The Maryam Mosque in Oro-Medonte invited the community to celebrate Canada Day Sunday and about 200 people accepted that invitation and joined in the festivities.
“This is a great opportunity to all of us to be grateful to Canada and the opportunity given to us,” said Khalid Malik, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Barrie. "As we all know that love of nation is part of our faith."
Lal Khan Malik, National President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada, said: “I pray that Canada becomes the whole world and the whole world becomes Canada."
The event included the raising of the Canadian flag, a ceremonial cutting of a large Canada flag cake and refreshments for those who attended.
There were several prominent guests at the Sunday morning event. They included Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes, recently elected Barrie Springwater Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey and federal MP for the area, Alex Nuttall.
The mosque is located on Line 7 in Oro-Medonte Township.