Episode 1: The Mosaic

The Mosaic, follows the arrival of the first Muslims in Canada over 150 years ago to present day - the struggles and challenges of settling in a new society to the eventual establishment of communities from coast to coast.

The Canadian prairie was an important region in the early development of Muslim communities in North America. A number of interesting stories are remembered by descendents of the early pioneers including the opening of the Al Rashid mosque in 1938. This was an example of an early multi-faith endeavour. The host of the event was the Mayor of Hanna, Alberta, a Christian Arab. Edmonton’s Mayor was also in attendance. The dedication of the mosque was performed by Yusuf Ali, a renowned Muslim scholar and translator of the most widely used Qur'an in English language.

The video looks at how Immigration trends have changed over the decades in response to government policy and how this has contributed to the growth of the Muslim community in Canada. Muslim communities did not have a visible presence in Canada until after the 1960’s when immigration policy allowed for the admittance of greater numbers of Asians, Arabs and Africans, and more recently - refugees.

Interviews were done with founders of the Muslim communities who came to Canada during this era. These individuals have been active participants in the development of the Canadian Muslim community. Starting off as a handful of families in the 1960’s, these immigrants established the foundation for today’s thriving communities.

The Mosaic also examines how individuals and communities have adapted in order to cope in a country that is vastly different from “back home”. Often the plight has not been easy as the community often faces racism, media bias and stereotyping.

Finally, the video examines why Islam is the fastest growing religion in Canada and why so many people are accepting Islam as their new faith. Shared values between Canadian society and Islam are also highlighted.

The Mosaic hopes to deal with a variety of these issues on the level of daily human experiences. It hopes to give a voice to this sometimes marginal and stereotyped Canadian minority. And it hopes to examine the intrinsic warmth and honor of Canadian society as it has made a home available to people of different languages, colors and beliefs.