On January 17, 2006, the Faculty of Arts announced the establishment of an endowed academic Chair in Islamic Studies made possible through significant financial support from Edmonton’s Muslim communities and the Alberta Government.
The Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities Chair in Islamic Studies will be the first endowed chair devoted to Islamic studies in Canada. That it should be housed at the University of Alberta is fitting since Edmonton is home to one of the nation’s longest standing Muslim communities. For over a century, Muslim communities in Edmonton have made invaluable contributions to the business, education, politics, and culture of our city and province. North America’s first mosque opened here in 1938.
The Chair will be a tremendously important addition to the Faculty and will stand at the centre of its efforts to value and increase knowledge of the diverse traditions, cultures, and interpretations that form the Islamic world, the history of its rich intellectual and cultural heritage, and its relationship with other societies and faiths.
Together, the ECMC and the U of A Faculty of Arts are spearheading a major fundraising campaign to secure the academic chair in perpetuity. One third of the $3 million price tag of the endowment will be paid by the University. The remaining $2 million will be raised through support from the ECMC and other donors, with matching funds coming from the government’s Access to Future Fund.
Mr. Nashir Karmali
Education Chair
Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities
Mr. Larry Shaben
Chair
Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/arts/ECMCChairinIslamicStudies.cfm
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