Aga Khan arrives in Calgary for first official visit to Western Canada

His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V arrived in Calgary Thursday afternoon for his first official visit to Western Canada, marking a significant moment for the Ismaili community across the region.

More than 20,000 people will attend private gatherings with the spiritual leader through Friday, with meetings also scheduled with government officials and participation in community milestones. Prince Rahim became the 50th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims following the death of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan, in February 2025.

"For the community, this is a visit of deep spiritual significance," said Taleeb Noormohamed, MP for Vancouver Granville. "It's the first time that many members of the community will be meeting the new imam."

During the visit, an agreement with the federal government on housing will be signed, with details on work with the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development to be announced later. The Aga Khan Development Network, an international philanthropic foundation with nearly 100,000 employees worldwide, funds social, economic and cultural development programs largely in Asia and Africa. The imam is particularly committed to the network's environmental and climate-change mitigation work.

Following his Calgary visit, the Aga Khan will travel to Vancouver for additional gatherings.