By Shelina Jaffer special to, CBC News – When the Aga Khan addresses a joint session of Parliament today, it will be the latest link in a deep connection to Canada that goes back more than four decades.
The Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam to the world’s 15 million Shi’a Imami Ismaili Muslims, and became an honorary Canadian citizen in 2010.
In 1972, when Ugandan President Idi Amin expelled Asians and Ismailis, thousands found refuge in Canada. The community has grown ever since, with a population in Canada of around 100,000 today.
The Canadian government in 2006 announced a partnership with the Aga Khan in establishing the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa. When the CBC’s Peter Mansbridge asked him why he chose Canada for that project, the Aga Khan pointed to Canada’s unique track record in building a diverse society.
“Few countries, if any, have been as successful as Canada has” in that regard, he explained.
The Aga Khan was last in Canada in November, when he received an honorary degree from Trinity College at the University of Toronto for humanitarian work done through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Watch Peter Mansbridge’s 2006 interview with the Aga Khan
via Aga Khan brings deep ties to Canada in address to Parliament today CBC News.
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