Saskatoon Muslim conference emphasizes peace
This year the community extended conference invites to Indigenous peoples
As the Muslim population in Saskatchewan grows, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are looking to strengthen its community relationships.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Canada held their annual western Canadian conference this weekend at the Henk Ruys Soccer Center in Saskatoon.
"Every now and then we want to refresh our values," said Lal Khan Malik, national president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at of Canada.
"We want to remind our members that these are the values for which we stand: We refresh our spirituality … and we develop friendships."
This year, the community extended conference invites to Indigenous peoples, and Malik said he hopes that will help create a special relationship between the two cultures.
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After the recent terror attack in Edmonton made news headlines around the world, Malik said conferences like this one are crucial in understanding the importance of peace among practicing Muslims.
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"I think one of the reasons we find restlessness in society is that various communities have very little knowledge of one another," he said.
"So, we are playing the part of building bridges. We are bringing people together through inter-faith events."
The conference aims to provide a unique spiritual experience through scholarly lectures, discussions and special exhibitions.
About 3,000 participants are expected to attend.