'A huge step for the Muslim community': New mosque opens in St. James
A Winnipeg family hopes to bring together the Muslim community with the creation of a new mosque in the St. James neighbourhood.
The Beit Nabala Mosque opened its doors late last week – welcoming the community to come and pray together for the first time in this area of the city.
"Praying together is very important in Islam and for Muslims. In St. James, there isn't anywhere for people to gather together and pray together," said Ramsey Zeid, the president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba.
"This is a huge step for the Muslim community, especially in St. James."
Zeid helped set up the mosque with his parents. He said it has been a dream of theirs to create a mosque in the St. James area.
"A place where people can come and gather and pray together and worship together – a safe place for Muslims and Palestinians in Winnipeg to come together," he said.
The name of the mosque holds a special place for Zeid's father Wajih. It is named after the Palestinian town where he was born.
"It's very important to me because it's my hometown," Wajih told CTV News.
When he was four years old, his family had to flee their home due to the Arab-Israeli war in 1948. His family spent time living in a refugee camp before immigrating to Canada, and eventually Winnipeg's St. James neighbourhood.
"St. James becomes a second home," Wajih said. "I thought now's the time for me to do something for my community."
This, as many Muslims are once again being displaced by the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
Zeid said the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba is expecting an increase in Muslim immigrants due to the conflict.
"They need a place to worship and to practise the Islamic religion," he said.
He hopes this mosque will help them find their community.
"It's a place where people can come and feel safe, to look for guidance, to come and have maybe a few minutes of peace when things look not so peaceful around the world."
It comes at a time when Manitoba is already seeing an increase in its Muslim population. Ruheen Aziz with the Manitoba Islamic Association said census records show in the past few years, the province's Muslim population has grown from 15,000 to 25,000.
"That's a tremendous growth," Aziz said. "Growth like that in the last few years just shows that the needs of the community are also growing. St. James is in an area that was requiring a community space for a long time."
Muhamed Ali, who was at the mosque praying on Monday, said before Beit Nabala opened in St. James, he would have had to attend mosques that were a 20 to 30-minute drive away. He said it is nice to be able to pray in his community.
"It's beautiful," Ali said.
The new mosque will also include children’s education programming and the offices of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba.
It's located at 325 Wallasey Street, and is open daily for prayer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Cybersecurity expert weighs-in on the possibility of a U.S. ban of TikTok
Anyone who has a Gen-Z person in their life is likely familiar with the popular social media app TikTok, but a new bill in the U.S. may soon take it off of the American market.
Have you heard the one about Trump? Biden tries humour on the campaign trail
U.S. President Joe Biden is out to win votes by scoring some laughs at the expense of Donald Trump, unleashing mockery with the goal of getting under the former president's thin skin and reminding the country of his blunders.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Quebec to invest $603 million to protect the French language
Quebec is investing $603 million over the next five years to counter what its French-language minister describes as the decline of the French language in the province.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
Ukraine's army chief reports tactical retreat in the east, and warns of front-line pressure
Ukraine's troops have been forced to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the embattled east, the country's army chief said Sunday, warning of a worsening battlefield situation as Ukrainian forces wait for much-needed arms from a huge U.S. aid package to reach combat zones.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.