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As we have just celebrated Canada Day 2025, we are grateful beyond words for this land we call home.
Canada is not just where we live — it’s where we thrive, belong and contribute. For us, this country is more than just geography; it is a sanctuary of peace, a heaven on earth, where harmony is not an ideal, but a lived experience.
As immigrants, my family arrived with hope and was met with kindness. We found neighbours who welcomed us, teachers who supported our children and a system that allowed people of all backgrounds — regardless of faith, race, caste or creed — to grow side by side.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught, “Love of one’s country is part of faith.” This Hadith resonates deeply with me. Islam urges Muslims to serve and protect the lands we live in and, as an Ahmadi Muslim, I strive to do exactly that — through volunteerism, interfaith efforts, charity drives, blood donations and civic engagement.
I don’t just live here — I aim to build with love, give with sincerity and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Canadians to uphold peace and unity.
Canada’s unique strength lies in the space it holds for all peoples and religions. It is in this space that we, as Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Indigenous Peoples and others, can rise together above every man-made divide.
I thank this country for giving us not just rights, but the honour to give back. From Barrie to British Columbia, let’s celebrate not only with fireworks, but with kindness, gratitude and a renewed commitment to each other.
Saima Shafaq
Barrie
