New Mosque opens in Ottawa

(January 4, 2015) – Today was a proud day for Ottawa’s Muslim community as they officially opened their newest Mosque, the South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC) Masjid in Barrhaven.

“This Community Center and the masjid will be a welcoming home to many Ottawa-Gatineau Muslim families, brothers, sisters, youths, kids and seniors as well as our valued main stream neighbors,” said Dr. Emdad Khan, President of SNMC. “All are welcome to take part and enjoy spiritual, social, educational, sports activities and programs as individual, family and community setting for years to come.”

It has been 16 years since the Muslim community started the project to build 1,500-square-metre mosque on Woodroffe Avenue. The facility will include a mosque, multi-purpose halls, library, fitness areas and a mortuary to prepare bodies for funerals.

“The first 8 years, starting June 1999, we worked to build the SNMC Community as a multi-ethnic, multi-fiqh, diverse but inclusive community by providing spiritual, social, educational, sports and family support services to brothers, sisters, youth, seniors and kids in our community,” said Dr. Khan.

“The second 8 years, starting January 2007, we witnessed a dedicated marathon of efforts to build the mortar an brick SNMC Masjid and Community Center, at a prime location as one of the most beautiful landmark building at the heart of South West end of Canada’s capital Ottawa, Barrhaven.”

Dr. Khan said the SNMC Centre will cost around $7 million and has completely been funded by donations from local community members. Khan added that more than 50,000 people from across the country also donated to the project.

“By the Grace of God and the dedication of 500 plus volunteers and generous donations of 50,000 donors of the Ottawa Gatineau, all of Canada and beyond, SNMC was able to complete this project,” noted Dr. Khan.

“This marks a new chapter for our 80,000 Ottawa-Gatineau Muslim community, in particular for 10,000 Muslims in Barrhaven.”