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Calgary Herald

Ismailis cook up community spirit at 28th Stampede Breakfast

Country music, the aroma of chai, cowboy hats, pancakes, syrup and scrambled eggs with a coconut curry on the side — it's not your regular Stampede breakfast, but one infused with the Ismaili tradition and a palpable spirit of volunteerism. Article content The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre hosted its 28th Stampede Breakfast on Saturday, an elaborate affair attended by Premier Danielle Smith, Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Salma Lakhani, lieutenant governor of Alberta, and several other public figures. Article content Article content 'Ismaili communities are always and everywhere, defined by their respect, compassion and dedication to helping the people around them,' Smith told the crowd. 'You are a symbol of what this province is, which has become more diverse in every sense of the word.' Article content Article content Article content Ismailis, a sect of Islam mainly comprised of South Asians whose ancestors had migrated to African countries, found a home in Calgary after Uganda's then-dictator Idi Amin expelled its South Asian population in the early 1970s. Article content Ismailis differ from other Islamic sects by placing their belief in a living, hereditary Imam, whom they consider as their spiritual leader. The global community garnered prominence owing to their erstwhile Imam, Prince Karim al-Husseini, also known as the Aga Khan IV, who ran several philanthropic efforts across the world. Article content al-Husseini, the community's 49th leader, passed away in February, giving the community its 50th Imam, Prince Shah Rahim al-Hussaini. Article content Article content Ismailis in Calgary began thriving soon after arriving in the city five decades ago and entered a float into the Calgary Stampede parade in 1986. A little over a decade later, its members began hosting a Stampede breakfast, which has since become one of the city's most important cultural events. Article content Article content This year, the breakfast featured traditional pancakes, eggs and bharazi, pigeon peas cooked in a coconut sauce. Article content For the Islamic organization, the event is a way of serving Calgarians. Article content 'As Ismailis, a big part of our value system is to be able to give back to the communities in which we live, in which we come from,' Alisha Kanji, media spokesperson of Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre's Calgary chapter. Article content 'So the stampede… also allows us an opportunity to build bridges with other communities as well, and to showcase all of our wonderfulness that we have here in our community.'