Pioneering Canadian Muslim Leader Passes Away
Dr. Ahmet Fuad Sahin, a pioneering Canadian Muslim leader, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday November 4, 2019 at his home in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He was 97 years old.
Since immigrating to Canada in the late 1950s, Dr. Sahin was involved in public service and was the founder or co-founder of a number of major Muslim organizations in Canada.
These organizations include the Islamic Foundation of Toronto Inc., the Islamic Society of Niagara Peninsula, Islamic West Associates of Canada, Canadian Turkish Muslim Association, Council of Muslim Communities of Canada (CMCC) and IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation).
Dr. Sahin was born in Urfa, Turkey on September 6th, 1922. He arrived in Ontario in 1958 and became an internship resident in Kingston, Ontario.
In 1966, he became an urologist, affiliated with Greater Niagara General Hospital, Niagara Falls, Ontario, where he continued to practice until retirement.
Dr. Sahin’s community service and humanitarian work extended beyond the Muslim community with his active participation in such groups as the Christian – Jewish – Muslim Dialogue and the Christian Muslim Liaison Committee.
He also represented Canada at a number of international conferences on World Peace and World Religions. He served the Muslim community in Niagara Falls as a volunteer Imam of the Islamic Society of Niagara.
On January 22, 2009, Dr. Ahmet Fuad Sahin was named to the Order of Ontario for his contributions to community service. The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest official honor. It recognizes Ontarians who have made an outstanding contribution to society in Ontario and around the world.
On December 29, 2017, Dr. Fuad Sahin was appointed to the Order of Canada for his foundational leadership of Canada’s Muslim community, notably as the founder and former president of the International Development and Relief Foundation.
Dr. Sahin was the cherished husband of 65 years to Solmaz (nee Akinal) and devoted father of Selma Sahin (the late Curban Ali), Hulya (the late Mehmed) Imamovic, Leyla (Ihsan) Toker and Mustafa Sahin (Lisa Baroldi). He was the loving grandfather of Meryem, Ahmed and Zehra Imamovic.
He will be sadly missed by his siblings, Adnan, Kadri, and Zubeyda Sahin, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and surrogate family members in Canada and around the world.
Funeral services (janazah prayer) will be held after Salaat Zuhr (12:45 pm) on Tuesday November 5th, 2019 at the Islamic Society of Niagara followed by the burial at the Islamic Cemetery of Niagara.
Dr. Ahmet Fuad Sahin (C.M., O.Ont.) was a truly outstanding Canadian Muslim.