Photo: IPL / Akbar Hakim
by Imtiaz Popat
Rahim Shah, Aga Khan V during his first visit to Vancouver as the 50th Imam of Ismaili Muslims, agreements housing and support of multigenerational senior care and global sustainability were signed.
A ceremony under the banner of “Building Together,” hosted by Ismaili news anchors Omar Sachedina from CTV and Zarah Premji from CBC, brought together the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable David Eby, Premier of British Columbia; and provincial and local government representatives, alongside project partners, volunteers, and Ismaili leaders and the Aga Khan Development Network.
“We signed an Memorandums of Understanding between Build Canada Homes and the Ismaili Council for Canada to advance multi-generational housing and community infrastructure, including a new arts and sports complex in Burnaby,” said Anand. “We unveiled the plaque for Generations British Columbia, the latest expansion of the Ismaili Council’s housing initiative across Canada. It will provide homes for hundreds of families while bringing seniors, young families and children together in one community”, she said.
Guests witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding. The first, between Build Canada Homes and the Ismaili Council for Canada, advances the development of affordable, multi-generational housing through the Generations model—homes paired with the supports that enable a community to thrive, including long-term and supportive care, primary healthcare, community kitchens, and early childhood development centres.
The second, between FinDev Canada and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, advances sustainable and inclusive economic growth in developing countries—focusing on infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture and financial services, across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Canada is stronger because of your contributions. Canada is stronger because of your generosity. Canada is stronger because of your commitment to human betterment and success in every aspect of human development and evolution. And I thank you, and we thank you, sincerely,” said Anand.
In his address, the Aga Khan explained why combining affordable housing, care and community makes sense in today’s world. “As Ismaili Muslims,” he said, “our understanding of Islam is that faith should find expression in efforts to improve the quality of human life, and that self-reliance and service should reinforce one another. The projects we commemorate today bring this ethic to life.”
“New homes, care for seniors, and early learning will be brought together in ways that strengthen connection across generations,” he added. “The relationship between homes, shared spaces, and places of care and learning will give physical form to dignity, openness, and community,” he said.
Generations, a national not-for-profit approach to intergenerational living inspired by the values of compassion, dignity and service, seeks to create places where children, families, adults, and seniors can live with greater connection.
Upcoming Generations projects will be conceived with environmental sustainability in mind. Each building will be energy efficient, will prioritise local labour and materials—recycled as much as possible—and will feature gardens. Plantings will be carefully selected to feature local vegetation and support pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds.
“We’re excited to see Generations Vancouver taking shape,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. “It’s an inspiring example of how thoughtful community building can address some of our greatest challenges,” he added, calling it “a best-in-class, mixed-use community hub where residents can live, learn, socialise, and support each other in an intergenerational setting,” he said.
On behalf of the City of Vancouver, Mayor Sim also presented the special honour of a Civic Merit Medallion to the Aga Khan. The award, unanimously ratified by the City Council, acknowledges the Ismaili Imamat’s distinguished service to humanity.
Rooting the work of the Ismaili Imamat and community in its values, Premier Eby paid tribute to the Aga Khan’s leadership in challenging times.
“Your Highness, your continued commitment to the values of peace, environmental sustainability, to lifting people out of poverty, your commitment to these values is an example to all of us, in this time of uncertainty, that the path forward is not to abandon these values, but instead, to hold tight to them as the anchors that will keep us safe in a storm, and will keep us together, and ensure the prosperity of not just this amazing province and not [just] this country, but the entire world,” he said.
The Aga khan and Prime Minister Mark Carney during his visit to Canada earlier this year announced a series of new initiatives aimed at expanding affordable housing in Canada and strengthening international development partnerships.
The joint declaration built on long standing partnership between Canada and the Ismailli Imamat rooted in shared priorities around economic inclusion, global development and community building. The initiative aims to accelerate and development o affordable housing by aligning government support with long-term investment form the Ismaili Imamat.
The Aga Khan inaugurated the Generations initiative in Toronto during his earlier visit. The initiative is a global effort aimed at enhancing the quality of life for the elderly. In Ontario, the Generations Toronto Campus is a significant part of this initiative, offering a multi-generational community complex that includes a long-term care home with 122 beds, designed to provide culturally appropriate care. The Campus also features 390 affordable homes and community services, reflecting a community-focused approach to housing and healthcare. The new agreement signed in Vancouver will expand on the this initiative in British Columbia.
The Aga Khan’s involvement in this project underscores the importance of the family and community bonds with dignity and joy. Rahim Shah’s commitment to these initiatives is a continuation of the commitments his father Karim Shan who passed away last year.
Canada is home to more that 120, 000 Ismaili Muslims that have come from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and East Africa.
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