Note Muslim Women’s Contribution, says Ottawa Mayor Chiarelli

By Zulf M Khalfan,   Ottawa Muslim Network

(Ottawa, Wed March 20, 2002)---Ottawa City Mayor Bob Chiarelli said today that it is important to note the contribution of Muslim women to the community.

“It is important we all acknowledge the work Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization (OMWO) is providing to the community,” said he.
Mr Chiarelli was speaking to a group of about 50 attending a breakfast he held this morning at City Hall to welcome OMWO Board members and guests.

OMWO was formed last September to work with and support all other organizations, said its founding president, Nazira Tareen.
“Our goal is to extend a hand of friendship for peace in Ottawa,” she told the group.

Mayor Chiarelli said there are always questions about the number of Muslims in Ottawa. He said he believes Muslims now “number about 50,000 and growing.”

“It takes a lot of work and commitment to serve and keep it together,” he said.
 He added that OMW’s social determination was expressed at the morning’s event, at which it brought different national groups together and they work together.

Recognizing Sr Nazira for her work in the community, Mayor Chiarelli said he recalled presenting her with the Women of Distinction Award for the year 2000.  He congratulated her once again for it and thanked her for helping to make the community strong.  OMWO presented Mayor Chiarelli with a wall painting of Makkah and was requested by Sr Nazira to find a suitable place for it in City Hall.  After reciting Qur’an, Ottawa Mosque Imam Gamal Solaiman told the gathering to be helpful in the way of God as Issah (Jesus) asked his disciples to and they agreed.

He said the Qur’an has promised that “Whoever does good he will be granted his goodly life here and recompensed in the Hereafter.”

Imam Solaiman thanked the mayor for inviting the group and urged them to contribute to the prosperity of the National Capital Region.

On March 6, 2002, OMWO hosted a “Festival of Friendship Dinner,” in support of CARE programs in Afghanistan and WUSC global education programs, at which the keynote speaker was Prof Jamal Badawi.

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(Zulf M Khalfan is a writer based in Nepean.)