Toronto Mosque to distribute food baskets to mark end of Ramadan
(Toronto, ON) – Scadding Court Community Centre and Masjid Toronto will be continuing their successful project to educate the general public about Islam and Muslims by distributing packages of food to celebrate Eid to residents in a low-income neighborhood.
Scadding Court serves the Alexandra Park community which is composed of Atkinson Housing Co-operative and two Toronto Community Housing buildings where the majority of residents live on a fixed income.
The Eid packages will include food supplies and a brochure about Eid, Ramadan and Hajj, translated into three languages (Chinese, Vietnamese and Bengali).
Last year, over 1,000 packages of food were distributed by 150 volunteers in one night.
On Wednesday, September 8, volunteers will meet at Alexandra Park Community Centre to assemble and distribute the Eid packages.
Residents object to proposed Edmonton Islamic Centre
(May 3, 2010) – Residents in the Edmonton area neighbourhood of Lessard are opposing a plan by Muslims to convert a failed strip mall into an Islamic school and mosque.
The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) paid $5.2 million earlier this year for the two-story, 160 unit Lessard Mall and plans to renovate the building for a variety of uses, including a school, mosque, day care, youth centre and retail businesses.
The facility is rundown and mostly vacant, with only three small businesses in the two-storey structure.
However, some Lessard residents think that MAC’s plans for the site will lead to traffic congestions and insists that is the reason they are opposing the proposal.
“The issue was never, ever, about faith or about certain beliefs. Not at all. The issue is purely civic and neighbourly,” said Safwat Girgis, the author of the petition told CBC news.
MAC spokesperson, Ali Assaf, told the Edmonton Journal that his group chose the location because there was a need for an Islamic centre and school in that part of the west end.
He acknowledges the project will bring in more traffic to the neighborhood but disputed residents’ estimates that 700 vehicles could show up at one time.
“I think it will accommodate that many with the parking lot we have,” Assaf told the Journal.
“Any time a school goes up anywhere there is always concern no matter who is doing it. People don’t like traffic and that around their homes.”
Muslim Organizations Hold Joint ‘Help Haiti’ Benefit Event
(Jan 22, 2010) – A number of Muslim organizations are holding a joint benefit dinner for Haiti this Sunday in Mississauga.
The fund raiser is jointly sponsored by Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), Faith of Life Network, ICNA Relief, ISNA Canada and Muslim Association of Canada (MAC).
The event will take place on Sunday 24 at 5:30 p.m. at ISNA Canada Centre, 2200 South Sheridan Way, Mississauga.
Speakers include Sheikh Alaa Elsayed, Sheikh Abdalla Idris Ali, and Sheikh Ahmed Shehab.
Advance registration is requested as seats are limited; Contact: ISNA: 905-403-8406.
Toronto Muslims to celebrate Eid ul-Adha by helping poor in the city
(November 23, 2009) – Toronto’s Muslims will be distributing meat to needy and low-income families in the city as part of the celebration of Eid ul-Adha which takes place on Friday, November 27.
Eid ul-Adha (‘Celebration of Sacrifice’), also known as the Greater Eid, marks the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah.
The annual celebration is the world-wide commemoration of the spirit of sacrifice of the Prophet Abraham many centuries ago. In memory of this great act of faith, Muslims perform a sacrifice (Udhiya/Qurbani) and share the meat with family, friends and the needy.
Most Muslims in Canada tend to perform the Udhiya/Qurbani sacrifice overseas by contributing to a relief agency that would perform the sacrifice and distribute the meat on their behalf in a developing country.
Recently, there has been a growing awareness in the Muslim community of the need to help those living in poverty in Canada.
MuslimServ, a charity dedicated to helping the poor, will be collecting Udhiya/Qurbani donations to perform the sacrifice in the Greater Toronto Area for distribution to the food bank starting on Friday.
“Qurbani will be conducted by Muslims and cutting of meat will take place at a federally inspected meat packing plant,” according to the MuslimServ website. “It will have a label identifying it as halal meat and donated by Canadian Muslims.”
Last year, MuslimServ donated 11,000 lbs of meat to the food bank.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) and Muslim Students’ Association of the University of Toronto are coming together with Scadding Court Community Centre to celebrate Eid ul-Adha with a communal lunch and Eid party on Sunday, November 29th.
“We will celebrate this tradition by hosting an Eid party and distributing meat to pre-registered families from low-income housing areas in downtown Toronto,” according to Scadding Court Community Centre.
Founded in March 1975, Scadding Court Community Centre is located at the corner of Dundas and Bathurst streets and adjacent to the Atkinson Cooperative Housing Complex.
Scadding Court’s programs target under-serviced, culturally diverse groups such as low-income families, at-risk children and youth, newcomers, people living with disabilities, seniors and the un/underemployed.
Toronto Mosque to distribute Eid food baskets to inner city neighborhood
(September 17, 2009) – A Toronto mosque, Masjid Toronto, will celebrate the end of Ramadan by distributing food baskets on Friday to households in the Atkinson Co-op community where the majority of residents live on a fixed income.
“Islamic tradition strongly encourages that Muslims serve their community by giving in charity and being close to those members of the community that may be less fortunate,” says Abdussalam Nakua, Head of GTA-Muslim Association of Canada Chapter, which operates Masjid Toronto.
“This custom of charity is recommended at all times of the year, but is even more important during the month of Ramadan and during the Eid celebration,” he added.
This year, Eid –ul- Fitr, the celebration which marks the end of Ramadan, will be observed on Sunday, September 20th.
The distribution of the ‘Eid baskets’ is being done in conjunction with the Scadding Court Community Centre.
“This initiative builds on work done by Scadding Court in food security, diversity, community education and community engagement” says Mr. Kevin Lee, Executive Director of Scadding Court, who adds that ”As an agency and a community we celebrate Black History Month, the Asian Lunar New Year and other cultural events – the time has come to include Eid.”
On Friday September 18th, 150 volunteers from Masjid Toronto, Scadding Court and the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) of the University of Toronto will assemble the Eid food baskets with non-perishable food items and then distribute them to households in the Atkinson Co-op community.
“We are hoping to distribute 850 Eid food baskets which will include food supplies and a brochure about Eid, Ramadan and Hajj, translated into three languages (Chinese, Vietnamese and Bengali),” said Mona Elshayal, one of the volunteers.
Afterwards, all volunteers will return to Scadding Court where they will break the fast together at sunset and share a meal prepared by the Scadding Court Greenhouse Café.
Related links:
Scadding Court Community Centre
Canadian Muslims getting ready for Eid
(September 16, 2009) – Canadian Muslims are getting ready to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr this coming weekend.
In Toronto, thousands of Muslims will be gathering on Sunday, September 20 at the CNE Direct Energy Center for the Eid prayers which will be followed by a day-long carnival.
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and is celebrated starting on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
It is a day of thanksgiving, prayers and for giving charity, and includes family visits and exchange of gifts.
Some Muslim communities in the country have announced that they will be celebrating Eid on Sunday, September 20 in accordance with the ruling of the Fiqh Council of North America.
The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) recognizes astronomical calculation as an acceptable method for determining the beginning of lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal.
Other Muslim organizations that follow the sighting of the new moon in North America will be waiting until Saturday evening to determine the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Association of Canada, the organizer of the CNE Eid, is planning an extensive program of activities and a food drive for Toronto Muslims.
The event will commence with the Eid Prayers at 10:00 am.
Following the prayer there will be a carnival including rides, inflatables, video games, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a toddler zone, sports, games and tournaments, shows, and many more exciting activities.
There will also be a bazaar featuring the products and services from over 50 businesses in and around the GTA.
For more information visit http://www.gtaeid.com/
