Celebration of the Aga Khan’s Golden Jubilee proclaimed in BC, announces Nuraney

Burnaby – July 11, 2007 to July 11, 2008 has officially been proclaimed as the Year of Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Imamat of His Highness the Aga Khan IV in British Columbia, MLA John Nuraney announced today.

“It gives me great pride to announce this proclamation, which recognizes the fifty years of good works and spiritual leadership of the Aga Khan on behalf of the many Ismaili Muslims living here in British Columbia,” said Nuraney, who is the MLA for Burnaby-Willingdon and an Ismaili Muslim. “The Aga Khan’s teachings of co-operation and acceptance are a perfect fit with the diverse, multicultural makeup of our province.”

Prince Karim Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (leader) of the Ismaili Muslims. July 11, 2007, will mark the 50th anniversary – or Golden Jubilee – of His Highness the Aga Khan’s ascension to the role of Imam and is a day of celebration and prayer for Ismaili Muslims around the world.

The official proclamation has also been delivered to the Aga Khan’s home in Paris, France.

“I ask that all British Columbians join the Ismaili Muslim community in marking this important event and working co-operatively on our common goals of creating the best communities possible to raise our families,” said Nuraney.

Below is the complete text of the official proclamation.

http://www.johnnuraneymla.bc.ca

Canada

Province of British Columbia

A Proclamation

WHEREAS His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (leader) of the Ismaili Muslims, and the role of the Ismaili Imamat (office of Iman) is to improve the quality of life of his community and the societies within which they live, and

WHEREAS the Imamat is an established model of Shia Muslim Leadership dating back 1400 years to the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and

WHEREAS His Highness the Aga Khan is also the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, an international, non-denominational group of agencies located in 29 countries and 7 regions aimed at improving the quality of life of humankind which has partnered with Canadians and Canadian Institutions for the last 2 decades in leading edge development initiatives in Africa and Asia, and

WHEREAS July 11, 2007, will mark the 50th anniversary or Golden Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan’s ascension to the role of Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, and

WHEREAS the Ismaili Community of British Columbia will commemorate and celebrate the Golden Jubilee year by beginning and continuing projects which will improve the quality of life of those less fortunate in Canada and around the world, and

WHEREAS the Ismaili Community of British Columbia continues to contribute to and enhance the life of its fellow citizens through events such as the World Partnership Walk and the Ismaili Walk and participation in other good works, and

WHEREAS Our Lieutenant Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, has been pleased to enact Order in Council 903 on October 11, 2002;

NOW KNOW YE THAT We do by these presents proclaim and declare that the year from July 11, 2007 to July 11, 2008, shall be known as

Year of Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Imamat of His Highness the Aga Khan IV

in the Province of British Columbia.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Our Province to be hereunto affixed.

WITNESS The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of Our Province of British Columbia, in Our City of Victoria, in Our Province, this fourth day of July, two thousand seven and in the fifty-sixth year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND.

ATTORNEY GENERAL
AND MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTICULTURALISM