Regina's Long-Awaited Mosque Finally to Begin Construction
The $6-million project is expected to take a few years to complete, but Islamic Association of Regina (IAOS) president Muhammad Aslam is hoping the foundation and the shell of the building will be complete by March 2024, ahead of Ramadan.
“Finally, we have reached a point where we are able to formally start construction,” said Aslam.
The building is anticipated to be functioning by September of next year, with additional facilities like teaching centres and gathering places to be added on “step-by-step.”
Aslam said that there is a lot of excitement among Regina’s Muslim population, adding that it’s been a long time coming.
“It has been the number 1 demand from our community for many years,” Aslam said, adding that people were starting to get restless from having their hopes up and then being disappointed when plans for the mosque fell through.
“For the first time, we have reached a point where all the initial work is done, finished, and we can begin construction on Sept. 9,” said Aslam.
Not only will the new mosque be a place of prayer, but a community centre with space to host scholarly pursuits, children play-areas as well as other activities for families to enjoy.
“It will be a nucleus of the community,” said Aslam.
The IAOS initially proposed a mosque in 2012 on a 5.8 acre piece of land just outside of the city in the RM of Sherwood, but nearby landowners wanted the land to be kept for agricultural or residential purposes.
In 2017, rezoning for Tuxedo Park was approved to allow places of worship to be built in the primarily industrial area. The mosque was to be built north of Victoria Ave in between Park St and Francis St until a land survey revealed that the site was contaminated with hydrocarbons.
The IAOS looked south of Victoria Ave to the parking lot of the once-iconic Pump Roadhouse, a staple bar in Regina since the 1970s. The land met the zoning requirements and was in an ideal area for the mosque. In 2018, a deal to purchase the land for approximately $3 million was finalized, and demolition of the bar began.
Aslam said that the last few years have been busy fulfilling permits, finalizing designs and fundraising.
In the past, Aslam said that the IAOS has had to split worshippers up into different centres, in order to accommodate around 9,000 participating in gatherings. The IAOS has rented out the Conexus Centre to make sure everyone has a place to worship during Eid and Ramadan.
The new mosque will be 20,700 square feet and can accommodate approximately 1,000 people. The building will include a library, an Imam office, administrative offices, a board room, kitchen, food court and a multi-purpose hall.
The official ground breaking ceremony will take place on Sept. 9 at 641 Regina Ave E. Premier Scott Moe, NDP leader Carla Beck, Regina Police Chief Evan Bray and other MPs and MLAs are expected to attend the ceremony.
Source: leaderpost.com
