It was a weekend of faith, reflection and learning for Saskatoon’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community during their 37th annual convention at the Henk Ruys Soccer Centre.
The convention hosted 3,000 attendees from across Western Canada, with some coming from as far as Vancouver.
“This session, in two days, gives another boost to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community members to recall and refresh their belongings and their core duties as citizens,” organizing committee member Hammad Sharif said.
In Saskatoon, there are more than 1,000 families who belong to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, according to Sharif. Ahmadis are a sect under the umbrella of Islam.
The convention aims “to bring the community members closer to each other, even if they’re living in different cities. It gives an opportunity for people to meet each other,” Sharif said.
The two-day event featured three sessions covering topics such as how to live a simple life and ways to enhance spirituality.
This year, the convention extended an invitation to local Indigenous communities, an opportunity Chief Lee Crowchild, from the Tsuut’ina Nation, gladly accepted.
“You can bet that our young people are going to engage more with other communities. The Muslim faith is going to be one of those, so there has to be an understanding created for both sides,” Crowchild said.
Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas also co-chaired a special session at the event.