Timeline in the history of Muslims in Manitoba
Date |
Development |
1900–1914 |
First Muslim immigrants arrive in Manitoba from Syria and Lebanon |
1914–1955 |
Slowdown of Muslim migration due to World War I, Great Depression, and restrictive immigration policies |
1955–1960 |
University students and professionals started arriving in Winnipeg, mostly from Pakistan, India, and the Caribbean |
1960 |
Muslims in Winnipeg form the first Muslim association: Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA) |
1969 |
MIA legally incorporated |
1974 |
Establishment of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at the University of Manitoba |
1975 |
Beginning of the construction of the first mosque in Manitoba at 247 Hazelwood Avenue |
1976 |
Official opening of the first mosque on the day of Eid Al Fitr on September 25 |
1986 |
Arrival of MIA’s first full-time imam, Tahir Aderonmu |
1990 |
Establishment of the Muslim Youth Council (MYC) |
1993 |
Purchase of 12.6 acres at 2445 Waverley to serve as a future site for a new centre |
1994 |
Major split within the community following the dismissal of the second imam of MIA, Mohammed Saffie. His supporters established their own Friday prayer in a rented facility, conducting their own Eid prayer and weekend school |
1994 |
Establishment of the Takaful Fund, to provide financial assistance to the needy in the community |
1996 |
Al Hijra Islamic School, first Islamic school in Manitoba, begins in a rented facility on Pembina Highway with around thirty students |
1997 |
“Flood of the century” hits Winnipeg and environ. The MYC mobilizes Muslim youth to volunteer across the city, filling sandbags, and building dikes to protect properties |
1999 |
Establishment of Manitoba Muslim Magazine (the longest lasting MIA publication) |
1999 |
Establishment of the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) |
2000 |
Opening of the first mosque in Brandon |
2001 |
September 11 attack; the community deals with major public and media attention |
2004 |
Opening of the second mosque in Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Central Mosque (WCM) |
2006 |
Establishment of the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute (CMWI) |
2007 |
Official opening of the new centre at 2445 Waverley |
2007 |
Opening of the first mosque in Thompson |
2007 |
Opening of the Yaseen Centre, at 746 Ellice Avenue, to serve as the first “Shia” centre in Winnipeg |
2009-2011 |
MIA falls into a major crisis. Conflict within EC spills over to the court. PriceWaterhouseCoopers Inc. (PWC) was appointed as the receiver of MIA. PWC took over MIA affairs for few weeks. Elections were held; a new EC was elected, uncontested, in December 2011. PWC handed back all affairs to new EC. |
2013 |
Bilal Mosque opened in a rented facility. In September 2015, moved to a purchased facility at 33 Warnock Street |
2015 |
Official opening of the Pembina Valley Mosque in a rented facility in the town of Winkler |
2015 |
Arrival of an estimated 2,000 Syrian refugees to Manitoba |
2016 |
Opening of Salam Mosque at 294 Burrows Avenue |
2016 |
Opening of the Husaini Association Shia Centre at 1744 Provincial Trunk Highway 59, Niverville |
2016 |
On its fortieth anniversary, the first mosque in Manitoba was renamed “Pioneer Mosque” |
2019 |
MIA officially opens its new facility downtown at 406 Edmonton Street, MIA Connections |
2020 |
Mosque closures due to COVID-19 -first closure in March |
2021 |
Opening of the Muslim funeral home at 2445 Waverley Street Mosque |
2022 |
Opening of a new mosque, named Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, on 794 Ellice Avenue, by a new group called Islamic Ministries of Manitoba, with the support of Jamia Riyadhul Jannah of Saskatoon and Mississauga. The building was a former Catholic church, purchased in March. |
2022 |
Ibrahim (Obby Khan) elected as the first ever member of the legislative assembly (MLA) in a by-election in the Fort Whyte constituency on March 22. He ran as a candidate under the Manitoba's governing Progressive Conservative party. |