Dr. Ben Ali
Dr. Ben Ali was born in Trinidad where he did his Civil Engineering and Medical degrees at the University of the West Indies. He migrated to Winnipeg in 1984 and did his residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of Manitoba. On completion, Dr. Ali worked in Alberta for four years before returning to Winnipeg. He has been working at the Manitoba Clinic for the past 27 years. He was a board member of the Manitoba Association for Asian Physicians (MAAP) and served on the board of MIA during the period 1999-2001. Ben and his wife Yasmin have four children and two grandchildren.
Liaquat Ali
Born in Lahore, Pakistan; Liaquat Ali has been in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the past 50 years. He has spent much of his career in the hospitality industry in a combination of self-owned businesses as well as working for the corporate sector. Liaquat has also volunteered with the Manitoba Islamic Association in many different capacities. He has spent much of this volunteer work with the MIA café that was running on Fridays after Jumah prayer prior to the pandemic. In his free time, he enjoys travelling, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.
Youssef Bezzahou Ph.D., CPA, CGA, CMA
Owner of Youssef Bezzahou Chartered Professional Accountant Inc.
After completing his Ph.D. (Paris 1 – Sorbonne University – France), he worked as a Chief Financial Officer for more than 10 years heading the subsidiaries of two European groups in Morocco.
He moved to Canada with his family in 2000. His is an associate Professor of finance and accounting with Saint-Boniface University.
Using his combined skills and experience in accounting and finance, Youssef launched his Public Practice in 2011 to support businesses and individuals with accounting and taxation services.
Youssef has served and continue to serve on numerous corporate and not-for-profit boards.
Babatunde Ademola Busari
Babatunde Busari was born in Ibadan, Nigeria. He received his higher diploma in Accounting from The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 1997 and got qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2006 with the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria.
Baba started his career as an Accountant with a Law Firm of Etti & Edu in 1999 after his youth service (Central Bank of Nigeria) as the Head of Accounts and worked there for over 7 years. In 2006 he moved to Intercontinental Bank Group as the Financial Controller of Intercontinental Bank Subsidiary (Intercontinental Properties Limited).
In 2011, Babatunde immigrated with his family to Winnipeg, Canada. Babatunde first worked with the Boyd Group as an Accounts Payable Associate before moving to Financial View as a Senior Accountant. Babatunde then joined Sysco Food in 2012 as a Senior Accountant and was there for over 4 years before moving to Government of Manitoba. Babatunde joined the Government of Manitoba as the Manager, Revenue & Accounts Receivable and was appointed to the position of Manager of Accounting Services within 1 year of joining the service. He is currently working as a Senior Accountant at the Office of the Provincial Comptroller in Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Manitoba.
Baba has volunteered in various organisation which include Archwood 55+, Nigerian Professional in Manitoba, Okin International Club of Manitoba and Al-Haqq Prayer Group of Canada.
Baba was the past President of Nigeria Professional in Manitoba and currently a board member of African Communities of Manitoba Inc. (ACOMI). Babatunde is happily married to Khadijah Busari with 4 wonderful and aspiring children.
Abdo El Tassi
Abdo El Tassi is the CEO of Peerless Garment, a well-recognized businessman, and a philanthropist. He arrived in Winnipeg from Lebanon in 1969, where he was working as a teacher. He has been involved in corporate and non-profit boards for organizations including The World Trade Center, The Winnipeg Foundation, the Saint Boniface Hospital, and more. He was a recipient of the 2012 Gold Heart Humanitarian of the Year Award from Variety, Philanthropist of the Year in 2014 from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Canadian Red Cross 2012 Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Honorary Doctors of Law from the University of Manitoba 2013, and more. A park on Talbot Avenue was named after him, as part of recognition for his community work and philanthropy. Additionally, Abdo El Tassi has been involved with the Al Hijra Islamic School, Islamic Social Services Association, and the establishments of Winnipeg’s mosques.
Dr. Reda Elgazzar
Reda Elgazzar was born in Egypt, where he obtained his Bachelor in Dentistry and his Master degree in Oral and Fascial Surgery and worked as a lecturer in the University of Tanta. Then he moved with his family to Scotland for 4 years where he attained his PhD. Thereafter, Dr. Elgazzar moved to Saudi Arabia to share an establishment of a new Dental School where he worked as an Assistant Professor for 6 years. In June 2008, he was offered a tenure track job at the University of Manitoba where he is currently working as an Associate Professor and as an attending Oral & Facial surgeon at HSC. He is also the director of Assiniboia Surgical Centre for Oral Surgery. Dr. Elgazzar chaired different MIA committees including Scholarship, Arabic Halakah, and Foodorama committees. He had served as and MIA executive member for 3 years and he is currently serving on the MIA Wakf Committee. He is married to Dr. Sahar Elmahallawy and has 4 kids. He and his family believe in moderation and unity in Islam. They thrive to promote moderate Islamic etiquettes and education among the Muslim community.
Dr. Ehab El-Salakawy
Dr. El-Salakawy is a Professor of Structural Engineering and a former Canada Research Chair in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba. He moved to Canada in 1995 during his PhD studies at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. He has trained more than 150 highly qualified personnel and published over 300 research articles in Structural Engineering. Dr. El-Salakawy is an active member of several Canadian and American code committees, international journal editorial boards, international conference scientific committees, research centres and professional societies. Since he moved to Winnipeg in 2006, Dr. El-Salakawy has served the Muslim Community in Winnipeg and the Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA) at different capacities. Along with his wife, Magda Yasseen, they founded the first weekend Arabic and Quran school in Waverley Mosque (2007) and the first licensed Islamic nursery school in Manitoba (2020). He served as a member of the MIA board of trustee, constitution committee, library committee, election and compliance commission, and as the MIA president.
Mian Hameed
Mian Hameed graduated from Hailey College University of the Punjab with B.Com. Hons. in 1967. After working 6 years in WAPDA (Accounts Dept.) he travelled to European countries before migrating to Canada in 1974. He lived in Toronto a couple of years before permanently residing in Winnipeg in 1979. Mian Hameed was involved in the Pakistani Association as General Secretary in 1978 and on and off held positions as President until 1994. He held the one and only conference on the issues of “Guardianship in Islam and the Concept of Adoption”, a Heritage Language Conference in 1980, a Convention 1990, Pakistan Day, Quaid-A-Azam Day and numerous other events that brought the association to recognition. He was invited several times by the Pakistani Ambassadors to conferences and to engage with the Pakistani community. He helped make the association part of the Federation of Pakistani Canadians where he served as Treasurer. He also volunteered and held positions in the main-stream organizations like Mayer’s Race Relation Committee, Mb. Multicultural Council, Mb. Multicultural Resources Centre, Secretary of State Media Relation Committee, Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties, and St. Vital Wpg Regional Health Authority Advisory Committee. Additionally, Mian Hameed was involved in meetings with board chairs, finance committees, board development, oath commissioner, member of the jury, and Active Living Coalition for Older Adults.
He has worked with Manitoba Islamic Association in variety of volunteer positions including Social Services Chair, Finance chair for International Dawah Conference for MIA, Executive Member, and funeral services for more than 20 years. He trained coming and going volunteers for body washing. Much of his work has been supported by his loving and caring wife.
Nighat Hameed
Nighat Hameed graduated with B.Sc. from Pakistan, married Mian Hameed in 1979, and migrated to Canada . She has three children Qamer-un- Nisa Hameed, Zia Hameed, and Raza Hameed, who have all been involved with and volunteered for Manitoba Islamic Association. Hameed Mian who was already involved with the Association of Pakistani Canadians of Manitoba, encouraged her to join since my arrival until 1994. During that time Nighat Hameed and her husband produced, directed and hosted T.V programs on Vision Community Channel for the Pakistani community for about four years.
Nighat Hameed started volunteering with Manitoba Islamic Association when the MIA ladies fundraising committee was formed in the basement of the Pioneer Masjid. She was also part of the first committee formed for the Alhijra Islamic School. She also supervised Quranic halqas in the Pioneer Masjid, night stays during Ramadan and Traviah, bake sales for fund raising, and many other activities. She enjoyed the family feel the Muslim community had.
Nighat Hameed and Mian Hameed were involved with the building of the Grand Masjid. In 1993, she became a volunteer for Funeral and Body washing and has encouraged, mentored, and trained many ladies volunteers for this noble work. She has also presented at ladies’ gatherings to discuss the body washing practice and etiquettes. Nighat Hameed has also worked for H.S. Paul School as supervising staff for lunch hours, library hours, and as a teacher assistant and volunteer counsellor. She has created a unique lunch program for 400 children and made yearly presentations to the Lewis Riel School Board of how to improve the lunch program for schools.
Dr. Ghassan Joundi
Dr. Ghassan Joundi was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. He completed medical school there and afterwards moved to the US where he completed his residencies in pathology and dermatopathology. He then moved to Montreal, Canada in 1981, where he did his fellowship in Dermatology at McGill University Hospitals. In 1984, he became licensed by the Medical Council of Canada. In 1986, he moved to Winnipeg and has been practicing Dermatology since.
He quickly found a connection with the close-knit and growing Muslim community in Winnipeg and Manitoba. He served as Vice President of the MIA for two terms, and afterwards on various committees, such as the land committee and the fundraising committee.
Dr. Joundi served as MIA’s President from 2001 – 2009, during which the Winnipeg Grand Mosque was built and inaugurated in January of 2007.
Dr. Joundi continues to practice Dermatology and has 3 kids who graduated from the University of Manitoba.
Merdia Imame
Golam Kibria
Golam Kibria came to Winnipeg from Bangladesh in 1978 to complete M.SC in Mechanical Engineering and a Two-Year Management program. He started working with the Manitoba Muslim community and the MIA starting from the early years of 1980’s. Golam had the opportunity to serve them in the following capacities: coordinator of weekly Quran study sessions and monthly seminars (held in the Mosque after Dhuhr prayer); member of the Board of Trustees; chair of the Board of Trustees; member of the Editorial Board of Manitoba Muslim; chair of the Land Committee; First Vice President; and President. He worked with talented and hardworking team members and with cooperative efforts, accomplished the following: established a place for Friday Prayer in downtown; raised awareness of Islam to greater community through newspaper articles; helped settle refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bosnia; conducted community wide new centre feasibility study; organized fund-raising events for the new centre; purchased a parcel of 12.6 acre land on Waverley Street (1993) for the new centre; etc.
Kathleen Mazur
- Born and raised in Winnipeg and has been an active member of the Muslim community for over 30 years
- Has an Advanced Degree in Economics from the University of Manitoba
- Kathleen is a Trust Officer in the Indigenous Wealth Department at RBC, working with Indigenous communities across Canada
- Through the years she has volunteered with numerous events and fundraisers within the Muslim community
- Board Member of Manitoba Islamic Association Wakf Foundation
- Married to Salah Taguri and the Mother of six children
Sh. Ismael Mukhtar
Ismael Mukhtar has been one of the key leaders of the Manitoba Muslim community for over three decades. His extensive and wide-ranging community contributions include serving as president of the Manitoba Islamic Association, vice-president of the Muslim Student Association, editor-in-chief of the Manitoba Muslim Magazine, volunteer imam, and counsellor. He is an Islamic scholar, regularly lecturing and writing on Muslim issues. Mukhtar lives in Winnipeg with his wife and three children. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).
Dr. Muhammad Tariq Mian
Abdul Aziz (aka Abdul Aziz Mian)
Abdul Aziz (aka Abdul Aziz Mian) came to Winnipeg in February 1984. He studied Geographical Information Systems at Red River college and is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Manitoba. After graduating, Aziz worked in various fields such as environmental engineering, software engineering, manufacturing, quality management and project management. In 2001, he joined the City of Winnipeg where he became, Manager of Services for the Winnipeg Police Service. Under his leadership, the division delivers a variety of support services to the organization.
Aziz has been involved in community work since 1984. From day one, Aziz volunteered with the Pakistani Association of Winnipeg. Aziz was instrumental in establishing a cricket team in 1985. He also assisted in establishing the Canadian Islamic Chamber of Commerce. Aziz served two terms as a board member for the Immigrant Centre formerly known as Manitoba Immigration Council. He is also the longest serving board member for the Winnipeg Police Senior Officers Association. In MIA, Aziz volunteered with the Takaful committee, the Manitoba Muslim magazine, the board of directors as secretary and then two terms as vice president, and the board of trustees which was responsible for capital projects. Aziz championed and playa key role in the establishment of the MIA Funeral Home.
Mark Naim Uddin
Mark Naim Uddin is a certified property manager (CPM) and has over 3 decades of experience in property management. He is past president of the Real Estate Institute of Manitoba and three time char of the Institute of Real Estate Management. He is currently the vice president of the A.S.H Management Group. He served for five years as the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Manitoba Islamic Association. During his term with the organization, he provided the expertise to complete the Grand Mosque and community centre on Waverley street.
Dr. Munir Pirzada
Since moving to Winnipeg in 1982, Munir has realized the importance of, and embraced the Manitoba Islamic Association. Munir was elected as a MIA trustee and tirelessly worked to secure funding from the 3 levels of government in the amount of 3 million for the establishment of the Grand Mosque and community centre. With these funds contributions from numerous fundraising events that he helped organize, construction of the Grand Mosque was initiated. Munir also took a keen interest in the development of and final design of the mosque. Munir has always been committed to give of his time and expertise to support the work of the Manitoba Islamic Association.
Mrs. Kokeb Pirzada
Kokeb has been a resident of Winnipeg Since 1968. Her life has always revolved around being connected with the Manitoba Islamic Association. Initially this was through volunteering as youth, while her father, Mr. Irshad Faruqui was involved in designing the Pioneer Mosque, and serving as a trustee in the 70’s . She was the participant in the inaugural Muslim youth Camp in 1977 as a youth counselor. She served in this capacity for several years, as well as many other activities involving youth and children’s programs.
Kokeb wedding ceremony and reception was the first community wedding to take place at the Pioneer Mosque with all Muslims residing in Winnipeg in attendance. As she settled into life as a mother and wife, she remained involved in the Manitoba Islamic Association by organizing events, dinners and bake sales to support the construction of the Grand Mosque. More recently she organized the MIA 50th anniversary gala in 2019. Kokeb has also served as a board member of Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. She WI and CCMW.