The Fredericton Islamic Association is a big step closer to building a new mosque, thanks to online fundraising efforts that have taken off.
The mosque has been looking to expand for some time, as since welcoming Syrian refugees, the mosque community has nearly doubled in size. The mosque is also on the outskirts of town, making it hard for those who may not have vehicles to get there.
READ MORE: Fredericton welcomed more Syrians per capita than other Canadian cities: multicultural association
“We went from a mosque that was just barely sufficient … but with the coming of the Syrian refugees it became critical that we move out,” said Dr. Abdelhaq Hamza of the association.
When Fredericton-based lawyer Ben Conoley reached out to the Muslim community following the devastating shooting at a Quebec City mosque this past weekend, he was told by Multicultural Council executive director Alex LeBlanc that the association was saving for a new mosque.
It was then that he decided to help them with their efforts to build a new place of worship.
READ MORE: Quebec City mosque left with blood stains, bullet holes after deadly shooting
Conoley then launched a GoFundMe page to help raise money, setting a $1,000 goal.
Within just hours, the target had been reached and surpassed, leading him to raise the target several times. By 6 p.m. Tuesday, Conoly had raised more than $8,000.
“I’m blown away, and what’s remarkable is that it’s not just my network of friends and family and colleagues, it’s people across Canada,” Conoley said.
“And someone from Calgary made a very generous donation, and a lot of names that I haven’t seen before.”
READ MORE: Refugee family offers Fredericton a ‘Taste of Syria’
That donation coming from Calgary was for $2,000.
By Wednesday morning, the target sat at $15,000 and again, the donations continue to pour in, with the total raised now at more than $14,000.
Hamza said the overwhelming support for their new mosque is a reminder of what it’s like to live in Canada and be among Canadian people.
“If you were to describe a Canadian to anybody, you say they’re peaceful and they care, and I think that’s basically it,” Hamza said.
“I don’t think anybody would have any doubt that if any of us were in need, that there would be support of some kind or another.”
READ MORE: Fredericton looking to bridge gap between employers and Syrian refugees
Dr. Muhammad Rashid seconded that sentiment, saying the association has been “overwhelmed” by the support.
“I think the funding will certainly help us and also energize other people to come forward and make donations,” Rashid said.
According to the GoFundMe page, more than 280 people have donated in the one day it’s been live. The donations range in amounts, from $10 to $100, with some leaving notes of thanks to Conoley for launching the fundraiser.
— With files from Jeremy Keefe, Global News.
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