Remarks by Princess Zahra Aga Khan at a luncheon at Government House in Edmonton, Alberta

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Your Honours Salma Lakhani, Dr Zaheer,

Premier Jason Kenney,

Minister Kaycee Madu,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It’s a privilege for me to be here on behalf of my father, His Highness the Aga Khan, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the significant presence of Ismaili Muslims here in Alberta, and in Canada. He has asked to convey his warm greetings and gratitude for the long history of partnership and collaboration between the province of Alberta and the Ismaili Imamat.

May I begin by thanking you, Premier Kenney, for your warm hospitality in hosting us here today, and for your support of the initiatives of the Imamat and the Ismaili community over so many years. We are deeply grateful.

We are also joined by Her Honour Salma Lakhani, whose personal journey is emblematic of what we are commemorating today. It is a story of transforming crisis into opportunity, of fleeing political instability in Uganda to forge a new and successful life here in Alberta – a life, I might add, marked by a commitment to service, generosity, and professional achievement.

Her Honour’s story, like that of countless others, is a testament to Canada’s extraordinary capacity to welcome newcomers, to enable their integration into the fabric of society while respecting their unique identities, and to provide an enabling environment for success and progress.

This is, in no small part, due to the open hearts and minds of individual Canadians, but also to the policies and strong institutional foundations established by government, civil society and the private sector.

These include the availability of and access to high quality education; a vibrant civil society; a commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law; an embrace of equity and compassion for those less fortunate; and critically the collective will to address shortcomings in any of these areas, as you are demonstrating, notably in relation to indigenous reconciliation as an example.

All of these, of course, are fortified by a deep and abiding commitment to pluralism, the notion that our diversity can be a magnificent asset upon which we can build respectful, stable and peaceful societies. With these components and others, Canada has shown the world that it is possible for new citizens to become engines of progress, growth, and leadership.

It is a privilege to be with you here today, and to express, on behalf of His Highness and the Ismaili community around the world, our gratitude for our permanent friendship. Thank you Alberta, and thank you Canada, for creating such fertile ground for improving the quality of life, not just for the Ismaili community, but for all peoples, regardless of their history, origin, or story.

Thank you.