Visitors to the Ismaili Muslim Jamatkhana on the morning of July 6, wouldn’t have been able to turn their heads without seeing one of Western Canada’s major dignitaries or VIPs.

Such is the reputation, and importance, of the annual Ismali Muslim Stampede Breakfast—now in its 27th year—that it has become one of the most important cultural and political events of the Stampede season.

That importance has come through the hard work and volunteer spirit of the Ismaili Muslim community of Calgary itself, which has for decades, and in some cases generations, prided themselves on their participation in the Calgary Stampede- this year with more than 300 volunteers.

“What it means for our community is it allows us to show and allow other people to experience the values that we have as Ismaili Muslims: the values of diversity, pluralism, and the ethos of volunteerism and giving back to the community that has given so much to us,” said Salima Kassam, a volunteer with the Ismaili Muslim Community.

“How we’ve managed to interweave into the fabric of Calgary and society and Canadian society really speaks to who we are as a community, and a chance to show that and embrace others is so monumental for us.”

Many of the first generation of Ismaili Muslims in Calgary came to Canada as refugees after then-dictator of Uganda Idi Amin expelled people of south Asian descent from that nation in the early 1970s.

The community has prospered in Calgary, and first entered a float into the Calgary Stampede in 1986. The community began hosting a Stampede Breakfast in 1997.

“For over 50 years we’ve been in Canada now. So we’ve had a really lovely opportunity to establish ourselves, and people have accepted us and we have accepted society at large as well,” said Kassam.

“Having the chance to come together and to show people who we are to be with our neighbours and to invite our neighbours to this breakfast, and open our doors so that people have a really good window into who Ismaili Muslim community people is so important to us.”

The annual breakfast includes a variety of traditions, including the traditions of the west with pancakes and eggs, and the east with bharazi, which is pigeon peas cooked in a coconut sauce.

Decades long connection to Calgary Stampede

Calgary Stampede President Will Osler said that the annual breakfast was great on so many levels.

“The Stampede is happening not just on Stampede Park, and that’s fantastic. It also means that all these communities are doing what we do, or trying to do, at the Stampede, which is create community,” he said.

“It’s a fixture on our calendar. There’s a bunch of Stampede people here, the food is fantastic, and it’s just one more side of Stampede that some people might not know about. We love their support, we love what they’re doing, and we love being a part of it.”

He said that there was a real synergy between the culture of the Calgary Stampede and the Ismaili Muslim community with the spirit of volunteerism.

“Volunteerism is a real feature of this community. They’ve been doing it for a long time, and they support so many crosses in the community. At this breakfast, there are 400 volunteers here, and That’s incredible. I think pound for pound that’s way more volunteers we have at the Calgary Stampede for sure.”

Among the dignitaries to attend this year’s breakfast were Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, leader of the Alberta NDP Naheed Nenshi, multiple Alberta Ministers including Minister of Justice Mickey Amery, Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Couns. Gian-Carlo Carra and Kourtney Penner, and Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth.

From the federal government Minister and President of the Treasury Anita Anand was joined by Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault.

Centre for Newcomers CEO Anila Umar, whose organization was the partner for this year’s Ismaili Muslim Stampede Parade float, was also in attendance.

“We’re so grateful to the Ismaili Muslim community to welcome us as the Center for Newcomers, to help us welcome the 80,000 newcomers we are projected to see this year. It is astounding. We have grown by leaps and bounds, and to the number of people seeking refuge in Canada,” she said.

Photos from the 27th annual Ismali Muslim Stampede Breakfast