Canadian Muslims took a big step forward when 42 Muslim organizations of the National Capital Region joined to honor 20 area Muslims who have received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award. This is the first time that all the region's major Muslim groups co-sponsored an event, to which they invited Members of Parliament and of the Ontario legislature, local imams, Muslim diplomats who are usually cut off from local Muslims, leaders of other faith groups, and the media. The event showed how far Muslims have come in the nation's capital. The Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA) was formed in 1962. Muslims at that time prayed in churches. Now about a dozen mosques overflow with worshippers and Muslims number some 65,000 people. Some Muslim groups administer impressive programs. What they had lacked was unity or at least working together. The Muslim Coordinating Council (MCC) of the National Capital Region was formed about four years ago to meet this need. It includes Shia, Sunni, women's, student and ethnic organizations representing the Afars to Yemenis. MCC's bylaws state that the executive committee, elected by member organizations, must include a Shia vice-president, chosen by the Shia member organizations. They stipulate that the executive committee must include women, students and youth (preferably chosen by student member organizations) and Canadians or immigrants of African origin. No person can serve in the same position for more than three consecutive terms. The organization's e-mails go to anybody who wishes to receive them and provide useful information about events and issues important to the community. Anybody can attend meetings of the MCC's executive committee or of delegates of member organizations. About 40 Muslim organizations have joined. There are no membership fees and MCC has not arranged a fundraising dinner to avoid competition with member organizations which are building mosques. MCC's expenses are met by donations by its executive committee members and volunteers. Last year the Canadian government announced that it would award the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals to 60,000 Canadians - 6,000 in each of the 10 provinces. Only Senators, members of the House of Commons, provincial premiers and 250 partner organizations selected by the Department of Canadian Heritage could make the nominations. No Muslim organization of the National Capital Region was considered worthy to be chosen as a partner organization. However, Ontario decided that it would accept nominations from the public and choose the best among Ontarians. Member of the Provincial Assembly from Ottawa Center Yasir Naqvi sent this information to his constituents. MCC selected 50 Muslims who met the award's criteria. Since only individuals could make the nominations, MCC volunteers led by its awards committee chair nominated the 50. MCC thanked Mr. Naqvi and urged all member organizations to make their own nominations as well. Ten of MCC's nominees were selected among the roughly 22 Muslims chosen from the area, showing that Muslims are contributing to Canada in every field. MCC planned a function with its member organizations to recognize the Muslim recipients. Then OMA Imam Samy Metwally and President Mohammed Ghadban offered to honor them at a joint function with MCC at the OMA mosque. This restricted participants to only 150 because of fire regulations, but having the function in Ottawa's first mosque was symbolic. President Ghadban offered to be the Master of Ceremonies. MCC agreed provided all its member organization were invited to be co-hosts. MCC also decided to give awards at the function to MCC's most dedicated volunteers as well as to the pioneers who helped build Ottawa's first mosque. MCC chose the Mohammed Ghadban, Husain Ghadbane and the Nusret Bajkosalaj families, who had toiled hard in the 1960s and 1970s to build the Muslim community and Ottawa's first mosque, to be so honored. MCC invited all Muslim organizations and all agreed to be co-hosts except two who did not respond. MCC invited all recipients and also MPs, the Mayor, MPPs, city councillors, RCMP and police, Muslim embassies, interfaith leaders and the media. Imam Metwally contacted Muslim embassies, and OMA provided refreshments. The function won praise from the Mayor, MPs and others who attended. The media provided favorable coverage. Not everything went smoothly, however. Under the agreed program, Imam Ahmed Limame of Gatineau was to present the French translation of the opening prayer. MCC secretary Dr. Syed Aziz was to direct the presentation of awards to MCC's volunteers and to the pioneers who helped build the first mosque, especially because MCC had proposed the idea and had selected the recipients. MCC's founding president was to present the concluding remarks to thank the governments of Canada and Ontario, MPP Yasir Naqvi (who made the awards possible), the sponsoring organizations, imams and guests and to highlight Muslims' ongoing contributions to Canada. But inexplicably these were dropped from the program. Still, the function went well, illustrating the benefits of working together. It also showed weaknesses that Muslim organizations must overcome if they are to attain sophistication, success and respect. — Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan is a retired Canadian journalist, civil servant and refugee judge. He has received the Order of Canada, Order of Ontario and the Queen's Diamond and Golden Jubilee Medals.
