Guest Commentary
Barbara Grantham

I remember growing up in Vancouver years ago and going out for family dinner. The choice in those days was “which burger place shall we go to?”. Fifty years later, we now have an amazing array of foods and culinary adventures from which to choose for those family dinners. For me, it’s one symbol of the remarkable transition this city – and this country – have made over the past 50 years.

Most of us came to this country from somewhere else, with an interesting story of how we arrived. My father’s side came from Britain in the late 1800’s; my mother’s family were Central European Jews escaping the Holocaust. They came here seeking shelter from a storm – like some who come to Canada to this day.

I have wonderful opportunities – through my professional work, parenting, volunteering, and knowing my neighbours - to engage with some of the newcomers to this country. I know that many of us have a story to tell – whether it’s escaping persecution, looking for brighter opportunities or wanting our children to have a better life. We’re building an amazing story here – one of acceptance, success and understanding.

One of the lesser-well-known immigrant success stories has been that of the arrival, settlement, integration and success of the Ismaili community in this country. The Canadian Ismaili community provides us with a story of a journey - of seeking a better life, finding just that, and generously giving back to a new home.

I’d venture that most Canadians aren’t familiar with how and why Shia Ismaili Muslims arrived here. In 1972, about 6,000 Ismaili Muslims emigrated to Canada when Idi Amin, the President of Uganda, ordered the expulsion of all Asians, in an effort to rid the country of this minority population. In the 40-plus years since then, Ismailis from other parts of the world have come to Canada as refugees and immigrants, all seeking a better life. Over time, Canadian Ismailis have thrived and succeeded, providing a remarkable story of faith, culture and the modern evolution of Canada. The now well established Canadian Ismaili community numbers 120,000 people, living and working in cities across the country and contributing to our collective well-being through all walks of life.

It’s remarkable that a community arriving here as a persecuted people, looking for shelter from a storm, have given back so much to the cities in which they live and this country as whole. Under the spiritual leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan, they are a group of citizens who share a deeply-held faith. They also share a deep commitment to contribute to the broader well-being of the communities in which they live. In Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary,

Ottawa, Montreal and elsewhere across Canada, there are measurable ways in which Ismaili Canadians contribute to and make life better for all of us.

I first became acquainted with Vancouver’s Ismaili community in the early 1990’s, through the Aga Khan Council for BC’s Ismaili Walk. Through this Walk, the Council partners with charitable organizations to raise money for a local cause – in Vancouver and other Canadian cities. Over the years, the Vancouver Ismaili Walk has benefited organizations including the YWCA, BC Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Serendipity came my way when I recently had the pleasure of working with them again on the Ismaili Walk, with the community raising close to $500,000 to benefit mental health initiatives for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and the Canadian Mental Health Association. This contribution is significant, for it supports important mental health initiatives and encourages the wider and sometimes-difficult community conversation around mental health.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the ascension of His Highness the Aga Khan to lead Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world. Along with this milestone, we all celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. When we look at the contribution of the Canadian Ismaili community to our quality of life, the synchronicity of these two events is something we can rejoice in together. The Canadian Ismaili community is celebrating this ‘coincidence’ by undertaking Ismaili CIVIC 150, a Diamond Jubilee initiative to improve the quality of life of Canadians through pledges of one million volunteer service hours to charities across the country. This project epitomizes the dedication Canadian Ismailis have to their neighbours and to this country that is their home.

In volatile times when sadly, people tend to talk about what divides us rather than what unites us, it is important to look to communities such as Canada’s Ismaili Muslims – those that do not see the world through the lens of lines and divisions. The Ismaili community values social foundations that are valued by us all - health care, education and family. Shia Ismaili Muslims are a people of faith; just as importantly, they are a people who strive to create strong, vibrant and resilient communities.

This country embraced my family when we needed shelter from a storm. Canada embraced Ismailis when they, too, needed that shelter, and all of us are beneficiaries of that act of welcome. We provide that shelter for those who arrive today. I have every confidence that 50 years from now, the seeds sown through our acts of welcome today will bear fruit that is every bit as remarkable as those we witness today.

Barbara Grantham is the President and CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation