The Newmarket Islamic Centre has a vision to expand its facility, but it has a long way to go with the pandemic halting the centre’s progress.
The mosque has worked for several years years toward its Masjid expansion project, aimed at providing a community centre and Islamic school for its growing number of attendees. The organization has completed preliminary planning work and started a fundraising campaign with a goal between $3 million and $4 million.
But executive director Aziz Mirza said the campaign has only raised about $120,000 so far, with the pandemic curtailing the centre’s efforts.
“Having a hard time to reach our target. But we still hope for the best,” Mirza said. “But unfortunately, due to the pandemic, it’s really difficult.”
Like all places of worship, the Newmarket Islamic Centre has had reduced capacity throughout the pandemic under public health rules. The facility is currently limited to 25 per cent capacity, though that is due to expand on Friday, July 16 to any total where physical distancing is possible.
The expansion would be 16,000 square feet, built on the current parking lot of the organization at 700 Mulock Dr., Mirza said. He said much of the design and planning work is complete, though a formalized submission is on hold while the centre negotiates with the town over development charges.
“We’re not in a position to get permit in hand,” Mirza said. “We’re waiting for a good moment to come.”
That moment could take years given the dollars needed. Mirza said fundraising is a struggle, with pandemic lockdowns taking place during the last two month-long Ramadan celebrations in April, normally a good time for fundraising.
The organization has also been unable to canvas other mosques in more populous areas, both due to COVID-19 restrictions and because there are hard times all around.
“We usually go to the different masjids in the GTA, but no one is allowed anymore because they also have problems with their fundraising,” Mirza said.
The expansion is needed to accommodate the growing community, Mirza said, with few alternatives for mosques nearby. He said their current space, which opened in 2005 in a former residential house, can only accommodate about 80 to 100 people.
“The community is growing by leaps and bounds,” he said. “I see lots of new faces.”
With restrictions lifting soon, Mirza said they plan to hold a fundraising dinner as soon as that is possible. Beyond that, they plan to travel to different places of worship across the GTA when allowed.
But Mirza said it is hard to tell exactly how long it might take to raise the money necessary to make the expansion happen.
“It all depends on how the community is going to react,” Mirza said. “One year, two years, three years, we don’t know.”
A phased approach could be considered depending on the fundraising campaign, he added.
“Our job is to try our best, and the rest is in the hands of Almighty.”
