Aylmer Mosque hosted open doors on Canada Day

Jude Osmond

The Aylmer Mosque held a welcoming open doors event on Canada Day with kiosks and refreshments. The event was an opportunity to meet members of the Muslim community and learn about their culture and their faith.

The kiosks were spread throughout the building. They covered various aspects of the Islamic religion, including the Quran, women in Islam, Islamic values and education, and the importance of Islamic culture and its global impact. The kiosks offered a tour of Islamic culture, allowing residents to learn more about the community and the religion.

"We differentiated the kiosks the best we could, so when someone came in, we could ensure that their questions were answered," said Mohamed Bouhlel, the Mosque administrator.

The slogan used for the event was Good Neighbourliness: Building Bridges Between Communities, as the goal was to open their doors and allow everyone to learn about the culture and the Mosque, and to answer any questions the people might have. "The goal of this event was to show that our doors are always open for anybody,’’ Bouhlel said.

Misrepresentation was a major factor in this event, as Islamic culture has faced this severely over the years, with people making misleading claims about it. The Muslim community sought to address this by opening their doors to all questions and comments. "We want to build a sense of community and belonging and show who we are and how we implement Islam in our lives," said Aya Lyazidi, a volunteer at the event.

A new Mosque is coming to Aylmer soon on land they purchased a little over six months ago. A 3D demo of the new Mosque was presented that will include a gym, Saturday school, daycare, and many other features.