Eid Al-Adha Celebrations
Annual Eid Al-Adha celebrations have occurred at Queens Park since 1998. Started by Mobeen Khaja, today they are a staple of the Canadian-Muslim community
Queens Park Celebration Time Line
TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL EID-UL-FITR CELEBRATIONS
2005-2010
Ninth
Eid Celebration
December 9 2005
Honourable Senator Vivienne Poy who is also the Chancellor of the University of Toronto, was the keynote speaker and award recipient at these celebrations. The Association paid tribute to her for her "OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENTS AS A BUSINESS WOMAN, SENATOR AND CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, YOUR WORK AS AN ADVOCATE FOR VISIBLE MINORITIES AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, AND FOR PROMOTING GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ASIAN CANADIAN CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS CANADA DURING ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH IN MAY”.
Senator Poy was presented with a plaque and Keith Sanduluk's polar bear sculpture.
1999-2004
Second
Eid Celebration
April 9 1999
The 1st Eid Celebrations at Queen’s Park were organized by Mobeen Khaja in 1998. At the 2nd annual celebrations, Premier Mike Harris, Hon. Roy McMurtry, Chief Justice of Ontario, several Ontario Cabinet Ministers, Members of Federal and Provincial Parliaments, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, and many other dignitaries attended.
His Excellency, Dr. Mohammed R. Al-Husseini, Ambassador for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was the Keynote Speaker.
2011-2016
Fifteenth
Eid Celebration
September 9 2011
The celebrations were held in the Ontario Room, McDonald Block. There was a sit down dinner this time. The evening was a pleasant one with a delicious dinner, beautiful decor, colourfully dressed ladies and lively conversations.
H. E. Farid Shafiyev, Ambassador of Azerbaijan, did the citation. The National Anthem was sung by young Niam Vora. Sheikh Faisal Abdur-Razak did the opening dua.
His Excellency Rafet Akgünay, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey was recognized for his "DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS AMBASSADOR TO CANADA AND YOUR PASSION TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY."
His Excellency Rafet Akgünay was presented with a plaques and with the Sandulak's polar bear sculpture. In his Keynote Address, he said that "One of the meanings of the word, Islam, is “Peace”, major Islamic states in history, such as the Ottoman Empire, always prioritized ‘the peaceful existence’ of different religious communities within their rulings. Before the notions of democracy, human rights or multiculturalism, as we understand today, was even developed, Turks embraced the eternal Islamic values of humanity, peace, progress, justice and empathy."
Seventeenth
Eid Celebration
November 16 2011
2017 - 2018
Twenty First
Eid Celebration
September 13 2017
The 21st annual Eid celebrations at Queen's Park were held again in Rooms 228 and 230, 2nd Floor of the Main Legislative building. More than 40 Members of the Provincial Parliament from all political parties attended this lunch reception.
Mobeen Khaja, President of APMC welcomed everyone and Yumna Siddiqi, APMC's Secretary General, spoke about the outreach work the Association is doing specially to get youth more involved.
This year, we were delighted to have H.E. Nadir Patel, High Commissioner for Canada to India and Ambassador for Canada to Nepal and Kingdom of Bhutan who said few words. Zaib Shaikh, Imam of the CBC's hit show 'Little Mosque on the Prairie' also joined us - he had just returned after performing Hajj. Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of Hill + Knowlton Strategies was also present.
Consul Generals, Mr. Erdeniz Sen of Turkey, Mr. Jauhar of Sri Lanka, H.E. Sultan Al Harbi of UAE, Mr. Hadi Prambrastoro of Indonesia, Ms. Anne Sheshadri and Ms. Jeanne Geers, from Public Affairs, United States, Mr. Bimo Ariawan from the Indonesian Consulate and Mr. Anes Rachid from the UAE Consulate represented the Diplomatic Corps. Retired Chief Armand La Barge was the Master of Ceremonies.
2016-2022
Twenty First
Eid Celebration
September 20 2016
The celebrations were held in the new Room 200 in the Sir John Mcdonald Building on Wellington Street. The Keynote Speaker was His Excellency Nadir Patel, High Commissioner for Canada to India, Nepal and Kingdom of Bhutan. Retired Chief Armand La Barge was the Master of Ceremonies.
Many Members of Parliament attended. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in New York at the United Nations, Hon. William Francis Morneau, Minister of Finance represented the Government.
His Excellency Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Nuncio, Ambassador of Holy Sea (Vatican) said Grace before dinner. Sandulak's polar bears were presented to both H. E. Nadir Patel and H. E. Luigi Bonazzi.
Goldy Hyder introduced H.E. Nadir Patel. The keynote address was very interesting as it was about Canada's role in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
