“The Imamat is the hereditary office of the Ismaili leader in succession from the first Imam, Hazrat Ali. For 62 years, since 1957, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV has been the 49th Imam.

“The Aga Khan has spent a lifetime addressing causes all Albertans support: poverty, early childhood development, pluralism and a better quality of life. In 2011, Alberta signed an Agreement of Cooperation with the Ismaili Imamat to expand collaboration in health sciences, education, the environment, natural resources management, culture and economic development, which I look forward to renewing. 

“The Aga Khan Garden at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden near Devon is a gift from His Highness and a lasting symbol of our great friendship, and we congratulate His Highness on receiving an honourary doctorate from the University of Calgary last year.

“I was honoured to work with His Highness as the minister responsible for the Global Centre for Pluralism, and to play a role in his being awarded honourary Canadian citizenship in 2009, while I served as Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

“On behalf of all Albertans, I join with Alberta’s proud Ismaili community in celebrating His Highness the Aga Khan’s 62 years of leadership.

“Kushali Mubarak!”