24/07/2026
His Highness the Aga Khan with his sons Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan and Mayor Jeromy Farkas at the White Hat Ceremony upon their arrival in Calgary today. Photo courtesy AKDN / Akbar Hakit
More than 20,000 people will attend private gatherings in Calgary on Friday with the Aga Khan, who arrived here Thursday afternoon as part of his first official visit to Western Canada.
The visit by His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V reflects a long-standing partnership between Canada and the Ismaili Imamat, as well as shared values and a common commitment to a more prosperous, just and inclusive world, organizers of the visit said in a news release on Thursday.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini became the 50th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims following the death of his father, his Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, a global philanthropist and spiritual leader who died Feb. 4, 2025, at age 88.
Aga Khan in Calgary
His Highness the Aga Khan with his sons Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan and Mayor Jeromy Farkas at the White Hat Ceremony upon their arrival in Calgary today. Photo courtesy AKDN / Akbar Haki
More than 20,000 people will attend private gatherings in Calgary on Friday with the Aga Khan, who arrived here Thursday afternoon as part of his first official visit to Western Canada.
The visit by His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V reflects a long-standing partnership between Canada and the Ismaili Imamat, as well as shared values and a common commitment to a more prosperous, just and inclusive world, organizers of the visit said in a news release on Thursday.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini became the 50th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims following the death of his father, his Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, a global philanthropist and spiritual leader who died Feb. 4, 2025, at age 88.
The Ismaili Imamat is the office of hereditary leadership held by successive imams who are direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad through his son-in-law, the first Shia Imam, Hazrat Ali.
“The visit will include meetings with government officials, participation in significant community milestones and private gatherings with members of the Ismaili community,” the news release noted. “During these gatherings, members of the community will have the opportunity to be in the presence of their Imam and receive guidance related to the practise of their faith, and to improving the quality of life for their families and the societies in which they live.”
Following his Calgary visit, the Aga Khan will head to Vancouver for additional gatherings.
“For the community, this is a visit of deep spiritual significance,” said Taleeb Noormohamed, MP for Vancouver Granville. “It’s the first time that many members of the community will be meeting the new imam.”
Noormohamed said that while the Aga Khan is there, an agreement with the federal government will be signed related to housing, and there will be work with the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, for which details will be announced at a later date.
He noted that the Ismaili community around the world is connected by a shared value and ethics system, and the imam’s role is to provide guidance on matters of faith so they can continue to live by their ethics in a changing world.
According to the Ismaili Council of Canada, the Aga Khan is particularly committed to the Aga Khan Development Network’s work to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Aga Khan Development Network is an international philanthropic foundation with nearly 100,000 employees worldwide that funds social, economic and cultural development programs, largely in Asia and Africa.
