[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]

Islamic Centre Of South Calgary New Masjid

Overview

South Musallah Society was formed in 2004 by a group of Muslims living in South Calgary (Queensland, Bow-Bottom, Acadia area etc). Key founders of this society included Br. Abdul Khaliq Khan, Br Nasir Samji, Br. Nayef Hattab, Br. Nisar Ahmed, Mohammad Afzal Khan, Sayyid Hussain and many more.

South Musallah Society operated out of a small rented facility in a Queensland strip mall accommodating approx. 85 people at a time. The facility catered for prayers, Quranic education, Halaqa’s, Potlucks and Taraweeh in Ramadan.

With the growth of Muslims in South of Calgary, the South Calgary Muslim Community decided to build a Masjid and an Islamic Center in deep South in 2005 to cater for the Muslim communities of South and deep South Calgary.

In 2009 ICSC acquired approximately ten-acre property at 16555 – 104th Street SE, just South of Highway 22X and approximately 2 km from the intersection of Stoney Trail East (Ring Road) and Hwy 22X. The land was situated outside the city and no area structure plan existed at the time; hence no construction could be undertaken without rezoning approval.

A project team was established to make this project a reality and after three years of endless efforts by the project team, the rezoning application was presented to City of Calgary council in September 2013. Multiple objections were raised by the City Council which were addressed by the project team and Al-Hamdulillah ICSC project received the historic, unprecedented approval from City for re-zoning.

ICSC project team submitted Development Permit application to the City of Calgary in May of 2015. After multiple reviews and design requirement iterations, the application was presented to city planning commission with the support of city planner and in August 2016 received conditional approval for issuance of Development Permit.

The project team worked diligently to satisfy all conditions and ICSC received the Development Permit in February 2019! Allahu-Akbar!

After a long unwavering journey, we are now in a position to move to construction phase. We have already applied for the Building Permit (required for construction) which will allow us to initiate construction at the site. Our engineering & design progress is 90% complete, and we are working towards issuing tender drawings for review to city and then for bids.

This is a critical time where we seek your support in terms of funding to make this project a reality. ICSC is asking for your generous donations and support to make this project a reality. This is going to be the first purpose built Islamic Centre in Calgary in 40 years (last being SW Masjid in 1977) and will serve our future generations.


Some Facts

  • Muslims arrived in Alberta in early 1900.
  • First Mosque was built in Edmonton, Alberta in 1938 with support of Muslims & other Faith groups.
  • City of Calgary is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, with current population of 1.3 Million – 2018 civic census
  • Around 100,000 Muslims live and call Calgary as a home (~8%) of the total population.
  • Currently there are few facilities to cater religious requirements of Muslims:
    • Southwest Masjid – 17th Avenue & Sarcee Trail SW
    • Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre and Calgary Islamic School – Barlow Trail & 37 Ave NE
    • Other small prayer facilities in the city
  • Last purpose-built Masjid in Calgary was in late 1970’s (approximately 40 years ago).
  • Islamic Centre of South Calgary will serve approximately 15,000 plus Muslims living in south of city and beyond.

Why We Need This Project

The Muslim population, especially in South Calgary has increased significantly in last 12 years. The people and especially our youth are suffering due to lack of adequate facilities and atmosphere that helps sustain our Islamic values and needs of the expanding community. We are already behind in having adequate Islamic Centre’s in Calgary which can cater for our future generations.

Due to the space limitation of current Musallah in Queensland, Friday prayers are held at McKenzie Towne Hall which accommodates maximum of 600 people in two separate Friday prayer times. Due to space constraints, Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan are held at three locations including Queensland Musallah, McKenzie Towne Centre & most recently LDS Church in Sundance.

At current South Musallah, ICSC holds a variety of regular activities and events at limited level to serve the Muslim Community of South Calgary. These include:

  • Calgary Quran School and weekly Sunday Quran classes for kids and sisters
  • Friday youth night
  • Monthly / Weekly educational Halaqas
  • Monthly community engagement gatherings and seminars
  • Ramadan and Eid programs
  • Arabic learning classes
  • Charitable activities as collection and distribution of food and other needs

Project Key Features

This project is based on phased construction. Current phase is focused on Masjid and Multi-purpose community hall. Based on future needs, additional phases will be developed once the city has an Area Structure Plan that will define further urban rezoning and extension of municipal services to the site. By limiting the scope of the initial development, the future Area Structure Plan would not be adversely impacted and makes it favorable for city to incorporate other proposed facilities into future planning as a “community focal point”.

Salient Features of South Islamic Centre are:

  • The design feature of this project is a blend of Islamic and local rural Alberta architecture.
  • It includes main Masjid, a Courtyard entrance in spirit of Islamic place of gathering, multi-purpose hall & gym, basement hall, library and other multi-purpose rooms.
  • Gross floor area 31,600 sq-feet.
  • Able to cater more than 1,300 Musalleens at a time (additional capacity for one-time events).
  • 209 cars and 19 bicycle parking stalls (future expansion to 500 utilizing west side of property).
  • Easy access from Stoney Trail East / 22X.

Project Phases, Cost, And Schedule

For the current phase of project (as stated above) rough-order of magnitude estimated cost is approx. $8+ Million CAD. This would cover cost for Masjid, Community Centre and Road / Intersection development. We are chartering a estimating and quantity surveying company to provide detailed cost estimates based on current detailed design development progression, pricing indices and execution strategy.

Below is a rendering of the project so far with the latest updates and features incorporated. Also latest updates from the team are posted below.

Update & Message From President – September 2016

Assalam-o-Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatahu,
(Peace on to you along with mercy and blessings of Lord Almighty)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, with the blessing and mercy of Allah SWT, we have achieved another historic milestone today in our long journey to build our South Islamic Centre for our deep South Muslim community and Muslims fo Calgary at large. Al-Hamdulillah it gives me great pleasure to share this exhilarating news with you that today in City of Calgary Planning Review Committee meeting, we received go ahead on the Development Permit for our project! Allahu-Akbar! (God is Greatest).

What this means is for all intensive purpose while we need to fulfill some requirements, we can now proceed ahead for site development and also work to apply for Construction Permit! We will be finally on a timeline to actually have ability to start construction at site in a few months.

We are now at that moment brothers and sisters where your full support is required for sake of Allah SWT, to give your generous offering to make this Islamic Centre of South Calgary a reality in the shortest possible time. Remember the unconditional promise Allah SWT made to us that whosoever builds a Masjid for Allah SWT, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise (Al-Bukhari 1:8:441). What better deal can we all get then this!

Insha-Allah ICSC board in coming days will work with our umbrella organization MCC who believe in empowerment of community members and grass root change, the city planners and our design consultant and other teams to move this project forward at best possible pace to start construction and then completion. We will be sharing more information on plans and the project in the coming months.

I would also like to thank the city of Calgary planning team and lead who worked with us, the committee for recognizing that the critical requirement of a religious place and centre for the South Muslim community, for guidance, support and standing by us Counsellor Shane Keating and his colleagues, our board and community for their continuous support, Brother Sharif Senbel our architect and consultant and last but not least the unwavering and hard work and resolve of brother Nisar Bhutto our Engineering Development Lead who has been the dynamic force behind this key achievement.

Once again on behalf of your board of Islamic Centre of South Calgary (ICSC) I wish you all congratulations on this occasion and pray to Allah SWT to help us all in every way to make this project a reality in the shortest possible time, Amen!

Jazzak-um-Allah Khairan!
Junaid Mahoon
President Islamic Centre of South Calgary (ICSC)

Update – November 2016

Assalam-o-Aleykum dear ICSC and community member ,

Al-Hamdulillah, we are closely working with the City of Calgary to fulfill next level of requirements leading to obtaining a Construction permit. In order to be proactive we see this is the right time to expand our Project team by re-forming our Project Committee as per our by-laws. This will help us to run our Islamic Centre project professionally and effectively.

For this reason we invite people from our community who time along with professional experience in project management, engineering, contracts, finance and marketing / fundraising, media to kindly submit their names to us for consideration.

Please fill in the following Registration form and submit this by 10th November 2016.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOURSELF

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]