MAC Community Report 2022-2023

MESSAGEFROM PRESIDENTS/CHAIR

SharafSharafeldin President-Strategy

ChairoftheBoard

AbdullatifBakbak

President-Executive

Andjustlikethat,wecompletedtwomoreyearsofourcommunityservicewithalottobe gratefulfor.WiththemercyofAllahSWTwecanlookbackandfeelasenseofaccomplishment inhowtheyearspannedout,withmanyplannedinitiativesandseveralunplanned,unforeseen challenges.WithCOVIDbecomingathingofthepast,wewereabletoresumeournormal services,improvinguponthembasedonthepostpandemicneedsofthecommunity

Lastcoupleofyearsbroughtwiththemtheneedforustochangethewaytheworldviewsour community.Withoneofthemosthistoriclawsuitsagainstagovernmentagencybyaminority group organization, Muslim Association of Canada took a stand for justice for the entire community;onceagain,provingthatIslamophobiahasnoplaceinCanadiansocietyandwill becounteredateverylevel,bigorsmall

However,theongoingbattleagainstsystemicIslamophobiadidnotimpedethesupportand services provided through various programs offered by MAC. With extensive planning of RamadanandEidprogramscateringtoallages,wewereabletorestorethepre-pandemic normthatourcommunitydeserved.Afteragapof2years,weresumedallofourin-person programsandservicesalongwithcongregationalsalah,allowingourMasajidtobebustling withenergyonceagainAlhamdulillah.

ThegrowthinthelearningportalofferedbyMACisundeniable.Capitalizingtheonlineplatform, severalnewventuresincludingweeklyliveshows,Ramadandailyprogramaswellase-learning channelwereintroducedanddevelopedupon Andtoaddtoallthis,thefirsteverMACNational Conventionwasagreatkickstarttosummer2022Itwasaremarkableplatformwherescholars fromacrossthecountrycametogethertosharetheirvaluableexperiencesandknowledgefor thebenefitofthecommunity Thesuccessofthefirstconventionallowedustobringitbackin 2023,turningitintoamuchawaitedannualeventforthecommunity

Onamoredomesticlevel,ourvariouschaptersdeliverednumerouscommunityengagement initiatives,addressingdifferentneedsofthevariousagegroups,withaspecialfocusonthe youth Fromcampsgearedtowardselementaryandmiddleschoolers,familyprogramsand qiyamnightstoprovidingnecessarysupportforouryoungprofessionals,theneedsoftheentire communityweresuccessfullyaddressed,Alhamdulillah

Andwiththatweonceagain,thankAllahSWTforHisendlessmercyinallowingustoservethe communityatsuchalargescaleandpraythatHecontinuestokeepusinHisservice,keepus forevergroundedinourfaithandacceptoureffortsfromusinHiscause Andlastbutnotleast, wethankthecommunityfortheirunwaveringtrustinourorganization.Wetakethistrustasan AmanahfromAllahSWTandvalueitdeeplyInShaaAllahwecancontinuetodeliver,facilitating developmentofthecommunityonmultiplelevels.Ameen!

MouradM’hiri

LivinguptoourmissionofabalancedyetdistinctMuslim presenceintegratedintothesocialfabricofCanada,ourwork continuestobeareflectionofthesame.

Weare...

Promotinglearning

Our focus on educating the community has always been the centreofourwork,leadingtopurchase ofnewschoolbuildingswhileexisting facilitieswererenovated Ourschools, rooted in implementing the Tarbiyah framework,continuetoeducateyoung mindstoupholdtheirMuslimidentity.

Promotingjustice

Fulfilling our Islamic obligation of standing up against injustice, the highlight has been MAC’s charter against CRA; a step was taken not only to defend MAC’s rights as an organization, but to stand up for all Muslimorganizationsfacingprejudice anddiscrimination.

Bridgingcommunities

Livinginamulticulturalandmultifacete society, we are constantly striving t increase our reach outside of ou community and maintain health relationships with other religiou communities, coming together for th sake of a thriving society and progressivenation.

Strengtheningourcommunity

We strive to provide the community with opportunities and resources to facilitate positive contributions, thus assisting Canadian Muslims to be productivemembersofsociety

Buildingleadership

Our programs cater to different age groups,withafocus ontheyouthinour community. Providing our youth with a strong sense of belonging and strengthening their Muslim identity helps laydownthefoundationforstrongleaders ofthefuture

N u r t u r i n g E x c e l l e n c e & N u r t u r i n g E x c e l l e n c e & G r o w t h T h r o u g h E d u c a t i o n G r o w t h T h r o u g h E d u c a t i o n

MACschoolsfocuson strengtheningourcommunity by laying down a solid foundation, complete with holisticeducationbuiltonafirmunderstandingof IslamandastrongsenseofMuslimidentity.

Ourinstitutionsarebuiltuponanextensive,researchbased, Tarbiyah framework, that emphasizes practical Islamic character development that provides students with tools that allow them to successfullyintegrateIslamicvaluesseamlesslyinto theirdailylives.

Our ‘God-centered focus’ is meant to nurture excellenceinourstudentsthroughinspiringthem to be the best versions of themselves, keeping Allah SWTatthecoreofeverythingtheydo.

Our schools aim for high academic achievement and consistently exceed the requirements of the Provincialcurriculum,thusnurturingastrongculture ofexcellence

FULL-TIMESCHOOLS:

MAChas10full-timeIslamicschoolsacrossCanadathataimtofosteracademic excellence, leadership and Islamic values. With hundreds of young Muslims graduating from our schools each year, we aim to build a strong community consistingofyouthwhoareequippedtobecontributingmembersofsociety,while meticulouslybalancingtheirIslamicintegrityandidentity

Expandinghighschooleducation...

Catering to the growing needs of the community,manyMACschoolshavestartedto offer high school programs as well and are now seeing their graduates venture into the postsecondaryphaseoftheireducation

MACschoolshavereachedthousandsof familiesandstudentsovertheyears.While MAC Abraar High School (Ottawa) has seenmanygraduatingclasses,MACOlive GroveHighSchool(Mississauga)hadtheir firstsetofgraduatesin2022.Achievinga 100%acceptancerateforuniversitieswas agreatachievementforstaffandstudents Alhamdulillah.Inthenextcoupleofyears, MAC Islamic School in Edmonton will be enjoying this milestone with their High SchoolstudentsaswellInShaaAllah

WEEKENDSCHOOLS

MAChas19part-timeIslamicschoolsthatarerunontheweekends,rootedinthe followingteachings: Islamicfoundationaltraditionsandrulings understandingoftheQuranthroughtheArabiclanguage instillingtheloveforthewordofAllahanditsimplementation

Alhamduillah, our part-time schools have reached 4700 students across the country. These numbers reflect the trust the community has built with our institutionsovertheyears,anditsthistrustthatcontinuestopropelusforward.

OURRETURNTOIN-PERSONPROGRAMMING

Since our in-person enrollment decreased substantially during COVID, it is essentialtoensurewehavereachedthesamepre-COVIDlevelsifnotexceeding it.Thoughthenumbersstillhaven’treachedourtargetlevel,therehasbeena substantialincreaseacrosstheboardinthepastcoupleofyearsAlhamdulillah, indicatingastrongdemandforourprogramsinthecommunity.

VIRTUALLEARNING

The pandemic has compelled us to explore unconventional learning modalities The development of effective online educational platforms has givenusameanstomakequalityeducationmoreeasilyaccessibletomany virtually.

The pandemic has compelled us to explore unconventional learning modalities The development of effective online educational platforms has givenusameanstomakequalityeducationmoreeasilyaccessibletomany virtually

Toleveragethisopportunityandmaximizeourreachinthecommunity,MAC OliveGroveVirtualSchool(OGVS)wasstartedin2022,allowingstudentsfrom distantareastoenjoyIslamicandcontemporaryeducation.Completewith qualityacademicsdeliveredbyOntariocertifiedteachers,Quran,Arabicand IslamicStudies,charactereducationaswellasextracurricularactivities,OGVS isauniqueeducationalplatformthatfacilitatestheacademicandspiritual growthofalargernumberofouryouth.ThesuccessofOGVSisevidentfrom theincreaseinourenrollmentin2023Alhamdulillah.

MACiRISETARBIYAHFRAMEWORK:

“IrisetopleaseAllah”

Afterasubstantialamountofresearch,ourteamofeducatorsdesignedaunique charactereducationframework:iRISE,thatwasintroducedintoallourschoolsover aperiodoftimeandwasgraduallyimplementedacrossallgrades.Thepurpose wastohelpourstudentsnavigatethrough21stcenturychallengeswhileholdingon toourcoreIslamicvaluesbyestablishingAllahSWTasthecenterofourexistence.

This framework essentially facilitates personal development in our students, by instillinginthemthedrivetoalwaysbeabetterversionofthemselvesastheystrive tolivetheirlivesguidedbythefollowingcorevalues:

Rabbaniyah

Consistently prioritizing Allah SWT in our lives and allow our actionstobeguidedbyHislove andconsciousness.

Integrity

Becoming righteous young Muslims who stand up for justice, be fair in their dealings andconsistentlydowhat’sright

Service

Leading as compassionate & humble individuals who live by serving others and prioritizing theirneeds.

Excellence

Aimingtoalwaysdoourbestin everyaspectofourlives,leaving theresultsinthehandsofAllah SWT.

Moreover,ourTarbiyahProjectincluded: arevisedIslamicStudiescurriculumforhighschool developmentofanArabiccurriculumandresources workshops to address family values and gender identity issues were developedanddeliveredacrossschools acompilationofalltheseTarbiyahconceptswasmadeavailabletothepublic

SECTION SECTION 2 2

Comingtogetheras Comingtogetheras acommunity acommunity

As a minority group in a multicultural society like ours, the community we belong to is our primary source of identity. Muslim Association of Canada thrives on communitystrength and vibrancy Our programs are strategically designed to bring communities together in various aspects of life. Emerging from the pandemic, our mosques and institutionsareonceagainbustlingwithactivityand inpersonprogramscateringtoallagegroupsand ethnicities.

Thestrengthofthecommunityisreflectednotonly in joyous moments but also in testing times and adversary BythegraceandmercyofAllahSWT,we continuetoexperienceimmensestrengthandpower as a community every year, in festivities and challengesalike.

Togetherinworship RAMADAN

Ramadan is the month that definitely brings the community together, from all walksoflife,allethnicitiesandbackgroundsasweareunitedinasingledaily routinefortheentiremonth.Despitestrugglingwithrestrictionsearlyin2022,we witnessedthereturnofenergyandspiritbacktoourmosques DailyTaraweeh (thenightlyprayer)andweeklyfamilyiftarsaddedtotheRamadanspiritforthe wholefamily Bytheyear2023,allprogramshadresumedwithlimitedrestrictions Alhamdulillah

Special Ramadan camps as well as qiyam for different age groups allowed our children to engage with the mosque, while learning more about Islam each day in a festive environment.

Apart from in person activities, many online programs are also available duringRamadan,suchas: weekly live shows on the MAC YouTubeChannel dailyRamadanprogramproviding consistent access to reminders by ourrenownedscholars

Celebratingtogether

EIDCELEBRATIONS

OurEidFestivalscamebackstrongafterthepandemicwith 7chaptersholdingin-personEidFestivals enabling us to onceagainreachthousandsofcommunitymembers.The Eid festivals were attended by several councilors and ministers,alongwiththePrimeMinister,JustinTrudeauwho honoured the Ottawa Eid Festival with his presence. This gesture was a reflection of effective representation of the community by the organization over the years and a testimony of our efforts to bridge gaps with the wider community

OurEidFestivalsprovideanopportunity forMuslimfamiliestoenjoythefestivities, some of who are celebrating Eid away fromextendedfamiliesandfriendsina foreign land Thus, with these programs weareabletofillthevoidintheirlives and allow more families to enjoy Eid celebrationsandfestivities

Immensestrengthisderivedfromunitingoverasinglecause;asinglepurpose. And we have witnessed the community coming together to show unity on multipleoccasionsoverthelasttwoyears.

STANDINGUPAGAINSTSYSTEMICISLAMOPHOBIA

Earlierin2022,MACfiledacharterchallengeagainstCanadaRevenueAgencyfor subjectingnotonlyourorganization,butseveralotherMuslimorganizationsto prejudice, disguised under legal formalities Through this charter challenge, MuslimAssociationofCanadaaimstostandupfortherightsoftheentireMuslim community against faith based discrimination. This step has by far been a challengingexperiencefortheorganization.ButaspromisedintheHolyQuran, “With hardship, comes ease” (94:6), the overwhelming support from the communitywasdefinitelyablessingofdivinenature.Countlessstatementsfrom variousorganizationssuchastheCanadianCouncilofImams(CCI)insupportof MAC’sclaimsiswhatgivesusthestrengthtocontinueourpursuitofjustice.

MAC,alongwithCCIandIslamicCenterofNorthAmerica(ICNA) alsocame together in response to the inappropriate representation of Islam in. Anti-HomophobiccampaignsinseveralpublicschoolsinOntario.Onceagain,a jointstatementissuedbytheseorganizationsagainstsuchaninsensitivemovein thenameofinclusivity,wasatestimonyofthedisrespectfeltbytheseyoung studentswhosereligiousvalueswereunderminedanddistorted Thecollective efforttoholdtheresponsiblepartiesaccountablefortheirinsensitivityresultedin theremovalofthequestionablematerialfromallsocialmediaplatforms

Togetheragainsthate

WEREMEMBER

In 2021, MAC launched the Islam Awareness website in response to the rising IslamophobiabycreatingawarenessaboutIslamandeliminatingmisconceptions rooted in racial and religious discrimination. The Muslim Association of Canada receivedanAnti-Racismgrantof$150KbytheOntarioGovernment

TheriseofsystemicIslamophobia is an undeniable reality of Canadian society, as defined in MAC’s charter challenge against CRA However, two significantly heinousactsofterrorismagainsttheMuslimcommunityinthepastfewyearsthat have remained etched into the minds of every Muslim Canadian, have led to a nationalcampaignagainstIslamophobiaandcontinuetohauntustothisday.

January 29, 2017, marked a dark day in Canadian history when six innocent Muslimworshipperswerebrutallyandsenselesslygunneddownduringanattack on a Quebec City mosque. Having played a role in pushing for the day to be commemorated as National Day of Remembrance and Action against Islamophobia, we vow to never forget the sacrifices made by these six martyrs and pledge to not let their lives be lost in vain. The day will continue to be a reminderofourresponsibilitytowardsourcommunityandourobligationtostand up for our rights as a minority faith group so that such a heinous act is never repeatedagainstanycommunity

Despite the government’s efforts against Islamophobia, our community was shakenuponceagain,onJune6,2021when5membersoftheAfzaalfamilywere senselessly run down for merely being visibly Muslim. Marking the one year anniversary,MACparticipatedin‘OurLondonFamily’June6commemoration,at thenewlyopenedMACHydeParkCentrewhichwasattendedbydignitariesand guestsandincludedanaddressbyAhmedHussen,theMinisterofHousingand Diversity & Inclusion Moreover, on June 4, 2022, a new gymnasium, named the ‘OurLondonFamilyGymnasium’, was unveiled in honour of the Afzaalfamily, officiallyopeningitsdoorstoacommunityspacethatiswelcomedtoeveryone ThisfacilitywasmadepossiblewithhelpfromtheMuslimAssociationofCanada inthehopeofprovidingasafeplaceforpeopletocometo,andasareminder thatthecommunitywillnotaccepthate

G r o w i n g S t r o n g e r . . .

G r o w i n g S t r o n g e r . . .

B r i c k B y B r i c k B r i c k B y B r i c k

S E C T I O N S E C T I O N 3 3

Eventhoughgrowthcannotmerelybemeasuredatasuperficiallevel, the infrastructure that our institutions stand on play a crucial role in shaping the organization as it facilitates the work being done Every year MAC invests in renovating and improving its facilities in order to cater to the growing need of the community and enhance their experiencewithMAC.

RENOVATIONS&ADDITIONSTOINSTITUTIONS:

“Ineverteachmypupils,Ionlyprovidetheconditions inwhichtheycanlearn” -(AlbertEinstein)

MACbelievesthatasafeandcomfortableenvironmentisessentialfor effectivelearningandhence,ourschoolsandeducationalfacilitiesare under perpetual improvement and renovations. Constant additions, renovationsandexpansionofMACpropertiesarekeytopromotinga healthylearningenvironmentforyoungminds.

The notable upgrades to infrastructure in the last 2 years are as follows:

InteriorrenovationatAbraarDaycare

FlooringandroofchangedatAbraarSecondarygym PreparationofpremisesfortheRCICSchool

EdmontonMISHighSchoolbuildingrenovations

FlooringchangedforOliveGroveSchool2ndfloorclassrooms

ConstructionofthesecondfloorofOliveGroveHighSchool

With the addition of newschoolfacilitiesinWindsorandLondon as wellastheinfrastructuralchangestoexistingfacilities,wehaveseena steep rise in enrollment and engagement with our institutions. While full-time school enrollment increased by 15% to 2,940 students, part-time school registration grew to 4,700 students, which, even thoughlowerthanourexpectations,isyetagreatrecovery.

RENOVATIONSOFMOSQUES&COMMUNITYCENTERS:

“HealonecankeepthemosquesofAllahinagoodandflourishing condition who believes in Allah, and the Last Day, and observe prayer,andpaystheZakat,andfearsnonebutAllah;sothereitis whomaybeamongthosewhoreachthegoal” -(SurahTauba:18)

Mosques are special places for us Muslims and it is an honour to be trusted with the responsibility to care for it. In 2022, with the help and mercy of Allah SWT, we saw some major projects come to fruition

RenovationsatICCO

Revitalization project of the mechanical systems for the EdmontonMACIslamicCentre

The addition of two new centers; HydeParkMasjidand Youth Centre in London and Qurtuba Islamic Center in Ottawa

The completion of Islamic Community Center of Ontario (ICCO) renovationplan,resultedinthefollowing:

afunctionalparkinglot

brandnewflooringforthegym

finaltouchestotheexteriorofthebuilding

Face value of the property Capacity and use of the facility Number of programs offered

OFTHESTRUCTURALUPGRADES

Apartfromenhancingthefacevalueandtheuse ofthefacility,therenovationsaidedinasmoother trafficflowduringTaraweehandEidprayers.

These upgrades and additions to centers across differentcitieshasallowedmoreprogramstobe offeredallyearroundforvarioussegmentsofthe community.

We are forever grateful to Allah SWT for all these blessings and facilitation with our projects and also thank the community for engaging with the organizationondifferentlevelsandinhabitingour centers, thus promoting and encouraging our programs.

SURVEY SAYS!

From the 333 responses to our survey, the following were the sentiments expressed by community members:

“Iamwelcomedas partofthecenter community”

“AsaFull-time schoolparent,I agreeorstrongly agreethatmychild feelslikeshe/he belongstothe school” 74% 74% 81%

“Thecentergives methefeelingthatI belongthere”

Another measure of our growth has been the successful implementation of our Tarbiyah project. It is crucial for MAC, as an anchoring institution for the community, to remain true to the core values of Islam and establish all programstobecenteredaroundthesevalues

In2022,withthehelpandmercyofAllahSWT,we wereabletoexceedourexpectationsintermsof furtherinvestingintheTarbiyaProjectacrossall schools and chapters; while 2023 saw the implementation and integration of these projectsacrossallMACschoolsAlhamdulillah. Development of an Islamic Studies curriculumforhighschools Itiscrucialforouryouthtostayconnectedand wellversedwiththeirIslamicmoralsandvalues. Hence, we have made Islamic Studies a mandatory course in all our high schools This required the development of a curriculum that facilitated our students’ growth, both academically as well as in their knowledge of Islam.

Arabic curriculum and resources were developed and distributed to all MAC schools

It is essential to have a clear understanding of theQuraninordertotrulybenefitfromit Andfor that reason, MAC schools have been equipped with an extensively designed Arabic curriculum and multiple resources to facilitate the learning of the Arabic language in our students early on intheiracademicjourney.

Workshops were designed to address gender identity issues and deliveredtoallschools

MAC schools play a crucial role in teaching our youth how to establish their distinctpresenceinCanadiansociety,whilestayingtruetotheirIslamicvalues andmorals Inrecentyears,genderidentityandfluidityhasbecomeapressing issueinoursocietyandhence,needstobeaddressedinordertoeducateour students about the Islamic rulings around this sensitive issue. In the last two years, an extensive series of workshops and resources have been developed anddistributedtoourschools,allowingadialogueaboutwhatourstanceisin thelightofQuranandSunnah.

AcompilationofTarbiyahconceptswasproducedforpublicuse

Partofourservicetothecommunityistosharethewealthofknowledgethat we develop for our schools with the public in order to maximize our reach. Hence,theconceptsofTarbiyahbeingimplementedinourschoolshavebeen compiled and made accessible to the public so that a larger part of the communitymaybenefitfromit.

10 new eLearning courses were produced along with the introduction of weeklyeducationalshows

Building on our online accessibility, our eLearning channel was re-launched, introducingnewcoursesandeducationalshowswiththepurposeofdelivering our Tarbiyah vision to the public via an improved and advanced online platform.

HIRINGANDRETAININGSTAFF:

Our organizational capacity is built through attracting and nurturingtalent.Hiringtherightpeoplewiththenecessaryskill setandbeingabletoretainthemiskeytothesuccessofany organization. In 2022, we saw the rebuilding of the Executive Teamandahighrateofhirings,bothatHeadOfficeaswellas projectlevels.AlongwithkeypositionssuchasOrganizational Development Manager, Accounting Manager and HR Supervisor at Head Office, several principals, Imams and center managers were also hired to oversee individual projects

The rising inflation in 2022-2023 was a huge challenge to attractingandmaintainingtalent.However,MACrespondedto this by updating the pay-scale for our teachers, center managersandImams

TRAININGOFSTAFFANDPERSONALDEVELOPMENT:

Tobeabletoeffectivelydeliverourmessageandachieveour goals with the community, there needs to be a perpetual growthofourpoolofqualifiedworkers Forthisreason,oneof MAC’sgoalsistotapintothecommunityforresources,identify the talents and skill sets and recruit and train members to carrythemessage(Dawaah)forwardinthedifferentchapters. This further facilitates leadership development and opportunitiesforouryouthaswellasyoungprofessionals,by providingthemwithvenuestoapplytheirstrengthsandskills forthebenefitofthecommunity

“He is not amongst us, who does not “He is not amongst us, who does not respect the elders and does not have respect the elders and does not have mercy on youth.” mercy on youth.”

[[Al-Tirmidhi] Al-Tirmidhi]

Workingwithyouth… Workingwithyouth… buildingleadersof buildingleadersof jjustice ustice SECTION SECTION4

Our youth is our future and MAC believes that an investment in their overall growth and development is the key to carrying forward our legacy rooted in the messageofIslam.Thoughourorganizationismultigenerational,ourfocusonour youthissignificant Wecontinuetogroomtheminto futureleaders withtheaim thattheywillnotonlyunderstandtheessenceofourvaluesbutalsocontinueto staytruetothemaswellaspromotethemforthebettermentofsocietyingeneral Our youth programs are reflective of these endeavours in their planning and implementation.

MACYouthPrograms

Despitesomeleadershiptransitionsinthelastcoupleofyears,MACYouth Department delivered an impressive selection of youth programs throughouttheyear.

MACYouthJuniorcontinuedtoexpandacrosschapters,withthefollowing initiativesduringRamadan:

The Amazing Race successfully engaged different localities with over 500participants.

MAC Youth Show addressed and engaged hundreds of students via socialmediaplatforms

MACOGSYouthTarbiyahConference,withspeakersfromvariouswalks of life, covered the topic of Izza through different perspectives In 2022, the program, being delivered in person while being live streamed to capturealargeraudience,wasahugesuccesswithover1200youthin attendance across the nation. The following year, we were able to cater to similar numbers in an extensive in-person event with multiple IslamicschoolsparticipatingAlhamdulillah

Our community centers offer other activities including halaqas, family nights,storytimesandmovienights,bringingthewholefamilytogetherby runningparallelprogramsforthedifferentagegroups

With multiple day and overnight camps throughout the year for different occasions, we served over 1800 children, providing families with great opportunities to keep their children busy and engaged while nurturing a loveforlearning

YouthwasastrongfocusfortheMACConventionboththeyears,withparallel sessionstreamsandengagementprogramsdesignedspecificallyforyouth The program was very well received as approximately half of the convention attendeeswereyouth,resultingingreatengagementandnetworkingwithMSA’s andyouthworkersfromacrossthecountry

MACYOUTHJR.

MAC Youth Jr. is dedicated to nurturing and empowering Muslim Canadian youthaged6to14,byequippingthesemindswithasoundunderstandingof Islamandthus,enablingthemtoemergeasstrongcommunityleaders.Thesix coreaimsthataremeticulouslyinfusedintoouractivitiesareasfollows:

Love of Allah and Prophet Muhammad by building a strong connection withtheQuranandSunnah

LoveofIslam by educating them on the wisdom behind the guidelines of Islam

LoveofSelfbyfosteringself-esteemandastrongsenseofidentity,rooted inthefirmbeliefthatAllahSWTlovesusmorethananyoneintheworld

LoveofFamilybylayingdownafoundationofsupportandlove

LoveofCommunityandEnvironmentbyfosteringasenseofresponsibility towardstheircommunityandtheenvironmentasourIslamicobligation

LoveoftheUmmahbybuildingstrongbondsofbrotherhood/sisterhood

Alongwithweeklyandmonthly halaqah gatherings for both boys and girls, MAC Youth Jr conducts several sports activities as well as Qiyam sessionsonaregularbasis.

Our annual activities include day and overnight camps, which are offered throughout the year and run at full capacity as they not only provide our families with an affordable childcare option during breaks, but are also an opportunity to build on their understandingofIslaminafun learningenvironment

Furthermore, our special retreats, promoting bonding between mothers and daughters;fathersanddaughters;andfathersandsonshavebeenextremely popular with the families. Periodically organized sports tournaments, promote healthycompetitionandphysicalwellness,withtheintentiontofosterasense ofteamwork,friendlyrivalry,andMuraqabahMindset

Ramadanisaverybusyyetexcitingmonthforourteamaswepreparetocater tothespiritualdevelopmentofouryouthwiththefollowing:

RamadanPreparationCamp,aimingtogettingouryouthRamadanready.

OurdailyIftargatheringsprovideaspaceforcommunalbreakingoffasts, followedbyTaraweehprayers.

DistributeRamadanpackagesandgoodiebagsinordertoinstilexcitement inkids.

B u i l d i n g b r i d g e s … B u i l d i n g b r i d g e s …

j u s t i c e w i t h t h e j u s t i c e w i t h t h e

S E C T I O N S E C T I O N 5 5

l a r g e r c o m m u n i t y l a r g e r c o m m u n i t y

ﻢﻜﯩﻘﺗأﻪﻠﻟٱﺪﻨﻋﻢﻜﻣﺮﻛأنإ

ﻢﻜﯩﻘﺗأﻪﻠﻟٱﺪﻨﻋﻢﻜﻣﺮﻛأنإ

ﺮﻴﺒﺧﻢﻴﻠﻋﻪﻠﻟٱنإ ﺮﻴﺒﺧﻢﻴﻠﻋﻪﻠﻟٱنإ

“O humanity! Indeed, We created you “O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may into peoples and tribes so that you may

get to˺ know one another. Surely the most

get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Quran, 49:13] [Quran, 49:13]

It is our Islamic obligation to fulfill the rights of people around us, regardless of their faith or religious beliefs Hence,aligningingwithMAC’smissionandfulfillingour Islamicduty,weworkverycloselyincohesionwithother organizations and groups making constructive contributionstosociety Webelieveinworkingtogether for greater good and a bigger positive impact, thus affectingalargerpopulation.

SHARINGPRAYERSPACEWITH EDMONTONCHURCH

Atatimewhen Islamophobiais on the rise, some gestures from the outside community help restore our faith in the multicultural aspect and tolerance of Canadian society. In 2022, every night in April, for the month of Ramadan, Muslim men and women used McDougall United Church in downtown Edmonton for nightly prayers

Andinahistoricevent,theMcDougallChurchhostedthetwofaithgroupson Good Friday to help build community and understanding, where the Muslim AssociationofCanada(MAC)andMcDougall'scongregantscametogetherto celebrate their respective faiths for the first time along with strengthening socialtiesbetweenthefaithgroups

This is a remarkable gesture from the Edmonton church community towards promoting love and tolerance in society and a testimony of the trust that Muslim Association of Canada has earned over the years with the larger community.

OPENDIALOGUEANDCOMMUNICATION

BridgingGaps

MAC has always promoted interfaith dialogue and community-building initiatives.Inamulticulturalsocietylikeours,solidarityandmutualsupportis key,especiallywhenfacingadversities.Beingthereforeachotherrendersan undeniablestrengththatisneededtoovercomechallengesasasociety

Anothermeansofstrengtheningtiesandbuildingunderstandingwithother communitieswasIslamicHeritageMonth,aimingto: RaiseawarenessaboutIslam

CelebratethecontributionsofMuslimstoCanadiansociety

MAChasworkedtomaximizethisopportunitybyhostingOpenHouseevents acrossdifferentchapters,thuspromotingunderstandingandappreciationof Muslimcultureandhistory,andbuildingbridgesofunderstandingbetween communities

ANNUALBLOODDRIVE

Everydropcounts!

“

....and whoever saves one (soul), it is as if he had saved mankindentirely.”(Quran,5:32)

In June 2022, there was an urgent call by Canadian Blood Services in Vancouver as the city just entered an immediate need for blood donation. MAC Vancouver announced an emergency call to the Muslim community to donate blood, targeting at least 50 donors. On June 4 2022, 50 members of the Muslim communityrespondedtoourcallandthe targetwaseasilymet,Alhamdulillah.

Stephanie Pedersen, Territory Manager of Canadian Blood Services, Vancouver recognized the efforts made by MAC and the Muslim community and commended them for being excellent community partners by inspiring others to come forwardaswell.

SECTION SECTION6 6

IInthefaceofinjustice nthefaceofinjustice andprejudice andprejudice

“O you who believe, be persistently standing “O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah as witnesses in justice, and do firm for Allah as witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, for that is nearer to being just. Be just, for that is nearer to righteousness. Fear Allah, for verily, Allah is righteousness. Fear Allah, for verily, Allah is aware of what you do.” aware of what you do.”

[Quran, 5:8) [Quran, 5:8)

ADAYINCOURT

MACtakesastandagainstsystemicIslamophobia

Earlier this year, Muslim Association of Canada launched a charter challenge against the CRA for conducting biased audits, reeking of systemic Islamophobia

HISTORYBEHINDTHECHARTERCHALLENGE:

Muslim Association of Canada has been under a painfully scrutinizing 8 year audit by the CRA, stemming from baseless allegations What drove the organizationtoeventuallytaketheplungewasthefact thatMACwasn’tthefirstMuslimorganizationtargeted bytheagency.Hencethiswasastandtakenonbehalf of the entire Muslim Community and all the organizations serving it This blatant display of prejudice against a faith group was an undeniable proof of systemicIslamophobiaseeping its roots into Canadian society, threatening its multicultural foundationtothecore.

Over the past few years, it has become apparent that CRA has an agenda which has been very tactfully disguised under legalities when it comes to dealing with Muslim organizations There is definitelyapatternwiththewaythe agency audited several of these organizationsanditwasabouttime someone called them out on their hiddenagenda.

To stand up for our rights has been among the foundational principles of MAC and hence, this blatant infringement of the rights of the entire community could not be ignored. And this was the driving force behind MACtakingaboldstepforward incombatingIslamophobia.

PROGRESSMADE:

April4,2023markedaniconiceventinhistory,whenoneofthecourtroomsin theOntarioSuperiorCourtwaspackedwithagroupofconcernedmembers of the Muslim Community, board members and employees of the Muslim Association of Canada along with their legal team as well as lawyers representingCanadaRevenueAgency.

Oureffortsaredefinitelymakingadifferenceandourmessageisheard,loud andclear,Alhamdulillah.AndbythemercyofAllahSWT,wehavebeenable toseethefollowingresultsinvariousaspectsofourwork

ThePrimeMinister’srequesttoattendourEidFestivalinOttawawasa testimonyoftherecognitionofouradvocacyforthecommunity

TheFederalNDPissuedastatementinsupportofMAC’sclaimagainst CRAandcommendedourworkandeffortsinstandingupagainstblatant injustice.

We were invited to testify at the Senate of Canada’s hearings on Islamophobia and its impacts, which is a recognition of our effective propagationagainstdiscriminationoftheMuslimcommunity.

NEXTSTEPS:

Needlesstosay,thiswillnotbeaneasyjourneybuttotreadthepathoftruth has never been simple. Challenges have and will continue to be faced, however, to stand firm and relyonAllahSWT are our best options moving forward.

Andofcourse,wearecountingonthesupportofourcommunitytokeepus going on this arduous path paved out for us Please help us stand up for MuslimsacrossCanadabydonatingyourtime,wealthandprayerstowards enabling us to be victorious in this challenge. May Allah SWT grant us victoryandacceptoureffortstowardsstandingupforjustice!

UNDERATTACK!

MACrespondstobiasedmediarepresentation

NATIONALPOSTARTICLEONMACCONVENTION:

AnarticlepublishedinthetheNationalPostonJune30,2022reekedofbiason theauthor’spart,whomadeabsurdclaimsagainstthespeakerlineupatthe firsteverMACConventionheldonCanadaDay.

ForsomeonecallingoutMAConsupposedlyspreadinghate,thewordsofthe author ironically did the same The intended hate towards the organization was undeniable, peeping through baseless allegations of MAC promoting homophobia,antisemiticrhetoricandmisogynythroughtheirguestspeakers and condemning the liberal government for funding Muslim Association of Canadawithgrantsovertheyears.

In response to such absurdity, MAC President-Strategy, Sharaf Sharafeldin deniedtheallegationsbyclarifyingtheuseofgovernmentgrantssolelyforthe following:

securingourmosquesfromvandalismandhatecrimes empoweringwomen educatingyouth combatingIslamophobia

Hefurtherestablishedthattheclaimsagainsttheallegedspeakerswereeither unsubstantiatedorbasedonunreliablesources.

Mr. Sharafeldin also highlighted that the organization has robust policies in place regarding messages delivered via MAC platform to ensure that they align with the organization's principles and stay true to the values of Islam. Thusdebunkingtheallegations,Mr.Sharafeldinwentontohighlightthevarious services provided by the organization for the Muslim community as well as initiatives taken outside the community, requiring collaboration with NonMuslim organizations and interfaith leaders in order to build bridges and promotetoleranceamongstoneanother.

NURTURINGJUSTICE

BuildingMuqsiteen….teachingyouthtostandupforjustice

AbuDharr(RA)reportedthattheMessengerofAllah(SAW)said:Allahthe Exalted said, ‘O my servants, I have forbidden oppression for myself and havemadeitforbiddenamongyou,sodonotoppressoneanother.’(Sahih Muslim)

JusticeisadivinetraitandlovedbyAllahSWT.Islamlaysagreatemphasison establishingjusticeonmacroaswellasmicrolevelsinordertobuildstrong societies. And this realization needs to start young for it to be effectively incorporated into the social fabric Recognizing this, Muslim Association of Canada works diligently to infuse the concept of justice in all our programs and be visible forerunners in supporting just causes and opposing any wrongdoing

MACIslamicschools acrossCanadacapitalizeonopportunitiestoinstillthe idea of standing up for what’s right in young students early on in their academic journey MAC’s very own character education framework, iRISE, implementedinallofourschools,standsfirmlyonIntegrityandService;two outofthefourcrucialcorevalues.ThroughthevalueofIntegrity,studentsare taughttodowhatisright,whileServiceteachesthemtocareforothers,both ofwhichareintegralcomponentsneededtobuildastrongsenseofjusticein theseyoungminds

iRISEJUSTICECHALLENGE:

MAC schools conduct an end of the year culminating challenge, bringing together all the schools from across the different provinces, collective and unitedintheirefforttoreflecttheirlearningofIslamanditsimplementation.

In 2022, MAC schools participated in the iRISE Justice Challenge, which was designedtodemonstratetheirknowledge,skills,attitudeandactionsbasedon their learning throughout the year. Through this challenge, students were encouragedtoliveIslamandbepeopleofjustice,gettinginspirationfromour Islamichistory

It was extremely fitting in the light of MAC’s experience with its own Charter ChallengeagainsttheCRA,whereourstudentslearnthowtoliveuptowhatwe believein;howtostandupforourrightsaswellastherightsofothers.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

DAY:

“EveryChildMatters”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as OrangeShirtDayiscommemorated by MAC schools all across the country.Theday,markedbywearing orange shirts and recognizing the injustice committed by the Canadian Indian residential school systemtowardsinnocentchildren,is an opportunity for our youth to truly understandtheconceptofempathy andjusticeforall.

MAC schools participate by having different activities incorporated into daily lesson plans, learning about the Indigenous culture and their history and truly understanding the acts of injustice committed towards these innocent children. Through these activities, we aim to achieve thefollowing:

Createawareness throughopen discussions

Build empathy and strength to stand up against injustice towardsanygroup,regardlessof religion.

BLACKHISTORYMONTH:

February is commemorated as BlackHistoryMonth,celebratingthe African-American culture and contributions to the world. Our studentslearnthefollowinglessons: Appreciatetheirsacrifices

UnderstandslavecultureofpreIslamicArabia

Learn how Islam gradually eradicated their unjust treatmentandgavethemequal rights

“AllmankindisfromAdamandEve,and Arabhasnosuperiorityoveranon-Arab noranon-Arabhasanysuperiorityover anArab;alsoawhitehasnosuperiority over black nor, a black has any superiority over white except by piety andgoodaction.”

-ProphetMuhammadSAW

Throughengagingactivitiesinfused into the daily lessons, workshops, bulletin boards and posters, our students are once again reminded of their Islamic obligations as Muslims towards others in the face ofprejudiceandinjustice

The quest to improve and better serve the

Highlightsof 2022&2023!

As the organization grows, new initiatives in our approach and services add excitement and vigour tothework.Thelastcoupleofyearssawthelaunch of several new projects regionally as well as nationally, addressing different needs of the communityandfillinginthegaps.

MACConvention

ONE-STOPSHOPFORPERSONALANDSPIRITUALDEVELOPMENT

July2022,markedthelaunchofanannualconventionbyMuslimAssociationof CanadaasaplatformtofurtherpropagateourmessagetothepublicSpread overthelongweekend,the3dayconventionfeaturedarichanddiverse programwithclearobjectivesandoutcomes,offeringover8paralleltracks cateringtoallsegmentsofthepopulation With64speakersandastrong youthfocus,MACwasabletopartnerwith25otherorganizationstoachieve the objectives and deliver the message effectively. Attracting over 4000 participants and 400 volunteers, the convention was a huge success, especiallyintermsofcommunityengagementandpersonaldevelopmentfor communitymembers.

Thesuccessofthefirstconventionin2022facilitatedinmakingitanannual event Alhamdulillah and we brought it back for the community in September 2023. Learning from experience, the second convention was designedtoovercomethechallengesfacedthepreviousyear,ensuringa smoother flow of the program. The addition of an Educator’sConference was the highlight of MACConvention2023, where educators from across the community got the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced in currenttimesandlearnhowtoovercomethemfromexpertsinthefield.

Discussionsabout

Adeeperlookatracism,

AlookintoIslam’s contributionstophilosophy,

Discussionsaboutsocial

Sessionsonbusiness,

Discussingtheroleof

PromoteMACValues, understandingand messages

Engageandmobilizethe communityonissuesof concerntothewider community 1 2 3 4 5

PositionMACinthe community(through leadership,services,and representativemessages)

Creatingnewpartnerships andcollaborations

Presentnewwaveof speakerstocommunity

Overall,theconventionwasagreatadditiontotheexistingprogram portfolioandliveduptotheexpectationsoftheaudienceintermsof engagement,learninganddevelopmentbothonapersonalaswell ascommunitylevel.

Youth was a strong focus for the MAC Conventions with a parallel session stream and engagement program designed specifically for youth. Approximately half of the convention attendees were youth which indicated the successful delivery of a clear message Furthermore, there were networking sessions for MSAs and meetings for youth workers, which is crucial for both personal as well as professional development of our youth.

The strongly structured children’s program, which ran full-day parallel sessionsforchildrenages1-13,allowedasmoothrunningofthesessionsforthe adult population by providing child care in a nurturing and loving learning environment. The program was complete with speakers, counselors and volunteers offering a wide range of activities and educational sessions Partnering with Smile Canada, the program also offered support to children withdisabilities

The Bazaar attractedseveralvendorscoveringawiderangeofproductsand services for the community, thus promoting local Muslim businesses by providinganattractiveplatformandmarketingopportunities.

MACPostSecondaryCollege

ADVANCINGINTHEQUESTFORKNOWLEDGE

Asthequestforknowledgeneverends,sodooureffortswithprovidingvenues and opportunities for our community members in their journey to attain knowledge

With over 30 full-time and parttime Islamic schools across Canada, the establishment of a postsecondarycollegehasbeen in the works for sometime now WiththehelpandmercyofAllah SWT, in the year 2022, we successfully completed the application for a post secondary institution which was accepted conditionallybythegovernment of Ontario, which once established, this new venture will provide an accredited, postsecondaryinstitutionforIslamic training and scholarship. As there aren’t any such notable institutions in Canada yet, once again, MAC intends to be the pioneer in expanding the realm of Islamic education for the community

The inauguration of the Canadian Islamic College (CIC) was announced in December of 2023. The facility at 2380 Speakman Dr, Mississauga has been prepared to begin hosting post-secondary students eager to pursue higher Islamiceducation

Islam&Life

INCREASING OUR REACH VIA SOCIALMEDIA

As MAC works on improving the organization’s online presence, new notableadditionsincludeIslam&Life, which is a weekly live talk show broughttoyoubyMACProductions, whereeverydayissuesareaddressed, analyzed,anddiscussedinlightofthe QuranandSunnahbyouresteemed guestsfromdifferentwalksoflife

IslamandLifeaddressestheinquiries and challenges of Muslims living in North America as they navigate through:

modernandcomplexsocietalissues keepingtruetotheirIslamicmoralsandvalues thestruggletoconnecttheirreligiontotheirrealities figureouthowcurrentglobalissuesimpactMuslimCanadians

MiniMAC-Mommy&Me

TARBIYAHSTARTSYOUNG

Recognizingyetanothergapinthecommunity, MAC launched an infant and toddler program earlyin2022.Developedandrunbyagroupof educators, Mini MAC - Mommy & Me is an interactive and engaging early years program cateringtoyoungchildrenfrominfancyto4years ofageandtheirmothers

“Playwiththemforthefirstsevenyears(oftheir life);thenteachthemforthenextsevenyears; thenadvisethemforthenextsevenyears(and afterthat).”–ProphetMohammed(pbuh)

Followingthepropheticmodelofchildrearinganddisciplining,MiniMAC-Mommy &MeprovidesMuslimmotherswith: asafespaceundertheguidanceofearlychildhoodeducators learning,growthanddevelopmentofthechildinanIslamicenvironment supportforyoung/newmothers

Currently being run by the Mississauga Chapter at ICCO, the program has the potential to go national and efforts are being made to make it accessible to Muslimmothersacrossthecountry

E x p a n d i n g o u r r e a c h k k

E x p a n d i n g o u r r e a c h

S E C T I O N S E C T I O N 8 8

OurComeback!

Thepandemiccausedahugedipinourinperson programs, where the health and safety of our community had to be prioritizedoverthebustlingofourfacilities.

The post pandemic years have been spent meticulously planning for a smooth transition back to the norm. Alhamdulillah we can confidently say that this year we haveseenourcentersreboundtoattainthe pre-COVIDnumbers.

Even though the enrollment for MAC fulltime schools increase across all schools, special focus was needed on the program delivery and learning acquisition in order to deal with the impact of the pandemic on studentlearning

Moreover, our mosques welcomed congregants and delivered programs maintainingallsafetyprotocols.

7chapters

Organized Eid celebrations

75%

of our congregants felt welcomed and experienced a feeling of belonging at our centers.

of our congregants also found staff to be friendly and approachable.

agreed it fulfilled their spiritual needs felt it motivated them to be a better version of themselves.

S E C T I O N S E C T I O N 9 9

Alhamdulillah,ourrevenuestreamscontinuetoremainsolidalongwithbeing diverseyetbalanced.

Donations exceeded thetarget

Revenue from PT tuition improvedto$282M

Program revenue in chapters and centersexceeded$2M

Operationalcosts(salaries,professionalfees,etc) increased Increase in school enrollment, led to fee increasefrom$13.62Mto$14.85M

In the last two years, our overall revenuethroughdonations,programs andservicesaswellasothersources sawthefollowingchangescompared toeachprecedingyears:

14% increase in 2022 and 19% increasein2023inoverallrevenue

10% rise in 2022 and 24% rise in 2023indonations

increase both years in programfees

Expenses went up substantially in 2022,withaslightlylowerincreasethe following year This rise reflects an increase in our program delivery, whichfurtherindicatesgrowth.

29%increasein2022and only14% in2023inthecostofourprograms andservices

Fundraising costs went up by 37% in2022andby21%in2023.

23%increasein2022andonly10% thefollowingyearinmanagement andadmincosts

The whole is larger than the The whole is larger than the sum

of the parts... sum of the parts...

Alhamdulillah,ourorganization continues to deliver to meet the needs of the community with the help and mercy of Allah SWT. Even though the impact of the pandemic can still be felt by most of us, we have successfully weathered the storm, putting our trust in Allah SWT, renewing our intentions at every step and overcoming the challenges throughpersistenceandfaith. Community Infrastructure

Reaching1000's offamilies weekly

Supporting youththrough programs& services

Employing100's ofcommunity members

Building

Thetransformativechangewithinthevariouslayersoftheorganizationisthe resultofanaccumulativeprocessandauniqueblendofcapacitiesthatsets MACapartfromtherestofMuslimorganizations

Itisimportantaswefacenewchallengestorememberthatcommitmentfrom agroupofpeopleisthekeyingredientneededforatransformativechange.

Why MAC?

ConnectWithUs

Engagewiththecommunity

BuildastrongerMuslimpresence

Carry out the duty to propagate authentic, unapologetic Islamic worldview

Change the current narrative about Islam and Muslims in Canadiansociety

Be part of social change and communitydevelopment

Learnwithus Benefit from our various educational and tarbiyah programsforallages. Becomeanassociate Visit macnet.ca/associatesregistration to become an associatewithMAC. Donate Visit macnet.ca/donate to donate and support our programs.

“

“...andthateachpersonwillonly ...andthateachpersonwillonly havewhattheyendeavoured havewhattheyendeavoured ttowards” owards”