Saskatoon Muslim community hosts Canada Day event

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community put on a celebration this afternoon to commemorate Canada Day, and everyone was welcomed with open arms. 

Mayor Don Atchison helped raise the flag as a group of festively dressed children serenaded the crowd with "Oh Canada."

"Canada has provided a safe haven for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community to practice their beliefs, practice their religion and freedom, and not fear persecution," said Nasser Malik, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

Malik said that Canada Day isn't just a day of celebration - it's also a day to reflect on the acceptance this country has offered immigrant families.

"Immigrants actually have a much better appreciation of what Canada stands for and what values Canada has given to people," said Malik. "When you're born in this environment, you don't realize how lucky you are…We're much more thankful than [a lot] of people."

This year, Canada Day occurred during the holy month of Ramadan. Although there was plenty of cake to eat, not all the attendees could partake. From dawn to dusk, healthy Muslim adults fast. That meant that during the celebration, most couldn't indulge in the goodies.

But that didn't stop the group from staging the event that has been an annual tradition for the past ten years.