On May 3rd, BC Premier John Horgan and Parliamentary Secretary Rachna Singh invited the around 50 members of the Muslim Community for a special Eid Celebration in the Hall of Honor at the BC Legislature, Victoria.
The program began at noon with MLA Rachna Singh welcoming everyone and describing the purpose of celebration.
She said it was a historic day to welcome the Muslim community in the legislature for Eid celebration.
She then invited Mohammad Aamir to recite of Holy Quran verses. Muhammad is a 13 year old student from Arbutus Global Middle School in Victoria who is a skier, a swimmer and an excellent soccer player and on top of that, he has been
memorizing several portions of the Holy Quran. MLA Singh then invited Ms. Malika Massooda to speak about Eid and what it means to Muslims here in British Columbia. Ms. Malika acknowledged the traditional territory of the Songhees and mentioned that the Islamic tradition is to wish you peace. She shared her fond memories of Eid wearing her best traditional clothes, offering morning prayers and having meals with one another to celebrate. However, one of the most important part is charity. She also noted that although there’s a lots of celebrate our community continues to be victims of hate and discrimination. BC’s newly announced anti-racism data act is encouraging but we know there’s more work that needs to be done. 
The Muslim Community must be a partner with government it so important that our kids see themselves in the school curriculum and our Frontline organizations are properly funded. She also mentioned that the community looks forward to host members of the Legislature in our own community spaces.
MLA Singh then invited BC Premier John Horgan to say a few words. Premier Horgan also welcomed everyone at the celebration and mentioned that the anti-racism data we will use to better serve the diverse peoples of our great Province.
He shared his own heritage as the son of an Irish immigrant. Premier Horgan said that he raised the prospect of coming together here at the legislature in the Hall of honour to celebrate the end of the Holy month of Ramadan which is important to the Muslim Community not just in British Columbia course but around the world. As vibrant participants in the global village that we are all a part of, there is no better time than now to start tradition that allows us to celebrate the diversity of our Province and the different faiths that come together to make up what British Columbia is. The central elements of Eid include the coming together of family and loved ones to celebrate the blessings we have here in
BC and indeed around the world but it’s more than that today. It’s to celebrate the volunteerism and the selflessness of the Muslim Community here in British Columbia. He encouraged those in attendance and those who are watching to participate in the electoral process to further increase the representation of BC’s diverse communities in the Legislature and bring their values, their faith and their selflessness this place in the coming elections.
He wished everyone Eid Mubarak to everyone attending this historic Eid Celebration in the legislature and hoped to continue to such celebrations around BC in future. Mr. Naveen Jan presented a Sufi Folk song.”Dama Dama Mast Qalandar”
MLA Singh closed the event by mentioning that being a part of events like this reminds her of the beauty, power and strength within our communities. She expressed her gratitude to those in the Muslim Community who 
have helped to make the event happen. She also joined Premier Horgan in presenting certificates to the speakers and performers.
Certificates has been given to M. Aamir, Ms. Malika and Ms. Naveen by Premier. Light refreshments were served at the end to all the guests.
The Miracle was honored to be part of this celebration. While it was not the first time the Muslim Community was invited to the BC legislature for an Eid Celebration (in Feb 2002, then-Premier Gordon Campbell hosted the first Eid Celebration in the Legislature), it was heart-warming to see the Muslim community together and highlighted for its diversity and contributions. We look forward to being involved in supporting BC Government’s commitment to engaging with the community regularly.
