Doug McCallum, Mayor of the City of Surrey, was Guest of Honor at the Canada Day celebrations of the Dawoodi Bohra community of Vancouver.
After a recital of the Holy Quran, the Vancouver Bohra community’s leader, Huzeifa Hamid, reminded everyone that the Dawoodi Bohras adhere to Prophet Mohammed’s saying that love and devotion towards one’s country are part of the faith. He informed Mayor McCallum that, “If there is anything the community can do towards the betterment of the City of Surrey, we would be happy to help.” An introductory video on the Dawoodi Bohras preceded a presentation by Mr. Khozema Khambati on the community’s activities over the last year.
Mayor McCallum commented how Surrey is both multicultural and the fastest growing city in BC. He noted how people from all over the world are welcome to live in the vibrant city of Surrey. He described how knowing your neighbor is an important part of Surrey life, and the role of the City is to build the infrastructure to keep its community members safe.
“I can see in your eyes how excited you are,” the Mayor said, “and it is nice to see all the pleasant faces with smiles. We want to work and learn from each other. Canada is a Great Nation with a strong history. It is a real pleasure to be here today.”
The Mayor commended the community on their tree planting activities, part of the Dawoodi Bohras’ global Project Rise initiative, saying that caring for the environment was important and helps to keep our communities healthy and active.
Huzeifa Hamid presented Mayor McCallum with a shawl and flowers. A cake was cut by the Mayor and the children of the community before the celebrations concluded with a flag-hoisting ceremony and the National Anthem.
