The Canadian Muslim Youth: Identity and Well-being Symposium, jointly organized by the University of Calgary and ICNA Vancouver on September 21, 2025, brought together nearly 200 participants, including politicians from all levels of government, community leaders, academics, mental health professionals, youth, and activists.
Highlights included:
*A welcome message from BC Premier emphasizing diversity and inclusivity.
*Keynote by Usama Labib (President, ICNA Canada), urging Muslim youth to embrace leadership, serve society at large, and represent Islam positively.
*A lively policy panel debate with provincial, federal, and municipal representatives, as well as community leaders, generating recommendations for supporting Muslim youth well-being.
*Addresses by national figures such as Amira Elghawaby (Canada’s Special Representative on Islamophobia) and leaders from NCCM, BCMA, and Miftaah Institute.
*Youth-led panels and discussions on identity, belonging, and mental health.
Organized by a large steering committee and youth volunteers, the well-structured seven-hour program concluded with prayers and a community dinner. The event was widely applauded for fostering dialogue, collaboration, and actionable insights to strengthen the identity, well-being, and future leadership of Canadian Muslim youth.
Moreover, Vice President ICNA Canada, Br Kamal Khan and Regional President, Asif Ashraf also graced the occasion.
A lively debate, among the policy panelists, in which intriguing questions from the audience were posed to the panelists.
The Policy Panel was aptly moderated by former journalist and Director Media and Community Relations, BC, Haroon Ghaffar.
Earlier, Usama Labib, President ICNA
Canada welcomed the policy panel on stage, while A G Ghaffari, President ICNA
Vancouver introduced the panelists which included Amna Shah, NDP MLA for Surrey-City Centre, Deputy Government Whip, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives and well as for Mental Health and Addictions; Sukh Dhaliwal, Federal Liberal MP for Surrey-Newton; Bryan Tepper, Conservative MLA for Surrey-Panorama; Linda Annis, City Councillor and Mayoral Candidate for Surrey; Muhammad Asad Gondal, President, British Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA); and Haroon Khan, Community Advocate, Activist and Political commentator and were all part of the debate which answered some questions and raised many anew.
Attendees enjoyed delicious snacks, a light lunch, and dinner during the Symposium.”
