City of Vancouver welcomes the Aga Khan, celebrates Generations Vancouver

THE City of Vancouver on Saturday welcomed the Aga Khan V on the occasion of his first official visit to Vancouver as the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.

The visit coincides with Building Together, a special event celebrating transformative community initiatives across British Columbia, including Generations Vancouver.  Generations is a national, community-led approach that brings together affordable housing, care and community. Projects are delivered through partnerships among community organizations, governments, non-profit organizations, philanthropists and private-sector partners, with each development shaped by local needs and priorities of the community it serves.

As part of the visit, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim presented the Aga Khan with a commemorative civic gift recognizing more than five decades of partnership between the City of Vancouver, the Ismaili community and the Ismaili Imamat.

“It is a privilege to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan V to Vancouver for his first official visit as Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims,” said Sim. “We recognize more than 50 years of the Ismaili community’s remarkable contributions to Vancouver and express our gratitude for their enduring legacy of service, generosity, pluralism and community-building. Together, we celebrate a partnership that has helped make Vancouver a stronger, more inclusive city for everyone.”

The Building Together event will also highlight collaborative initiatives that support affordable housing, healthy aging, community well-being and social infrastructure throughout British Columbia.

Among the initiatives is Generations Vancouver, a community-led development currently under construction at the corner of Drake and Richards streets. Led by MCYH Multi Generational Housing Society in partnership with Larco Investments Ltd., it will provide 193 homes for more than 530 residents while helping address housing affordability, social isolation and access to community supports.

When complete, Generations Vancouver will include:

• 193 homes
• Below-market housing opportunities
• Community gathering spaces
• Cultural, educational and social programming areas
• Indoor and outdoor amenities designed to foster intergenerational connection

Expected to be completed by early 2027, the project represents one of the largest community-supported housing investments undertaken by the Ismaili community in British Columbia. During the event, the Aga Khan, alongside government and community leaders, will unveil a commemorative plaque recognizing the project’s importance to Vancouver’s future.

The City said it recognizes the significant contributions the Ismaili Imamat and the Ismaili community have made to the region through leadership in housing, health care, education, community development and pluralism.

As Vancouver welcomes the Aga Khan, the City said it celebrates a shared commitment to strengthening communities, expanding opportunity and building a more inclusive future for all.