Alameen Post (Vancouver)
BCMA's Jewel in the Northern BC
The significant of the ground breaking ceremony for Canada’s first mosque
in the far northwest corner of BC on Sunday, June 7th, 2009 is symbolic for all
Canadians. It is the symbol of triumph – faith matters and faith can move mountains
for a tiny but determined Muslim community of Prince George, opting for integration
over assimilation; also of realization, inclusiveness, acceptance, of what Canadian
Multiculturalism is all about; and illustration of how successful nation treats
its citizens by the city council of Prince George in assisting the tiny but influential
Muslim community in building the very first mosque and Islamic cultural center.
It is a cause of celebration, not only for the Muslims, rather for all Canadians,
that Multiculturalism in Canada is “strong and free.” The strength of Canadian Multiculturalism
where the interests, welfare and well-being of all Canadians – cultures and faiths
– are so intertwined that the needs and expectations of any one group can neither
be ignored nor disregarded, and the different facets of this beautiful mosaic working
together in absolute harmony which gives Canada its distinct culture and flavour
that remains unmatched.”
The Prince George Citizen
Mosque project breaks ground
Beginning with a celebration by Prince George's Muslim community, work has begun
on construction of a new mosque at the corner of Foothills Boulevard and Fifth Avenue.
"Everybody's feeling excited about it. It's a good thing, not just for the Muslim
community but the Prince George community at large, " said Mostafa Mohamed, president
of the Prince George chapter of the B.C. Muslim Association and a physics professor
at UNBC.
The celebration, held Sunday, drew most of the city's congregation of about families
and some out-of-town guests. An even bigger one is planned for when the project
is completed in about a year's time. The first phase, which will cost $1.2 million
and cover about 650 square metres (7,000 square feet), will hold a main prayer hall
and a multi-purpose hall for holding conventions, youth and sport activities and
other gatherings. Future phases call for classrooms, a day care and a library. About
$400,000 has been raised for the project so far, and once the foundation is in place,
Mohamed hopes the ball will start rolling.
"We are hoping to collect another $800,000 to $1 million," he said. City council
approved a rezoning application for the project in April 2004 and a building permit
was taken out this month. ”
CBC News
Ground breaks on first mosque in northern B.C.
Construction started Sunday on a mosque in Prince George – the first in northern
B.C. The Islamic Cultural and Educational Centre will be built at 5th Avenue and
Foothills Boulevard on a site that once housed a drive-in movie theatre.
Sharifa
Mohamed is one of the many Muslims in Prince George celebrating the start of construction.
"We were waiting for this for a long time," he said. "We were hoping one day we
will have something, you know, to pray, as everybody else have."
When Ibrahim Karidio
arrived in Prince George, he combed the phone book, cold-calling anyone with an
Islamic-sounding name to find others with whom he could worship.
He said the mosque
is important to the Muslim community.
"I think it's a sense of identity, a sense
of belonging," he said.
The two closest mosques are in Kelowna, B.C., and Edmonton,
Alta., both a day's drive away.
Without a mosque, Prince George's 200 Muslim families
have been worshipping in rented motel rooms, family homes, the Native Friendship
Centre and in the hall at the Knox United Church downtown.
They say they still need
to raise two-thirds of the money to complete the $1.5-million project, but they're
adamant the mosque will be finished in one year.
Locals are turning to Muslims in
Vancouver and Edmonton to help raise the money they need to complete the Islamic
Cultural and Educational Centre. ”
Full Story
Globe and Mail
BC city pins big hopes on new mosque
CBC Radio
Mosque project breaks ground
AUDIO: Wil Fundal reports: Ground breaks on first mosque in northern
B.C. (Runs 5:01)
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/bc/ondemand/audio/bc-090609-mosque-northern-bc-FUNDAL.wma
AUDIO: Betsy Trumpener reports on plans to build Prince George's
first mosque (Runs 6:24)
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