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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 1, 2015 | 4 WIM Canada's custom-built mosque breaks ground by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver Oakville's first custom-built mosque will be a gateway for the community to stay connected. A groundbreaking ceremony for World Islamic Mission (WIM) Canada's new Masjid Noor-UL-Haram Mosque was held last Saturday (April 25) at the site of the existing centre at 2478 Ninth Line. WIM Canada officials and scholars, Oakville and Halton MPPs Kevin Flynn and Indira Naidoo-Harris, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and Town councillors attended. "We've been known to be very, very busy within the community. We play an active role within the community, not only to bring the spiritual values of the religious activities, but also to get connected with the youths, elders and the entire population living in Oakville," said Abdul Ahad Ruhomaun, WIM Canada secretary general and Joshua Creek resident. The three-storey centre includes a 21-metrehigh mosque dome, four minaret towers rising 100 feet, two full-size gymnasiums and dressing and meeting rooms. It will occupy 11 acres of land, purchased for $780,000 in 1998, on the west side of Ninth Line, just north of the current 5 Drive-In. The new mosque will replace the 3,200-sq.-ft. bungalow currently used by worshippers. Parking will accommodate up to 358 cars ­-- 255 on the surface and 103 covered spaces. At the official groundbreaking for the World Islamic Mission (WIM) Canada's Masjid Noor-UL-Haram mosque on Ninth Line in northeast Oakville, Oakville MPP and Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn tosses a shovel of dirt to mark the occasion. It will be the first custom-built mosque in Oakville and Ontario's largest Islamic centre. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) "We're not building this only for the Muslim community, but we're opening it for the entire community because there are two gymnasiums we have within the project that will be available for anybody," said Ruhomaun. "We even put a path at the back of the mosque where people can walk through the property through Joshua Creek." Work on the foundation will start immediately. The project builder is Bismillah Building Services and the estimated time frame for completion will be two to four years, Ruhomaun said, as WIM Canada depends on donations and the build will occur in phases. By the time the centre opens, Ninth Line will have expanded into a four-lane road. "As soon as we get donations, we're going to build accordingly. Like any other churches or mosques, it's dependent on donations from the general public," said Ruhomaun. "Typically, once people see it happening, this is when they come forward and start donating for the completion of the project." The organization's fundraising campaign, which has raised two-thirds of its $3-million goal for the end of 2015, will be promoted in national media outlets in an effort to acquire additional funds, Ruhomaun said. Total construction costs of the facility could reach between $15 million and $17 million, he estimates. "We're two phases into the project. There is the phase of the mosque and there is the second phase, which is the gymnasiums," said Ruhomaun. Once all production phases are finished, the centre will have 5,700 square metres of floor space, making it Ontario's largest Islamic centre. About 250 worshippers currently attend prayers at the existing building, but the new mosque will be able to serve up to 1,000 people. "This mosque is not only for the Muslim population, but for (everybody). We've strategically placed the mosque...when someone comes into the mosque, he can walk through and visit the mosque with no issues," said Ruhomaun. The location was chosen because of a growing Muslim population in Oakville/Mississauga. Adjacent to Hwy. 403, the building provides greater accessibility to Muslims living in the western part of Greater Toronto, including Brampton and Burlington. palma brava home furnishings 1510 Speers Rd. (at 3rd Line), Oakville Car and Truck Rentals/Sales 905.827.2243 e s u o h e r wa Student Spring Cargo Van SpeCialS!! 24 - hr rental. Night before pick-up available! n o i t a d i u q i l everything must go OAKVILLE 905-845-6556 427 SPEERS RD. UNIT 6 Home FurnisHings and accessories sale www.palmabrava.com (BETWEEN DORVAL & 4TH LINE) Inclusive Student packages - Incl. KM'S, Taxes and Insurance!! 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