Dr. Samantha Green, Afzal Sovani, Jon Lomow, and Rehana Rajabali discuss the impact of climate change as seen from the lens of health, agriculture, and infrastructure. This program was held on April 26, 2023, at the Ismaili Centre Toronto and was presented in partnership with the Aga Khan Museum and Aga Khan Park.
In the first installment of a five-part series, Onstage Conversations 2022, Dr. Amyn B. Sajoo talks with Dr. Ulrike al-Khamis, Director & CEO of the Aga Khan Museum. The conversation focuses on the role of art in bridging divides as societies become more polarized by words and images. The series is presented by Simon Fraser University in partnership with the Ismaili Centres.
The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center USA together with the Ismaili Centre Toronto present a discussion in recognition of the International Day of Tolerance. In a discussion with three representatives of the Aga Khan Development Network, Dr. Mahmoud Eboo, Diplomatic Representative to Canada, Sheherezade Hirji, Diplomatic Representative to Afghanistan, and Munir Merali, Diplomatic Representative to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, illustrate how local contexts shape the work of the AKDN and provide an understanding of the broader connection between the global projects.
Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis, CEO of the Aga Khan Museum, speaks with Christopher Wilton-Steer, photographer of The Silk Road: A Living History exhibition about his 40,000 km journey across the historic silk route and his experiences witnessing the intricate connections between distant cultures. Created in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation, the exhibition features photographs from Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, India, and China.
Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is commemorated as a joyous occasion by almost two billion followers around the world. During his lifetime, the Holy Prophet established a paradigm of life for Muslims, embracing a harmony between spiritual and material, respect for the dignity of all human life, and equitable social order. His model of leadership, rooted in honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness, serves as an exemplar to this day, for millions. ​ On Sunday, October 17, we commemorate this historic occasion with inspiring remarks from special guests Dr. Aman Haji and Professor Adel Iskandar, as well as poetry and visuals to lift the spirit as we honour the Prophet's legacy.
Photographer Gary Otte has taken many thousands of photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visits to his Jamats, his meetings with world leaders, and AKDN projects across the world. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Otte describes his motivation to compile a visual record of Hazar Imam’s life and work, centered around photos taken by him and other photographers over the course of eight decades. The book, entitled Depth of Field, is now available to pre-order from The Ismaili Shop.
Panelists from diverse industries, and at varying stages in their careers, share their experiences of career pivots highlighting the importance of adaptability, resilience, and lifelong learning.
In a conversation with Zahra Jivan, city builder and civic leader Zahra Ebrahim share stories from her projects to show the link between design and justice, and especially how we can frame problems in a people-centered manner to enable individuals to design their own solutions.
In this episode of Visionary Voices, Khalil Shariff, CEO of Aga Khan Foundation, Canada explores the topic of resilience in the face of crisis.
The pandemic has forced institutions of higher learning to re-think their future by challenging the suitability, viability, and sustainability of university-operating models. Institutions must reassess and adapt their strategies if they are to survive and thrive after the pandemic. Farah Nasser moderates a discussion between Dr. Jay Johnson, President of Simon Fraser University; Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President of Ryerson University; Dr. Graham Carr, President of Concordia University and Dr. Deborah MacLatchy, President of Wilfrid Laurier University.
Ismaili Centre Toronto: Frontiers of Science and Innovation Public Lecture Series Seeing the unseeable by Professor Avery Broderick, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy, recounts how the Event Horizon Telescope generates images, why scientists think they have finally seen a black hole, and what it all means. He tells the incredible tale of how a global collaboration of astronomers, physicists, and engineers literally traveled to the ends of the Earth to synthesize a telescope the size of the Earth, the only instrument capable of probing the staggeringly small scales presented by black holes.
A dialogue between the mayors of Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver on the way that the ongoing pandemic has shaped the way that they understand civic life.
We journey into the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver, where we explore the space through the lens of the architect Bruno Freschi. Through a virtual tour, and in conversation with CBC's Zahra Premji, Mr. Freschi shares his personal insights on how he brought to life Mawlana Hazar Imam's vision for the Centre, and what truly inspired him when he was designing this magnificent space. From the smallest details to the grandest idea, take a glimpse into the creative process that led to the design of the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver.
Originally held in person in Toronto for International Women’s Day, this panel of exceptional women outlines ways in which they achieved excellence in their respective fields.
Annual Milad-al-Nabi Lecture Presented by Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Inter-religious Studies, University of Edinburgh School of Divinity. This lecture was held at the Ismaili Centre, Toronto on 15 January 2019, to commemorate Milad-al-Nabi.
Ismaili Centre Lecture: New Visionary Voices The Architecture of Pluralism: The Aga Khan Gardens in Edmonton. Featuring a conversation with the Mayor of Edmonton and the President of the University of Alberta, with a dialogue between Thomas Woltz, the architect of the gardens, and Hanif Kara, Professor of Architecture and Design at Harvard.
A dialogue between the mayors of Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver on the way that the ongoing pandemic has shaped the way that they understand civic life.
Celebrate Eid al-Adha with an enchanting musical performance held at the Ismaili Centre Toronto in 2015. Dr. Karim Gillani and the Sufi Music Ensemble perform original compositions based on classical poems of the Mughal era with a theme of Rah-e-Ishq – The Path of Love. Using rich metaphors, symbols, and stories of the past, musical compositions, and interpretations of modern art, the ensemble echoed the sentiments of tolerance and acceptance of the Mughal civilisation. The musicians used a variety of traditional instruments such as the santur, tombak, sarangi, flutes, Indian tablas, harmonium, and keyboard.
This month marks 35 years of the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver. Join us in celebrating this milestone through a series of online events. Our second session features a special conversation with past and present institutional leaders. Moderated by CTV’s Nafeesa Karim, this promises to be an engaging discussion filled with insights into the history of the Ismaili Centre, alongside footage from the Centre’s archives. Past Council for Canada President Farouk Verjee and past Council for British Columbia President Bahadur Karim will share their experiences and fondest memories of the Centre’s opening ceremony. Discover the vision, conversations, and experiences that helped establish the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver as a keystone of our community in Canada. The session will close with Council for British Columbia President Samir Manji offering his reflections on the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver.
Healthy Moms, Healthy Families: Did you know women's health has a direct impact on the well-being of their families? Join us for a panel discussion with esteemed speakers from Women's College Hospital to learn about barriers in women's mental health, and for an inspiring discussion on new initiatives to help bridge these gaps.

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