Dr. Habib Kurwa, an Ismaili who is an associate professor at the U of C, says one of the key elements of his faith is “to give of your time, your knowledge and your means to the betterment of the community.”Photograph by: Lorraine Hjalte, Calgary Herald, Calgary Herald
W hen Naheed Nenshi was recently elected mayor of Calgary, much was made nationally and internationally of the fact he was the first Muslim mayor of a major Canadian city.
And that focused attention on the new mayor’s faith connection. Many people were not aware of the Ismaili Muslim faith tradition, but it has been an important part of the community in Calgary for decades.
Dr. Habib Kurwa, a dermatologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary’s medical school, says there are about 10,000 Ismaili Muslims in the city and that number has grown with the city’s population. “There is a strong ethic of volunteerism and giving time to strengthen society,” he says.
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“One of the key elements is to give of your time, your knowledge and your means to the betterment of the community. And that’s the wider community — if you like, the principle is ‘a rising tide raises all boats.’
“His Highness has always guided the community to engage in strengthening the wider community through volunteerism. So you see the community engaged with agencies like United Way, Habitat for Humanity.”
Read posts on first Ismaili Mayor in Canada
- Profile: Naheed Nenshi steps into Canadian history – Digital Journal
- Media coverage on Ismaili Muslim elected mayor of the third-largest city in Canada
- Calgary’s Naheed Nenshi becomes Canada’s first Muslim mayor – The Globe and Mail
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