Prime Minister visits Bradford for annual Muslim convention
Thousands have converged in the community of Bradford this weekend, including the Prime Minister, for one of the country's largest annual Muslim conventions.
The event is taking place on 10 Sideroad, on a piece of property organizers call a tent-city, outdoor environment, allowing for plenty of space to house the large gathering that has previously taken place in Mississauga. It is a chapter of a worldwide series of events.
"The annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada, which is happening here in Bradford, is just a series of these conventions that the founder of the community started, and we're still reaping the lessons from," says Safwan Chaudhry, a spokesperson.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the event Saturday afternoon. He delivered a message stressing the importance of inclusivity in Canada.
"An attack on Muslim Canadians is an attack on all Canadians. An intolerance, hatred, undermines everything that we have built in this country and mostly everything that we have continued to build," Trudeau said to the crowd. "So we have to continually step up and do more as a country. Canada is a place of openness and respect, and we have to keep it that way."
This is the first time the event, which happens in cities worldwide, has occurred in Bradford. Chaudhry says he's not sure if it will return annually but envisions the property will house some of the country's largest religious gatherings in the coming years.
"The founder of this community…said that this convention is unlike any other worldly convention," says Chaudhry. "It is a convention of increasing your spirituality, increasing togetherness, creating a bond with one another and also creating a sense of community, and if you think of it especially coming out of a pandemic, those are all the things that have been lacking."
The convention concludes Sunday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.