(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre, in the northeast neighbourhood of Falconridge, will be moving to a new location right in the heart of the city.
Iman Syed Soharwardy says the opening marks a great day for Islam in Calgary, and Canada as a whole, as “presence” can now be felt in the larger community.
“We have been trying for some time to have some presence in the downtown,” says Soharwardy. “This is a huge building, so we are on about 3,000 square feet.”
The new location will be the site for five daily prayers, Friday and Eid prayers, youth and children’s Qur’an and Islamic studies classes, adult Qur’an and Islamic studies classes, women-only programs, interfaith dialogue and community events.
“A lot of people work downtown. This will definitely help people to come for Friday prayers. . . . There’s also a very large population (of Muslims) downtown,” says Soharwardy.
Soharwardy says the Muslim community also has plans to build a school and mosque in the northeast community of Saddle Ridge. That project is awaiting development permit approval from the city.
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