Islamic Society of Regina Masjid

Islamic Society of Regina (ISR) is a registered non-profit organization. Initially, we from a small group of Muslims living at Hanbidge Crescent and discuss the growing needs of Muslim community. We started looking for separate designated place for worship, where we can pray five times a day.  We approached the management of Hanbidge Crescent and gave them a series of presentations. Finally, we were able to rent a one bedroom unit at 87 Hanbidge Crescent. As a result a Musallah was formed on September 2009. A year later this Musallah was formally registered with CRA as non-profit organization as ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF REGINA on 24th December 2010. Because of this Musallah, Muslim community has increased manifold at Hanbidge crescent. Currently there are around 70 Muslim families are living at Hanbidge Crescent and almost same numbers of families are living close to Hanbidge Cr.  This one bedroom Musallah is very small compare to our needs. We have tired our level best to accommodate as much as we can. Currently there are two Friday prayers. During Ramadan, we’ve to borrow a living room of adjacent unit. Because of parking and other allied issues, land lord has given us several vocation notices and finally decided not to renew the lease for 2012-13. Since September 2012 our lease is on month to month basis. Under the circumstance we can only provide limited services to our community members. As you know renting a suite was a temporary arrangement in order to have a platform and look for better alternative later. In order to response to the needs of the growing Muslim community in Regina, the Islamic Society of Regina likes to acquire a community center as outlined below. ISR’s management is fully aware of these challenges and working very hard to find the alternate solutions. We approached to City council back in Jan 2010 and pleaded our case to have separate bigger place. We also start hunting available places in the north region of the city and work together with city officials. We also met the management of four churches in north area and requested them to rent for Friday prayer but so for no luck. We also told them that we are willing to buy in case they want to sell. Simultaneously, we also involved city councillors and have several meetings with Sharron Bryce and Mike O’Donnell (Chairman city Council) is assisting and helping us to date also met with previous Mayor Mr. Pat Fiacco also met with director school board Ms. Debra Burnett. We have communicated time and again to the above officials that following are our current requirements to accommodate the community.

• Prayer hall at least approximate 2500Sq to conduct worship services and accommodate all worshipers during the five daily prayers, Friday prayers, and month of Ramadan prayers
• Community center to house all religious, educational, social and entertainment activities. This center will accommodate the current and future needs of the growing Muslim community in the NW neighbourhood of Regina.
• Washroom / bathroom facilities, ablution ‘Wudu’ areas for men and women.
• Administration areas, offices for some board members, meeting rooms etc.
• A facility to accommodate weekend and evening school. This facility should accommodate a minimum of 80 pupils of different ages at anytime.
• Gymnasium
• Kitchen and Social hall that accommodates and serves 100 people.
• Small library, computer room with a computer network, reading / study area, meeting room(s).
• Provide sufficient parking space per city regulations.
• Help new immigrants coming to Regina.

We were targeting one of the two properties: 1-       Pasqua Neighbourhood Centre 2-       KenjenkinsSchool (Was closed from more than 2 Years) The First one Pasqua Neighbourhood Centre has already been sold by the city to the Habitat for humanity. Now the only option left is “ken Jenkins school” which is also a very suitable location for the community living around. After three years continuous effort and several meetings with City councillors, school board and other city officials, we were able to convince them to sell the Jenkins school building to ISR. City has now figured out that this school building also has a decent piece of land attached. They want to sell both together school building and land attached. Total land including school building is 3.9 acres. City has appraised total value as $3.2 millions i.e land $2.8 million and building $0.4million. We again met the city councillor and told him that we cannot buy both land and school building. He confirmed that city will not sell it separately. He advised us to collaborate with builders/private investors and make a plan that fulfils city’s requirement as well.  As per his recommendation we met designer to find out the possible options. He gave us four options: Leave school building as it is and builds 25 detached houses Leave school building as it is and builds 41 Town homes. Leave school building as it is and builds 20 Town homes and 32 apartment units of 2&3 bedrooms. Leave school building as it is and builds 13 single family units and 20 town homes. Initially designed copies of the same are attached. Thereafter, we also have had meetings with builders. One of them has also expressed his interest to own this project. He will get back to us with some proposed numbers i.e facts and figures by end March or first week of April 2013. Please feel free to contact me for any clarification of explanation.