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‘Islamic History Month’ triggers opposition Mayor’s proclamation ignites a letter-writing protest Janaya Fuller-Evans
staff reporter
Mayor Derek Corrigan has issued a proclamation declaring Islamic History Month in October, and it has some residents riled. The city has made the proclamation every year since October 2007, when the federal government first proclaimed Islamic History Month in Parliament. But it wasn’t until this year that the Burnaby NOW received several letters protesting the decision. According to Corrigan, the proclamation was just one of many made for groups that put in a request. “We try as a city to be very generous (with the proclamations),” he said, adding that it is part of being a multicultural, multi-religious city. “When asked, we simply recognize what’s important to them.” There have been many proclamations made this year, according to Corrigan’s administrative assistant, Sharon Fuller. Some of these include Barbados Heritage Week, Black History Month, Diwali Month, European Heritage Month and Falun Dafa Month. “It’s symbolic, there’s no financial recognition,” Corrigan said. Organizations approach his office, and usually provide the wording for the proclamation. “We’re not going to devote a lot of city resources to the wording (of the proclamation),” he said. “That’s not what we do.” His staff looks over the document to ensure it falls within the city’s guidelines, and the mayor signs it, he added. The letters sent to the NOW included concerns that the city was promoting the Islamic faith over others, some angry about the Muslim religion in particular. One e-mail, from Grigori Khaskin, took issue with the final item in the proclamation, which he wrote implies Canada is an Islamic country. “Whereas Islamic History Month
File photo//burnaby now
Call to prayer: Local Sunni Muslims are seen here celebrating the opening of the Masjid al-Salaam and Education Centre in Burnaby. Canada will enhance Canada’s ties with other Muslim countries,” the proclamation, dated Oct. 4, stated. Other cities in B.C., including Victoria, Surrey, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver, have also issued proclamations for Islamic History Month Canada. However, Vancouver’s final item reads: “Whereas Islamic History Month Canada will enhance Canada’s ties with Muslim countries.” The word “other” is the only difference between the two proclamations. The Canadian Islamic Congress introduced the idea for Islamic History Month
Canada after 9/11, as a way to teach Canadians about the Islamic faith, according to Wahida Valiante, congress chair and national president. “We were having a hard time creating dialogue,” she said in a phone interview from Toronto. The purpose of the month is to share Islam’s contributions to society, including Western countries, she said, including inventions, scientific discoveries and art. “We share our heritage and take part in that,” Valiante said. On Oct. 25, 2007, Mauril Belanger, MP for Ottawa-Vanier, presented a motion to
designate October as Canadian Islamic History Month. “The response has been overwhelming,” Valiante said, adding there are 29 people on the advisory board for the month. The congress provides posters, literature to libraries, and sends out DVDs of documentaries on Islam, to be shown during the month. Libraries have come to the congress, asking for resource material, she said. The congress’ approach of doing historical research has been popular, Valiante Public Page 3