’s leadership ‘needed more than ever,’ Aga Khan says during 1st Canada visit
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March 25, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Canada
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to commence his official visit to Canada at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney. The visit underscores the strong bond between the Ismaili Imamat, the community, and Canada. The visit will continue until March 31, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the 120,000 Ismailis in Canada, who will experience their first-ever Didar with their 50th Imam.
He was greeted at the Ottawa Airport by Sébastien Carrière, Chief of Protocol of Canada; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. Among others to welcome him were leaders of the Canadian Ismaili community, including Dr. Mahmoud Eboo, Representative of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat to Canada; Ameerally Kassim-Lakha, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada; and a delegation of Jamati leaders as well as the Honourable Farah Mohamed, Senator of Canada and Taleeb Noormohamed, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation.
External media: Please visit the following websites for coverage of His Highness the Aga Khan’s arrival in Ottawa:
Related posts on social media
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March 25, 2026, to Current: Dates and venues of Didar and mulaqat with Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan
Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Eastern Canada will take place from March 25 to 31 for the Ontario, Quebec, and Maritimes regions. The following schedule has been adapted from the IICanada newsletter. It confirms the dates, venues and timings for the Eastern Canada Didars, Youth Mulaqats, and Inter-Faith Gathering noting that the Ottawa and Kingston Jamats will participate in Didars with the Jamat of Quebec and the Maritimes. This section was updated on March 29, 2026.
Ontario
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
Youth Mulaqat
For the Jamats of: Toronto Headquarters, East York, Scarborough, Willowdale, Don Mills, Etobicoke, Downtown Toronto, Guelph, Niagara Falls, Peterborough, Belleville, and Sudbury
Designated Check-In Venue: East York Jamatkhana
Doors Open: 7:00 a.m.
For more information, refer to the Youth Mulaqat Ontario – Key Information page
Inter-Faith Gathering
For all of Eastern Canada – Ontario, Quebec & Maritimes
Venue: Automotive Building, Exhibition Place
Doors Open: 2:00 p.m.
Please Arrive By: 3:15 p.m
Doors Close: 4:00 p.m
For more information, refer to the Inter-Faith Gathering – Key Information page
MONDAY, MARCH 30
Didar
For the Jamats of: Kitchener Headquarters, Unionville, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Meadowvale, Oshawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, Hamilton, Guelph, London, Barrie, Niagara Falls, Brantford, Windsor, Peterborough, Belleville, and Sudbury
Venue: Enercare Centre Toronto
Doors Open: 12:30 p.m.
For more information, click Didar Ontario – Key Information page.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
Youth Mulaqat
For the Jamats of: Kitchener Headquarters, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Unionville, Meadowvale, Oshawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, Hamilton, London, Barrie, Windsor, and Brantford
Designated Check-In Venue: East York Jamatkhana
Doors Open: 6:00 a.m.
For more information, refer to the Youth Mulaqat Ontario – Key Information page
Didar
For the Jamats of: Toronto Headquarters, East York, Scarborough, Willowdale, Don Mills, Etobicoke, and Downtown Toronto
Venue: Enercare Centre Toronto
Doors Open: 11:00 a.m.
For more information, click Didar Ontario – Key Information page.
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COMPLETED EVENTS: Quebec and Maritimes, Ottawa and Kingston
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
Youth Mulaqat
For the Jamats of: Montreal Headquarters, Brossard, Laval, Sherbrooke, Ottawa Headquarters, Granby, Halifax, Kingston, Quebec City, St John’s, and Fredericton
Venue: Facility in Chateauguay
Doors Open: 12:00 p.m.
For more information, Youth Mulaqat Quebec & Maritimes – Key Information page
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
Didar
For the Jamats of: Montreal Headquarters, Laval, Sherbrooke, Halifax, St John’s, and Fredericton
Venue: Facility in Chateauguay
Doors Open: 1:00 p.m.
For more information, click Didar Quebec & Maritimes – Key Information page.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
Didar
For the Jamats of: Ottawa Headquarters, Brossard, Granby, Kingston, and Quebec City
Venue: Facility in Chateauguay
Doors Open: 6:00 a.m.
For more information, click Didar Quebec & Maritimes – Key Information page.
NOTE: Barakah recommends visiting the IICanada newsletter page for the most up-to-date information about the dates and venues of Didar and Mulaqat. Also click IICanada Home Page for all the pages related to the visit.
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Date posted: February 19, 2026.
Last updated: March 30, 2026 (reformatting)
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Please click SUBSCRIBE and enter your email address to receive update notifications from Barakah. Before you leave, remember that Barakah’s editor, Malik, is here to assist you. If you have any questions or feedback, please scroll down to leave a comment or send an email to mmerchant@barakah.com. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the diverse and extensive content on Barakah’s Home Page or Table of Contents, with over 350 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. And don’t forget to visit our sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos. You can stay updated by following Malik on @Facebook, @X, @LinkedIn and @Instagram and by subscribing to Barakah.
Barakah 
Thank you, Malik, for the excellent coverage of Hazar Imam’s visit. Like you, I wish I could speak French 😢. Look forward to reading the English transcripts of all the speeches.
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Malik – as expected your coverage is expansive, entertaining & enticing personal anecdotes accompanied with v sharp photography, merci beaucoup
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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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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
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