Canadian Muslims are celebrating one of the holiest event of the year with prayers, meals, and charity.
Today, Muslim communities across Canada are celebrating Eid ul-Adha, marking the end of the Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
Eid ul-Adha is a time to gather with family and friends, share a special meal, provide aid to those in need, and reflect on the meaning of sacrifice.
Throughout the country, Canadian Muslims are celebrating with carnivals, games, food, and bazaars. Mosques are offering communal religious ceremonies and services.
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There are more than 1 million Muslims in Canada. It is the second-largest religion in the nation after Christianity. Most Muslims live in Canada’s largest cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary.
An often-cited 2016 Environics survey suggests that Muslims are more proud of being Canadian than the overall population and that the source of their pride comes from Canada’s freedom and democracy.
Daniel Stockemer’s book Muslims in the Western World further analyzes that Muslims in Canada show a comparatively high level of satisfaction with their lives, and feel Canada treats them better than comparable Western countries.
Muslims have lived in Canada since 1871 when the Census found 13 European Muslims among the population. Then in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1934 the first Muslim organization was registered by immigrants from Lebanon. The first mosque was established in 1938 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Although there was a small increase in the Muslim population following World War II, Muslim immigration picked up in the 1960s and 1970s after Canada removed the discriminatory tiered immigration system which gave preference to immigrants from western European nations. Instead, Canada shifted to a points-based system that assessed immigrants on economic factors such as work experience, education, and language ability.
Throughout their long history in Canada, Muslims have contributed to the nation’s politics, business, sport, art, entertainment, journalism, science, and all other aspects of Canadian culture.
There are a number of resources and services run by Muslims for Muslims to help people feel welcome. If you are searching for Eid-related activities in Canada, check your local events guides online or ask a member of the community.
If you’re planning to be in Canada next Eid al-Adha, here are some resources and groups that offer services for Muslims:
- Muslimlink.ca offers a directory for Muslims to connect in 16 different cities across Canada.
- Canadian Council of Muslim Women is an organization with chapters all over Canada dedicated to the empowerment, equality and equity of all Muslim women.
- National Council of Canadian Muslims is a non-partisan and non-profit organization that protects Canadian human rights and civil liberties, and challenges discrimination and Islamophobia.
- Muslim Welfare Canada runs food banks, meals on wheels programs for seniors, and shelters for women and children as well as refugees.
- Salaam Canada is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ Muslims.
- Canadian Islamic Broadcasting Network is an online radio station that provides Islamic talk programming.
