More Than 250 Community Members Attend SPDI Family Ramadan Iftar in Montreal

Montreal hosted a warm and inclusive Ramadan evening as the Public Services for the Integration of Immigrants Association, SPDI, held its annual family iftar, bringing together more than 250 members of the Arab community in an event that reflected the spirit of the holy month and reinforced values of solidarity, family connection and positive integration within Canadian society.

The gathering drew a wide range of diplomatic, political, religious and media figures, including Ambassador Nabil Mekki, Consul General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Montreal; Heba Allah Saoudi, Vice Consul of Algeria; Monsef Derraji, Member of the National Assembly for Nelligan; Sherif Irfan, Commercial Attaché of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Aref Salem, Montreal City Councillor; Dr. Owais Al-Najjar, Imam of the Canadian Islamic Centre and President of the Council of Imams of Quebec; and Dr. Talaat El Gamal, Secretary General of the Islamic Fiqh Council in Canada, along with journalists, public figures, creatives and members of the wider community.

The event marked the fourth consecutive year that SPDI has organized this Ramadan initiative, underscoring the association’s commitment to building a community tradition that brings Arab families together in a welcoming atmosphere while also strengthening positive integration, mutual understanding and social connection across cultures in Canada.

This year’s iftar also carried a broader social and cultural message by highlighting the human values associated with Ramadan, especially compassion, generosity, solidarity and respect for diversity. These are the same values the association seeks to present as part of the Muslim community’s contribution to Canadian public life.

The evening opened with remarks by Dr. Talaat El Gamal, who spoke about the virtues of Ramadan and the spiritual and human values the month embodies, particularly solidarity and mercy within the community. The program also included Qur’anic recitations and spiritual chants before iftar, while a dedicated prayer space for Maghrib prayer added to the event’s thoughtful and respectful organization.

In her remarks, Alia Shafii Mohamed, President of SPDI, welcomed guests and thanked the volunteers whose efforts helped make the evening a success. She stressed the importance of solidarity and of continuing to strengthen integration within Canadian society through meaningful community work.

Several guests also addressed the audience, including Ambassador Nabil Mekki, Monsef Derraji, Aref Salem and Dr. Owais Al-Najjar. They expressed their appreciation for the gathering and emphasized that such a large turnout of Arab community members, both Muslims and Christians, reflected unity, mutual respect and a shared spirit of belonging.

The evening’s program was hosted by Raafat Hassan and Yasmin Ali from the association’s team, whose confident presentation reflected the growing role of second- and third-generation Arab youth in community leadership and civic engagement.

The event also featured family-oriented and interactive segments that brought a joyful tone to the evening. Mariam Nagdy led a family activity that created a lively atmosphere among parents and children, while Roaa Al Kayyal presented a Ramadan competition with special prizes, adding a balanced social and festive dimension to the program.

With its broad turnout and diverse guest list, SPDI’s family Ramadan iftar in Montreal offered a vivid example of how Arab community initiatives can preserve cultural and spiritual ties while also building wider bridges of understanding and engagement within Canadian society.