Over the past weekend members of Canada’s Ismaili community gathered in communities across the country to engage in a day of civic engagement and voluntary service.

The Ismaili CIVIC Initiative is part of a larger effort by the Canadian Ismaili Community to volunteer their service to Canada in helping to improve the quality of life for their fellow Canadians.

The Ismaili CIVIC Initiative is part of a larger effort by the Canadian Ismaili Community to volunteer their service to Canada in helping to improve the quality of life for their fellow Canadians.

Last year, in celebration of both Canada’s 150th Anniversary and the Diamond Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan, the Canadian Ismaili community pledged to contribute 1 million hours of voluntary service to improving the quality of life for all Canadians. In cities across Canada including Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa Ismaili volunteers joined hands with a number of civil society organizations to improve the quality of life of Canadians across the country.

Samir Manji, President of the Ismaili Council for British Columbia expressed, “We in Canada have the privilege of living in a healthy vibrant democratic society. This is a rare opportunity and one that must be cherished dearly. We must actively participate in and contribute to the improvement of the societies, and the communities in which we live.

This, of course, is not only because of the value we place on the ethics of volunteerism but it is also our responsibility as citizens and as active members of Canadian society.”