Gulshan and Pyarali Nanji: Lunch with Trudeau leaves philanthropists ‘fulfilled’

Try as they might, the Nanji family never got a chance to thank former prime minister Pierre Trudeau in person for opening Canada’s doors to them and other refugees fleeing then-dictator Idi Amin’s Uganda in 1972.

But yesterday, Pyarali Nanji and his wife Gulshan expressed their gratitude to his son, Montreal MP Justin Trudeau.[…]

At the ceremony, Pyarali Nanji, who along with his wife is one of the hospital’s most generous donors, thanked Pierre Trudeau and Canada for providing sanctuary to his family and other Asian refugees being banished from Uganda.[…]

Trudeau also said he often attends events of the Ismaili Muslim community, to which the Nanjis belong.

“I have just been consistently overwhelmed by their generosity and thankfulness of my father,” said Trudeau, who said his father believed in the refugees’ capacity to contribute to Canadian society.

“It is important to me to take these moments to say thank you to the Ismaili community because my father had faith in their ability to be nation builders. They exceeded even his lofty expectations.”[…]

Justin is close enough to the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, that he refers to him as Uncle K, Pyarali Nanji said.

via InsideToronto Article: Lunch with Trudeau leaves philanthropists ‘fulfilled’
Earlier related: Gulshan and Pyarali Nanji: Toronto philanthropist couple gives back after gift of refuge