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CBC
36 minutes ago
- CBC
A mosque, in memory
Atlantic Voice He lost his son and grandson in the Titan tragedy. Then he quietly paid for a new mosque for the community that helped him mourn. At an early morning Eid al-Adha prayer service, the sun shines through the stained glass windows in the Shaheed Suleman Dawood mosque, formally the Mary Queen of Peace Rossiter/CBC Caroline Hillier Jun. 10, 2025 As international media crews clustered along the St. John's harbour front in June 2023, fixated on broadcasting the Titan catastrophe to the world, there was a quiet mourning taking place in another part of the city. Two of the passengers aboard that ill-fated submersible, which imploded off the coast of Newfoundland during a descent to visit the Titanic wreck, were a father and son, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood. Their family had flown in from London. As a search for survivors became a recovery effort, they turned to the only mosque in St. John's for a funeral service. There, they prayed through their profound loss beside people they'd never met before, and found solace. 'In the Muslim community, there are no strangers,' said Hussain Dawood, the father of Shahzada and grandfather of Suleman. 'Even though you don't know them, they could be from the other side of the world, but you're one community.' The funeral sparked a lasting relationship and grew into something much larger: a long-awaited expansion for the city's growing Muslim community that many involved see as pre-destined. In 2023, the Titan submersible implosion grabbed the world's attention. But there's another side to the story you might not know about: How the family of two of the victims found solace with the St. John's Muslim community, and ended up making a generous, and much needed, gift. That's all in The Best of Planners, a documentary from Caroline Hillier. That expansion, now on the cusp of opening, is named in honour of the Titan's youngest victim, who was 19 years old: the Shaheen Suleman Dawood Mosque. Just as the funeral went mostly unnoticed, the origin story of this mosque is largely untold, despite the intense media scrutiny surrounding the Titan disaster, even two years later. Friendship from tragedy Hussain Dawood is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and a deeply religious man, who finds comfort in believing his son and grandson are both in heaven. 'My creator was so gracious to bless us with two beautiful souls and it was a gift. And it's his right to take it back,' Dawood said during a video interview with the CBC from London, U.K. Dawood often references teachings from the Quran when explaining how his Muslim faith helps him understand grief, life and loss. 'You never get to the bottom of it because it's too deep, but it's a book of wisdom,' he said. That wisdom has helped him cope with the tragedy of the Titan. The submersible, built and owned by the private company OceanGate, offered $250,000 US tours to the Titanic wreck. But it had been built out of carbon fibre, an unconventional material for such deep-sea dives. On its 14th dive to the Titanic, the Titan imploded shortly after the June 18 launch. Hussain Dawood speaks to CBC News about the aftermath of the Titan tragedy and how the world came together. All on board — including OceanGate's CEO — were killed instantly. In that, Dawood sees mercy. 'I don't think any of the five even knew what was happening. It is so instantaneous. It's too fast for the brain to process,' he said. In the Muslim faith, funerals are held shortly after death, and so it was important to the Dawoods to make arrangements as soon as possible. Hussain contacted the existing mosque in St. John's, and Syed Mansoon Pirzada. Pirzada, the longstanding president of the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador at the time, arranged the prayer and spread word through the community, but not to the media. 'He took it upon himself, and he and his very gracious wife, and they looked after us and they arranged everything,' said Dawood. 'We spent quite a bit of time with them…. we made sure that they were comfortable,' said Pirzada. 'Mr. Hussain Dawood was poised in the face of this loss, and Mrs. Dawood, her tears were non-stop flowing and it was heartbreaking to see,' said Amnah Pirzada, Syed's wife. 'We were sitting with them and talking to them and holding their hand sometimes.' Amnah remembers being touched by the funeral service. 'It was beautiful and quiet and I think they felt that peace. It gave them a bit of closure,' she said. Even after the Dawoods departed St. John's, they and the Pirzadas kept in touch. When both families find themselves in the same city — be it Dubai or Karachi — they meet up. From cross to crescent St. John's first and only mosque at the time of the funeral, Masjid Al Noor, managed to accommodate all the mourners. But that is far from the building's normal operations. The mosque was built in 1989 for the 100 or so Muslim families living in the area at the time. In the decades since, that community has grown exponentially. Now numbering more than 10,000 members, the mosque regularly overflows for Friday prayers. Worshippers use the kitchen, and sometimes the lawn, covering these extra spaces with their prayer mats. Prayers for big celebrations, like Eid, are held at sporting complexes. Fifteen years ago, the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador hatched plans for a new mosque, raising funds and even buying land. But those plans stumbled and eventually stalled due to city regulations and other setbacks. But then came a call from a real estate agent, with an unusual offer: a former Catholic church, Mary Queen of Peace, was on the market. And it might just fit their needs. The church, too, had ties to tragedy: it was initially sold off in 2022, along with other Catholic properties, to pay settlement suits for victims of the Mount Cashel orphanage. The sexual abuse of children there, at the hands of the Christian Brothers that ran it, exploded into the public eye in 1989. Legal proceedings are still working their way through the courts. After the initial sale of Mary Queen of Peace, plans to renovate it faltered, and it was this second chance at the property the association leapt on. 'We said that yes, we are interested. And then we started thinking about how much money do we have and how much funds we can collect so quickly,' said Pirzada. The Muslim association had an opportunity, but also a hurdle. Islamic law doesn't allow for loans that involve interest — like mortgages — and the association didn't have enough money to buy the building outright. images expandThe Muslim community in St. John's is diverse, made up of people from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and other countries around the world. Now friends, Pirzada told Hussain Dawood about the potential purchase, and complication, over a phone call. '[Pirzada] said that there is a church available, we have a limited time frame and he looked quite worried that they would lose this opportunity,' said Dawood, who is from one of richest families in Pakistan. Dawood offered to pay for the church. 'If this is what we can do to show our gratefulness for all that you've done… we'll happily participate,' Dawood said. 'That's what we did. So I just sent him the money.' Pirzada and the association were shocked about the generous donation. The sale went through in December 2024, for nearly $2.2 million. 'This was a gift from — not only a huge gift from Mr. Hussain Dawood's family — but also, I believe, that it was a gift from God to our community,' said Pirzada. Pillars of the faith Charity isn't just encouraged in Islam; it's mandatory. Hussain Dawood said his donation to the St. John's Muslim community was simply in line with the Quran. 'I did them no favour,' said Dawood. 'It's just working with the community for hopefully the betterment of all members of the community. And I consider it is their graciousness that they're giving my grandson's name to the mosque." As charity is a pillar of Islam, so too is the belief of destiny — signifying that everything is predetermined by God's knowledge and will. Though the failed attempts at building a new mosque through the years were frustrating, Pirzada believes that this church was destined to be a mosque. 'That's what we believe, that there's one plan which a person makes, or a human being makes. But there is another plan which is made by Allah, or God, and he is the best of the planners,' said Pirzada. Open for Eid After church pews had been lugged out and carpets rolled up, the Shaheed Suleman Mosque opened its doors for the first time on March 30, for Eid al Fitr, the celebration following the holy month of Ramadan. Over the course of two services, nearly 7,000 people come through the doors — where the cross handles have been replaced with Arabic calligraphy — to pray, and many offer extra prayers for the Dawood family and their loss. 'Yes, we are all destined to die. But sometimes our deaths can facilitate, can pave a ground for other people to become hopeful,' said Ayse Sule Akinturk, an executive member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Muslim Association. 'On the one hand, two souls are lost, you know, in such a tragic event. And then that sense of loss becomes a sense of hope for the entire community here.' The cross on top of the building has been replaced with a crescent moon. The former confession booth is now an audio-visual room, with new security system screens. Some history will live on, however, with a space dedicated to display parts of the building's Catholic past. 'Never in my wildest dreams' While the mosque reopened for Eid al Adha prayers on June 6, it remains under renovation and is not yet being used for daily prayers. The new space will also offer education and religious programs, to be named for Shahzada Dawood. And for the official opening of the Shaheed Suleman Mosque, there are celebration plans in the works to involve both local Muslim and non-Muslim communities. 'It's going to bring forth something very beautiful, with every prayer, whoever is going to attend the prayer, rewards will be sent to the entire family,' said Amnah Pirzada. There will also be a special invitation to that opening sent to the Dawoods. 'I would never in my wildest dreams have thought of going to St. John's and meeting such wonderful people over there,' said Hussain Dawood. That encounter has left its mark: with the mosque, and with him. 'Life is not black and white and it's not a straight line. It's full of complexities.' Credits Audio documentary produced by Caroline Hillier with help from Lindsay Bird and Liz Hoath. Photography by Mike Rossiter. Copy editing by Lindsay Bird and Mike Moore. Video produced by Stephanie Kinsella and edited by Katie Breen. Layout by Katie Rowe. About the Author Footer Links My Account Profile CBC Gem Newsletters Connect with CBC Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Mobile RSS Podcasts Contact CBC Submit Feedback Help Centre Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6 Toll-free (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636 TTY/Teletype writer: 1-866-220-6045 About CBC Corporate Info Sitemap Reuse & Permission Terms of Use Privacy Jobs Our Unions Independent Producers Political Ads Registry AdChoices Services Ombudsman Public Appearances Commercial Services CBC Shop Doing Business with Us Renting Facilities Accessibility It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. About CBC Accessibility Accessibility Feedback © 2025 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved. Visitez
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Smoke blankets Alberta as fight against western wildfires continues
Social Sharing Smoke from wildfires burning across Alberta has blanketed much of the province, including the Edmonton region. Edmontonians woke up to worsening air quality — the distinct smell of burning wood and morning skies cloaked in an orange haze. Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for the city and surrounding regions, while air quality warnings remain in effect for a swath of communities across the northern portion of the province. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke could fluctuate from hour to hour and as smoke levels increase, so do the health risks, Environment Canada cautioned. As of Tuesday morning, the Air Quality Health Index for the Edmonton region was rated at 10+, meaning that residents are at a very high risk from the current levels of air pollution. Environment Canada is urging people to limit their time outside and to monitor themselves for symptoms of prolonged exposure, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder said that from B.C. to Quebec, Canadians could likely see and smell wildfire smoke. "We're seeing smoke present almost everywhere," Flisfeder said. "When we look at satellite imagery, we can see the presence of smoke stemming from these wildfires making their way across the Atlantic toward the U.K. and parts of Europe." He said the haze isn't dangerous when it remains in the Earth's upper atmosphere but when it descends, it becomes a health risk. Flisfeder added that winds are expected to shift in the coming days. A scorching season Smoke is drifting in from the northwest from fires burning in northern Alberta as well as northeastern B.C. Western Canada has faced a volatile start to wildfire season with explosive fire conditions and expanding evacuation orders straining emergency resources across the west. Between 10,000 and 15,000 remain under evacuation in Saskatchewan and another 21,000 have been forced from their homes in Manitoba, one of the largest evacuations in the province's history. Close to 3,000 Albertans remain on evacuation orders. On the front lines of the wildfire fight 6 hours ago Duration 2:45 A helicopter pilot, heavy machinery operator and railway worker talk about what they're doing on the front lines of the battle against wildfires in Manitoba. As of Tuesday morning, 65 wildfires were raging across the province, 24 of which are burning out of control. Seven of the fires are considered an imminent threat to critical infrastructure or communities. Among them is a blaze along the Alberta-B.C. border, which has grown relentlessly for days, triggering a string of evacuation orders. The blaze, known as the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, continues to burn out of control since crossing the border into Alberta. The fire flared dangerously over the weekend, forcing an evacuation of Kelly Lake in northeast B.C., and destroying several structures within the remote community. Aggressive fire behaviour Sunday afternoon prompted the County of Grande Prairie to issue an expanded evacuation order and alert. The fire grew significantly overnight Sunday, in what wildfire officials described as a stern warning about the continued risk to surrounding communities. The fire grew rapidly Monday and now covers 21,679 hectares. Drier fuels and poor overnight humidity recovery are expected to fuel the fire, especially in exposed areas and spruce stands. The wildfire continues to progress toward containment lines along the north side, officials said. Red Earth East Complex A complex of fires, known as the Red Earth East Complex, continues to threaten a cluster of remote northern Alberta communities. Residents of Peerless Lake, Trout Lake, Red Earth Creek and Loon River First Nation remain under evacuation, while around 100 residents of nearby Chipewyan Lake are assessing their losses after nearly half of the structures in the community burned. A wall of flames moved in on the community two weeks ago, temporarily trapping a firefighting crew on scene overnight as homes along with the community's health centre, church and water treatment plant were incinerated by the flames. The Sousa Creek fire forced residents of Chateh to flee last week. It's unclear when it will be safe to return to the town about 850 kilometres north of Edmonton. The fire remains five kilometres south of of Chateh and 72 kilometres west of the Town of High Level. It has now consumed more than 41,200 hectares of forest. Crews battling the fire have faced high winds and parched conditions which have threatened to push the fire toward the community. Firefighters and heavy equipment crews have been working to contain the fire along the north and northeastern perimeter near Sousa Creek. Shifting winds and soft wet soil deep in the bush has hampered those efforts, officials said. A smattering of rain showers were expected to fall on northern Alberta Monday but after weeks of hot, dry weather, conditions remain parched. Officials caution that the fire danger remains extreme, meaning the risk of fast-growing, volatile fires across the Alberta landscape remains dangerously high.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Nova Scotia government creating engagement table to address gender-based violence
The Nova Scotia government is creating an engagement table to address gender-based violence in the province. The table, which will be led by Attorney General and Justice Minister Becky Druhan, will have up to 25 members. Members will include representatives of front-line service providers and community organizations, survivors, family members and academic experts. 'Nova Scotians have told us that gender-based violence supports and services need to be more connected, more responsive and easier to access,' said Druhan in a news release Tuesday. 'We need to work together with the people providing support and the survivors who access those services. It's about understanding needs as they evolve, getting help to people faster and working together to stop violence before it starts.' In September 2024, the government declared intimate partner violence an epidemic in Nova Scotia. Since October, police in Nova Scotia have reported the deaths of seven women and one man, allegedly from intimate partner violence. 'Gender-based violence is a complex issue, but it's one I know we can solve if we listen to the experts and find solutions, together,' said Leah Martin, minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women. The province has also introduced domestic violence court programs in Halifax and Sydney and legal changes that allow victims of domestic violence to take leave from work without fear of losing their jobs. The engagement table will be supported by: the minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women the minister of Opportunities and Social Development the minister of Health and Wellness the minister of Addictions and Mental Health the minister of Education and Early Childhood Development the minister of L'nu Affairs the minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs A call for applications to join the table will be issued in the coming weeks. The group will meet at least every three months. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
