Masjid Project

Background:

Islamic Centre of South Calgary (ICSC) has been operating out of a small, rented facility in a Queensland strip-mall since 2004 (At that time name of society was South Musallah Society). It can only accommodate approximately 85 people at a time. The Muslim population has almost doubled since 2005. Therefore, this facility is inadequate to fulfil the needs of the Muslim community.

Muslim Community from South Calgary had aspired to build a facility of their own where they could offer daily prayers, hold Friday and Eid Prayer Congregations, youth could assemble and community could benefit from Halaqas, Quranic / Islamic Education, and other community and interfaith activities.

In 2009, ICSC acquired approximately ten acre of land with a property in SE Calgary with the intent to develop the Islamic Centre of South Calgary. The site is located at 16555 – 104th Street SE. The land was situated outside city and no area structure plan existed, hence no construction could be undertaken without rezoning approval.

No one knew at that time the long, stepwise journey ICSC community was embarking on to make this project a reality. Al-Hamdulillah, we have it rezones, with Development Permit and Building (Construction Permit) in hand as a result of persistent and tireless effort by the select team of people.

With help of Allah and community support, Early/enabling works was completed at the masjid site in early Fall 2022. The enabling works includes site clearing, grading, water retaining pond for fire hydrant system.

Plans
3D Rendition Videohttps://youtu.be/ogYRew3LjTo

Schedule (New Phase 1 Only):

Phase 1

June 1, 2023

ICSC - MCC meeting

At the meeting it was made sure that ICSC and MCC are on the same page, and we are confident that we will achieve our goals together. We had an in-depth discussion and reached an agreement on several important points:

• ICSC will be organizing a community session for volunteers who will work towards fundraising and project execution.• ICSC will now be moving the South Masjid Project into the project execution phase. In this regard, ICSC will suggest a team of community volunteers to be sent to MCC for approval. This team should include volunteers from different quadrants of Calgary. They will create work packages and plan the work for the next 8-9 months. Some of the initial tasks include, but are not limited to:

Basement and concrete work
Procurement of steel
Fencing of the South Masjid site.

April 8, 2023
Construction of ICSC Masjid Project approved at the Scheduled Special General body Meeting (SGM)
- MCC/MAC held the Special General body Meeting (SGM), to be held April 8th, 2023 at Akram Jumuah Center gym after Zuhr prayer at 2:30PM.
- Al-hum-du-lillah after a many years of continuous struggle of many community members, MAC/ MCC and ICSC board, hundreds of Muslims eye witnessed this historic milestone and the Islamic Center of South Calgary was approved unanimously by the Muslim community of Calgary.
- Only MCC and it’s centers members were permitted attend the meeting and cast vote.
- ICSC board in consensus with MCC board made a presentation prepared at the SGM.
- Video of the SGM event can be found HERE.
- NEXT STEPS: ICSC to start fundraising for the masjid project and start construction soon.
March 17, 2023
Scheduled Special General body Meeting (SGM) for Construction of ICSC Masjid Project
- MCC called Special General body Meeting (SGM) for seeking community approval to start construction of the ICSC Masjid Project, to be held April 8th, 2023 at Akram Jumuah Center gym after Zuhr prayer at 2:30PM.
- Only MCC and it’s centers members will be permitted to attend the meeting and cast vote.
- ICSC board in consensus with MCC board prepared a presentation to be delivered at the SGM.
- The presentation can be found HERE:
- Video of the proposed ICSC Masjid project can be found HERE.
- NEXT STEPS: Calgary community to grant approval at the SGM on April 8, 2023 So, construction of the ICSC masjid project can be started in summer 2023, in-sha-Allah.
Feb 25 , 2023
ICSC Masjid Project TownHall and South community family event
- ICSC organized South Community family event and Project Townhall on February 25, 2023 at Acadia Recreation Complex (240 90 Ave SE Calgary, AB, Canada).
- More than 350 Muslims from south Calgary attended this event.
- MCC baord members: Chairman, General Secretary, and other board of directors attended the event.
- President, ICSC shared the ICSC masjid project plan with the attendees.
- A booth was set up in the hall to answer questions from the attendees regarding the ICSC masjid project.
- MCC/MAC representative announced that they will be calling the SGM soon.
- Video recording of the whole event can be found HERE
- ACTION: MAC to call SGM soon for seeking community approval to start construction of the ICSC masjid project.
Feb 6th , 2023
ICSC board met with MCC/MAC to organize SGM
- After completing the early/enabling work at the ICSC masjid site in December 2022, ICSC board had been working with MCC/MAC to call an Special General members meeting (SGM) to seek community consent to start construction of the project in Spring, 2023.
- ICSC board submitted MCC/MAC all requested documentation related to the project.
- A meeting between ICCS and MCC/MAC boards was held on February 6, 2023, 6:00PM at MCC office at NE, Calgary. At the meeting ICSC board members presented the project plan and ICSC readiness of the ICSC masjid project. ICSC requested MCC/MAC board to call an SGM to get approval of south community for starting the masjid project construction as soon as possible. [Access the presentation here: Presentation_ICSC-MCC_meeting_Feb 6 2023]
  - ICSC was directed to organize a south community gathering and Town Hall to so show that he south community is interested in the ICSC masjid project. [Reason of this direction was lack of south community participation in the SGM called by MCC/MAC on July 31, 2022, where only 15 persons participated from south communities.]
  - If considerable community shows up in the Town Hall then MCC would call SGM.
- ACTION: ICSC organized South Community family event and Project Townhall for February 25, at Acadia Recreation Complex.
Dec 10 , 2022
Early/Enabling Work completed at the ICSC Masjid site
Alhum du Lillah.! Enabling/Early work was completed at the ICSC Masjid site. Approximate cost of this work was $150,000
Oct 5, 2022
Early/Enabling Work started at the ICSC Masjid site
Alhum du Lillah.! Enabling/Early work started to undertake the following necessary work items at the ICSC Masjid site:
- Site clearing & grading,
- Underground fire hydrant system
- water retaining pond
Intent of this work is to prepare the site for masjid construction in coming months. Estimated cost of this work is $150,000 CAD. It will take ~ a month to complete this work.

June 2021

Path Forward, New Project Committee, ICSC No Financial Involvement

Another meeting was held to finalize the path forward among different stakeholder i.e., MCC, ICSC & some community members	Re_ S.E. Masjid Project Path forward discussion 2
New Project committee has been formed, committee will directly report to MCC/MAC for all financial matters and approvals. See attached for MCC email with the preliminary new project committee mandate, roles, responsibilities, authority etc.	Re_ S.E. Masjid Project Path forward discussion
o ICSC has no involvement on any of the financial related items for project. o MCC and newly formed Project committee will execute the project going forward.

April - May 2021

Extension, PM Hunt, Awaiting Confirmation

o Project team applied and got the extension of overall project “Building Permit” from City of Calgary (note, Building permit needs to be extended after every six months, failure to do so will result in cancellation of the permit)
o MCC confirmed that they are unable to find any other suitable already built building (one of the action items from March 2021 meeting with ICSC and Project team to agree on project path-forward).	Re_ Project Alignment Meeting- Islamic Center Project – My Meeting Notes
o MCC didn’t provide confirmation on other items that are needed to restart the project and to remove the HOLD status i..e., appointment of new PM, if building “Multi purpose hall 1^st is the right strategy etc. Refer to MOM for further details.
o Since project was on HOLD including all the design work hence no response was submitted to City of Calgary against the new application development permit for Phase I (Build Multipurpose Hall 1^st)- Last date to submit the response was May 17,2021. Now request has sent by ICSC to City of Calgary- planning department to extend the deadline in response submission. This development permit might not be needed if any other phase wise execution option other than “to build multi-purpose hall” 1^st has been selected by MCC.
o Some community members approached MCC & ICSC on project status and offered their services on the execution of the project

Mar 2021

Newsletter, MCC Meeting

o ICSC issued community newsletter and provide update on project to the community (including other updates).	Updated_ICSC_Newsletter_March 2021 v6_March 22
o MCC booked meeting with ICSC and project team for the resolution of the issues and to finalize the project path forward. – see attached for the MOM and agreed path forward.	Project Alignment Meeting- Islamic Center Project – My Meeting Notes

Feb 2021
Multiple Updates
Recommendation to MCC for the Issuance of POs to EP firms for the completion of some needed Phase I Engineering work

Submitted New Phasing Application for Dev. Permitting to City of Calgary (required to build phase I (Build Multipurpose Hall 1^st)

MCC started re-validating phase wise execution approach and also if building “Multipurpose hall 1^st” is the best option

MCC asked current PM to step down

Due to all above, ICSC PAC (Project Advisory Committee) put project on HOLD until required confirmations received from MCC

City of Calgary asks to clarify many design items to get the development permit for Phase I (Build Multipurpose Hall 1st)
Dec 2020 - Jan 2021
Working with MCC for next Steps
Meeting Minutes

Meeting Presentation to MCC
Aug 2020 - Dec 2020
Completion of New Phase-1 Engineering High Level Design Work
Completion of New Phase-1 Engineering High Level Design Work – Required for getting new development permit from City of Calgary (required to execute phase I- Build Multipurpose Hall )

2021-01-13_ICSC Phase 1 Gym Site & Main Floor Plans

Issuance of bid/ bid Evaluation for Engineering Design Work
July 2020
Options Finalization and Evaluation Complete with Recommendation – Building Multi-purpose Hall as New Phase-1
- All Options Summary – Detailed
- All Options Summary
- Building Multi-Purpose Hall 1st – Phase 1
March 2020 - July 2020
Covid- 19 Pandemic Starts – All work gets impacted – March 2020
February 2020
Temporary Building Options and Cost Estimate presented to ICSC Board
Temporary Building Options and Cost Estimate presented to ICSC Board for Review and next steps
December 2019
Start of Site Clearing and Demolition
October 2019
Start of Site Construction Work - Tree removal
September 2019
Submitted Sprung Building Option to ICSC Board
Submitted Sprung Building Option to ICSC Board for Approval and received conditional approval to explore the option
June 2019
Received Construction Permit from City of Calgary
September 2018
90% engineering complete for IFC drawings
January 2018
Agreement between ICSC and City of Calgary
ICSC and City of Calgary Agreed on Cost and Security Bond for 104 St SE Road Construction & Highway 22X Intersection Upgrades
July 2017
Engineering Design Contract Issued – Lump Sum
May 2015
Submitted formal Development permit for approval
July to December 2014
Following studies were completed per City of Calgary
- A site concept drawings for the full build-out of the parcel,
- Storm water catchment concept including design assumptions,
- Fire Fighting Pond capacity and outline specifications
- On-site Sanitary System proposed including design assumptions and Proposed source of potable water
December 2013
Submitted initial Development permit request and fees
September 2013
Approval of Re-Zoning Application from City of Calgary
June 2011
Pre Re-zoning application submitted to City of Calgary
Feb 2011
Contract Award for Architectural Design
After three years of endless efforts by the project team, in September 2013 the rezoning application came in front of City of Calgary council after multiple rejections and submission of additional traffic and environmental studies, Al-Hamdulillah ICSC project received the historic, unprecedented approval from City for re-zoning.
2009
Land Acquisition for Islamic Center
In 2009 ICSC acquired approximately ten acre property in SE Calgary with the intent to develop the Islamic Centre of South Calgary. The site is located 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 city and no area structure plan existed, hence no construction could be undertaken without rezoning approval.
2005
Inception of an idea
As early as 2005, the South Calgary Muslim Community had aspired to build a facility of their own where they could pray, hold Friday Prayer Congregations, where their youth could assemble and community could benefit from Halaqas, Quranic Education, etc.

MCC supports raising of funds for project working with community in Calgary as per South MCC representative commitment of $1 Million for our project.
MCC/ New Project Committee finalizes a build option for completion of Design & Engineering, City Permitting approval for option, and contracts to start Construction.
MCC/ New Project Committee start the construction execution of the Islamic center project
February 2023 – MCC/MAC to call SGM for seeking members approval for initiating construction of the ICSC Masjid project.

DONATIONS RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS REPORT

YEAR 2023:

ICSC completed early works on the site in Fall 2022 with total cost of $150,000.
$900,000 is available in the project account as per January 2023.

YEAR 2021 — ICSC has no access on project accounts during 2021

$1.016744 MM in Bank (on 31 Dec. 2020)

JAN 2019 – Dec 2019 and Jan 2020 – Dec 2020 — ICSC_Project_Jan_Dec_2019_&_Jan_Dec_2020

Jan 2018 – Dec 2018 – ICSC Project Financials 2018_Jan_Dec_2018

Committee Lead – Adnan Sami (President ICSC)
MCC Project Growth Committee Lead – Ateeq Sheikh
Local District – Project Coordinator – TBD
Local District Community Member – Zahid Maqsood, Muzaffar Ahmed, Farhan Khan, Syed Kashif

ICSC Masjid Project Presentation to be delivered at the April 8th, 2023SGM:

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ICSC Masjid Project Status as of February, 2023:

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ICSC Masjid Project – Financial Plan updated in November 2022:

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ICSC Masjid Project Presentation to be delivered at the April 8th, 2023SGM:

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ICSC Masjid Project Status as of February, 2023:

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ICSC Masjid Project – Financial Plan updated in November 2022:

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July 31, 2023

Expression of Interest (EOI) for the ICSC Masjid Foundation Construction

Islamic Center of South Calgary (ICSC), a subsidiary of Muslim Association of Calgary (MAC), would like to start construction of the Masjid foundation in Fall 2023, Request For Proposals (RFP) of which will be sent to interested contractors, during August, 2023.

Please submit the EOI by August 10, 2023. The following documents contain the relevant information:

The EOI was sent to some known contracting firms. As well ICSC members and South Calgary Muslims community was requested to forward the EOI to the contracting firms they know or they can submit the EOI if they run a contracting firm that is capable of delivering project of this scale.