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The community of Arab peoples from the region of present day
Lebanon came to Western Canada before the turn of the last
century. By the first decades of the 1900s, some of these men had
begun to establish trading businesses. Based in places such as
Fort Chipewyan, Lac la Biche and Edmonton , these merchants traveled northward via the Athabasca
River and as
far as the present day Northwest Territories.
The Lebanese that came to Alberta at that time remained a
cohesive, culturally strong group. It was these Lebanese Albertans
which came together to form organizations to support religious
practice and language and culture. While the community is not
exclusively Muslim, in1938, the Al Rashid Mosque was built,
Canada's first mosque. During this time of economic hardship the
people came together to found a place of worship for other
Lebanese Albertans in Edmonton, and built the first mosque in
Canada.
The Lebanese mother tongue is Arabic. In Alberta, many
Lebanese people celebrate the Muslim holidays of Eid-Ul-Fitr and
Eid-Ul-Adha. Eid-Ul-Fitr is celebrated after the Holy month of
Ramadan. During this month there is a fast from sunrise to sunset
for 29 or 30 days depending on the moon. After this month many
Lebanese Albertans celebrate the Feast after fasting with dinners,
lots of sweets and candies, and gifts from family members.
For more on the early Lebanese families and their lives and work,
please see the Legacy feature article by Andrea Lorenz, The
Women Behind the Al Rashid Mosque and the Lebanese profile
article by Richard Awid on Ali and Hilwie Hamdon from his book, Through
the Eyes of the Son.
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