Canada: Revised mosque plans wait for civic approval

Noting the mosque would serve primarily Surrey and Delta residents of the faith, the panel was told the space is meant to have clean lines and openness in a simple design, providing daylight for an environment suited for meditation.

Baitun Nur Mosque, Calgary Canada - Prayer Hall
(Photo: Engr. Mazhar-ul-Haq Khan)

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Delta Optimist
By Sandor Gyarmati | August 21, 2011

It's been planned for years but Delta's final approval has yet to be granted for what would become the largest mosque in B.C.

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam wants to build a 25,000-squarefeet mosque at 9750 River Rd. To be called Baitur Rahman, or House of Gracious God, the house of worship would overlook the Fraser River.

The new mosque would be similar, but smaller in scale, to a stunning 48,000square-foot mosque the Ahmadiyya opened in Calgary three years ago. Prime Minister Stephen Harper participated in the unveiling of the Baitun Nur mosque, Canada's largest mosque complex.

Delta council approved an application for the River Road mosque in 2005 and a groundbreaking was held several months later. A development variance permit was also issued but has since lapsed.


Since then, the building's plans have been revised.

A delegation representing the applicant presented the project at a municipal advisory design panel meeting last month.

Noting the mosque would serve primarily Surrey and Delta residents of the faith, the panel was told the space is meant to have clean lines and openness in a simple design, providing daylight for an environment suited for meditation.

The design panel outlined a number of concerns, including calling the park-ing areas "relentless."

The use of the site as a mosque was supported, but the panel voted in favour of asking the applicant to resubmit the revised design in order to address the concerns.

Rizwan Peerzada, a member of the faith's Surrey-East chapter who has been involved in the application, told the Optimist this week they're extremely optimistic final approval will come soon.

Noting construction would begin as soon as that approval is granted, he said a "good news" press release will be issued, although he didn't have a timeline.

The local Ahmadiyya Movement chapter purchased the land in 1995 and had been using an old elementary school on the site as a place of worship.

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

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