Islam: A Canadian Story

Islam: A Canadian Story offers a comprehensive study of Canadian Muslims from before Confederation to the present, challenging the narrative that Muslims are newcomers to Canada and demonstrating their pivotal contributions to building the nation. Islam: A Canadian Story amplifies the voices of those Muslims who have helped shape Canada over the past 150 years and beyond – and argues that, amid all these diverse voices, we nevertheless witness the creation of a distinctly Canadian version of the religion. Far from being recent arrivals, Muslims have lived in Canada since the mid-nineteenth century, if not before, arriving alongside other early immigrant communities such as Jews, Germans, and Ukrainians. Like these groups, they have put down roots, built institutions, and contributed to the country’s social, cultural, and religious life. This book asks: Who are Canada’s Muslims? When and why did they first come, and why do they continue to arrive? Where have they made their homes, and, perhaps most importantly, how have they understood and practised their religion in a Canadian context? Drawing on rich historical sources and lived experiences, Islam: A Canadian Story offers a sweeping account from the first recorded Muslim settlers in the nineteenth century to today’s diverse communities. It situates Muslim stories within the broader history of religion in Canada, challenging assumptions about belonging and reminding readers that Islam is not foreign to Canadian soil – but firmly rooted in it.