Stories

"We met at Brock University in residence in our first year. I thought he was Spanish or from some other country, definitely not from Singapore. And I was the only person there from Macao. Marriage has its moments. Its ups and downs. But now I really understand why marriage is half your faith. I love that he does all the groceries and has done most of the cooking for the last three years. Even after 30 years and all that I know [laughs], I wouldn’t change him."

~ Amelia (with Zainudeen) at the Intercultural Dialogue Institute

"Growing up I was actually clinically shy. It wasn’t until high school when I attended a leadership workshop, that I was able to really harness my confidence, skills and communicate at a different level. Growing up as the eldest, as a second generation Pakistani-Canadian female, it was challenging. I think what’s helped has really been growing into and discovering my identity - to feel confident in my skin has been important to be able to do what I do and help others get there as well."

~ Urooj at the Intercultural Dialogue Institute

"What do you like about life in Canada?"

"Quite honestly, it's the peace and security. Knowing that our kids and our families are living in a safe place is what we can be thankful for. We lived through all the devastating wars. It's peace we are happy with." [translated from Arabic]

~ Um Naeem and Um Imad, Iraqi community elders

"I love the math, bro."
"Why?"
"Because, you know, I love to problem solve. Its what I feel I'm made for."

~ Abdul Rahman, electrical engineering student

"How old are you?"
“Twelve."
"What do you like to do for fun?"
"I don’t know. Play with my friends."
"What do you want to be?"
[Mother, grandmother and sister whisper excitedly from behind the camera]: “A pharmacist!"
"Why in pharmacy?"
"I don't know, I want to help people.”

Absane, aspiring pharmacist

"Since you’ve become Muslim, what do you enjoy most about Islam?"

“I enjoy being around family and the community. And when you see any Muslim, you can say ‘salam’, which means ‘peace’ and you can strike a conversation with people you don’t even know. I love that."

"What has been the most difficult time in your life as a Muslim?"

“Losing my father was one of the saddest things I’ve experienced. He wasn’t Muslim, but he had a need to know what happens after death and I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to him about it from my perspective. He was looking for someone to talk about it, but I was too afraid and whenever it came up, I kept changing the subject. Death scared me and I still think about that."

~ Nicole

“I have a farm here in Ottawa where I have Arabian horses. You should come visit me and take a picture of me on the horses!”

~ Abu Ahmed - community elder

Osman Naqvi reflects on The Dream Catchers, a youth-run initiative aimed at community development and youth empowerment in Ottawa.

What do you want for Eid?
Anything. Actually, toys!

~ Siraj, Salahuddin, Zaid, Ibrahim, et al. at MAC Eid Festival

"This is a very precious time for the entire Muslim community but it’s also very special for me and my family. It’s an opportunity to contribute. To contribute just a little more. I always try to give a lot, but it’s always good to give a little more. Alhamdulillah two of my kids are volunteering here today."

~ Haji Ibrahim Noor at MAC Eid Festival

It’s about being happy. Because Muslims are happy too. And we love to meet people from all over the world.

~ Aisha and Aisha at the MAC Eid Festival speaking about  Eid Al-Adha

What gets you excited?
Space exploration, legos and silent films.
Why?
Space exploration, no explanation needed. Legos, because I love to build things and put things together. Silent films really make you appreciate the cinematography.

~ Sakina at the Palestinian Festival

Nargis Yousuf began her career as a beautician from her small kitchen in a two bedroom apartment. Now her established beauty salon, Al Nisa is the official hair and makeup company for Suhaag's Ottawa Show.

Hers was a name that almost everyone knew.

At one time in Ottawa's history, Eva Afife Wahab was the go-to person in the Muslim community.

Born in 1914, Wahab was the first Muslim child born in Ottawa. Her father emigrated from Lebanon to Canada in 1903, and her family was the first Muslim family in the nation's capital. Prior to that, it was individual Muslims who had settled here.

“People spend a lot of time [planning for] the wedding; what kind of dress, what kind of food, what kind of decorations and so forth, but you know, life really begins after marriage,” explained Jawad Jafry, director of the film series Marriage Success aimed at providing Muslim Canadians with a much needed resource to cope with the challenges and opportunities that marriage brings. Co-produced by Toronto-based Imam Hamid Slimi, the films can be found on the innovative marriagesuccess.ca website.

Transplant: Patient and Donors Stories took place on April 1st to mark the beginning of Ontario’s Organ Donation Month. During this month, the Trillium Gift of Life Network, (a non-profit agency of the Government of Ontario) responsible for facilitating organ and tissue donation and transplantation across Ontario, tries to raise public awareness about the urgent need for people to register to be organ donors. The event was spearheaded by Erica Bregman, a volunteer with the Trillium Gift of Life Network and supported by the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA), whose VP, Maher Jebara, hosted the event. Several religious leaders such as Reverend Anthony Bailey, Imam Mohamad Jebara, and Rabbi Reuben Bulka, as well as leaders within Ottawa’s Sikh community, spoke out in order to dispel myths that might exist within their respective faith communities that organ donation is not religiously permitted. But those in attendance were most moved by the presentations of organ donors and transplant recipients like Somali-Canadian Hiba Yusuf.

"This is for my family. I do this to help my family, you know, to give my dad a chance to rest. My dad is my inspiration." - Waleed at Aladdin's Bakery

Being a mom can often be a daunting task, and even more so when confronted with the challenges of raising children Islamically in the West. A group of Muslim moms rose to the task of creating a website where other Muslim mothers (especially Canadian Muslim moms) can come for support and information. The site also offers special information for new-comers to Canada. The site's contributors range across the Greater Toronto Area and from other cities in Canada.
Here is a brief interview we conducted with the project manager of MuslimMoms.ca Erum Zehra, a website consultant by profession.

Back in Grade 5, I recall leafing through my new social studies textbook on the first week of school. My teacher at the time explained that that year, we would be learning about Canada and the history of the Canadian government. As I flipped through the pages, an image caught my eye. It was the floor plan of the House of Commons. Someone raised their hand to ask where the Prime Minister sat and our teacher pointed us to the legend describing which labels on the plan were which on the floor: Prime Minister, the Opposition, the Speaker, clerks...