Canada bestows honorary Canadian citizenship on the Aga Khan
By Charmaine Noronha, APFriday, May 28, 2010
Canada grants honorary citizenship to the Aga Khan
TORONTO — Canada has granted honorary Canadian citizenship upon the Aga Khan, a billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader of 20 million Muslims worldwide.
The Aga Khan was in Toronto on Friday to launch the development of a $285-million cultural center for Ismaili Muslims and the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture.
The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper bestowed the honors on the spiritual leader, saying that the center and museum will represent the country’s pluralism and cultural diversity.
Almost half of Canada’s 70,000 Ismailis live in Toronto.
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