AMJ Canada’s Inaugural University & College Fair
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | Tahir Hall, Peace Village
Reported by Munavra Ahmad, Chair, Association of Ahmadi Muslim Educators.
National Department of Ta’lim
“Are those who know equal to those who know not?”
— The Holy Qur’an, 39:10
A Historic Evening of Opportunity
On the evening of Thursday, November 27, 2025, despite cold and windy weather with light snow, Tahir Hall at Peace Village in Vaughan, Ontario, was transformed into a vibrant hub of academic aspiration. The Association of Ahmadiyya Muslim Educators (AAME) under the National Department of Ta’lim of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada hosted its first-ever University & College Fair, bringing together students, parents, and representatives from 26 of Ontario’s most prestigious post-secondary institutions under one roof.
The event, held from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, served as the crown jewel of the annual Talim Ashra (Education Week) of the National Talim Department and was organized by the AMJ Student Services team of AAME. In the weeks preceding the fair, the National Secretary Ta`lim, wrote to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) to seek his prayers for the success of this initiative. Huzoor-e-Anwar graciously prayed for the programme. This gave the organizing team immense confidence and motivation that prayers of the beloved Khalifa was with them as they worked towards the historic evening.
The fair was open to the broader community, welcoming both Ahmadi and non-Ahmadi high school students and their parents. The total attendance was estimated at 350 individuals, a remarkable turnout considering the weather advisory. This underscored the deep desire for quality educational guidance among our youth and their families.
A picture of Tahir Hall prior to guest arrival, showing university booths
lining the entire perimeter.
Vision and Purpose
The vision behind this initiative was straightforward yet ambitious: to empower high school students in Grades 11 and 12 to aim for excellence in higher education. The Holy Prophet of Islam (may peace peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said that “Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim” (Sunan Ibn Majah), and his ardent follower, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has instructed his members to “learn the modern sciences and study them with toil and effort for the purpose of service to the Faith” (Malfuzat Vol 1, page 66). In that spirit, the National Ta’lim Department sought to create a platform where young Ahmadis, and indeed all students, could receive direct, personal guidance from the very institutions that will shape their futures. Insha`Allah.
Rather than merely providing brochures and website links, the fair was designed to facilitate meaningful, face-to-face conversations between students and admissions officers. Parents, many of whom are navigating the Canadian post-secondary system for the first time, found the event equally invaluable. The organizing team also undertook significant outreach to local high schools with the assistance of our Ahmadi Trustee. The schools included: Maple High School, Tommy Douglas Secondary School, King City Secondary School, Woodbridge College and St. Joan of Arc Secondary School, inviting their students and parents to attend. Notably, in the early stages of the registration period, external community registrations actually outpaced those from within the Jama’at, a testament to the broad appeal and perceived value of the event.
26 Institutions Under One Roof
The calibre of participating institutions spoke volumes about the credibility and reach of the event. Twenty-six universities and colleges sent official representatives, including some of the country’s most highly ranked institutions. The AAME Chair secured the participation of every institution through her professional network and tireless effort. The full list of participant institutions included:
Algoma University, Brock University, Carleton University, Centennial College, Durham College, Georgian College, Humber Polytechnic, Ivey Business School, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, McMaster University, Ontario Tech University, Queen’s University, Seneca Polytechnic, Sheridan College, St. Jerome’s University, The Michener Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Guelph-Humber, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Windsor, Western University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and York University.
This diverse roster ensured that students interested in research-intensive universities, applied learning at polytechnics, or specialized programs at colleges could all find relevant guidance in a single evening.
University representatives at their booths, ready to engage with students and families.
The Evening Unfolds
Preparations began hours before the doors opened. Volunteers from Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Canada and students from Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada, arrived at 4:00 pm to arrange tables and set up booths. By 4:45 pm, parking arrangements were in place, and at 5:00 pm the university and college representatives began arriving. The refreshment team from National Diayafat Department had prepared chai and biscuits for up to 500 guests, along with sandwiches, water, and snacks for the 50 university representatives; a gesture of hospitality that exemplified the core theme of Diyafat of guests in the Jam`at.
As families streamed into Tahir Hall at 6:00 pm, they were greeted by a well-organized layout of colourful booths arranged around the perimeter of the hall, each staffed by enthusiastic university and college recruiters. The central area featured seating for the presentation sessions, creating a natural flow between the informational booths and the more structured talks.
Students moved from booth to booth with curiosity and purpose, collecting brochures, asking questions about program prerequisites, campus life, co-op opportunities, and scholarship deadlines. Parents accompanied their children, often engaging in their own detailed conversations with admissions staff about financial aid options and student support services.
A guest engages one-on-one with a university admissions representative.
At 6:30 pm, the presentation segment began and drew large, attentive crowds. Our Ahmadi MCs, Basil Virk and Aryaan Hamid, university students themselves, set a vibrant tone from the start, maintaining an electric energy that carried through the entire programme. Three post-secondary representatives delivered presentations covering a comprehensive range of topics: pathways planning from high school to post-secondary, admissions requirements, the application process, choosing the right programme, financial planning and OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program), co-operative education and experiential learning, and campus life. The Q&A sessions that followed were lively and substantive, with students asking pointed questions that reflected genuine preparation and ambition.
The evening’s programme also included Salat (prayer) at 7:30 pm, a natural pause that underscored the event’s unique spiritual dimension. Many university representatives and guests were highly impressed with the grandeur of Tahir Hall and the architectural beauty of the adjoining Baitul Islam mosque. Some even expressed a desire to know more about the Jamaat and visit the mosque. The fair concluded around 8:30 pm, with many attendees lingering to finish their conversations and collect final materials.
A packed audience of students and parents attentively listening to a presentation on post-secondary planning.
A university representative delivers a presentation on academic planning and success strategies.
An Overwhelmingly Positive Response
The feedback from both attendees and institutional representatives was overwhelmingly positive. Parents expressed deep appreciation for the Jama’at’s commitment to the educational development of its youth, noting that such an event saved them the effort of visiting multiple open houses across the province. Many described the evening as eye-opening, particularly for families with children who are the first in their generation to pursue post-secondary education in Canada.
University recruiters were invited to rate the event, and the response was striking: the majority gave ratings of 4 to 5 stars out of 5. Representatives praised the seamless organization, the quality of the venue, and, perhaps most memorably, the warmth of the hospitality extended by the volunteer teams. Several recruiters specifically highlighted the quality of engagement with students and families, remarking that the level of preparation and sincerity of the questions exceeded what they typically encounter at similar events. Participating institutions expressed a strong desire to return for future editions of the fair. Insha’Allah.
The organizing team itself reflected candidly on the event, noting areas for future improvement such as providing tokens of appreciation for university representatives and further streamlining the registration process. These lessons, born of honest self-assessment, will only strengthen the next iteration of the fair.
Families exploring the various university and college booths throughout the evening.
Acknowledgements
An event of this scale and quality is only possible through the selfless dedication of many individuals. The National Ta’lim Department extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to making this inaugural fair a resounding success.
Special recognition is due to the Chair of AAME, who spearheaded the planning and execution with remarkable professionalism, independently securing the participation of nearly every major Ontario university and college through professional networks and tireless effort. The Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Canada, whose major push for attendance among young Khuddam proved instrumental, also managed parking and security with efficiency. The Secretary Ta’lim of Vaughan and Peace Village provided invaluable logistical support; the Diafat (catering) team prepared refreshments with care; and the Ansarullah volunteers and AV/Sami Basri team ensured a flawless technical setup. Muqami Khuddam and students from Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada played a critical role in the physical setup and wind-down of the event. The contributions of the National Ta’lim Team members were also invaluable throughout the planning process.
Looking Ahead
The success of this inaugural University & College Fair has set a new benchmark for the National Ta’lim Department’s student support initiatives. Plans are already underway to make this an annual flagship event, expanding the number of participating institutions, incorporating additional features such as one-on-one career counselling sessions and alumni panels, and strengthening outreach to both Ahmadi families and the wider community.
The Holy Qur’an reminds us to pray “O my Lord, increase me in knowledge” (20:115), exemplifying that the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong process. We pray that this event, and the many more to follow, will inspire our youth to pursue academic excellence with faith, humility, and a spirit of service to humanity. Insha’Allah, the bright futures that were charted on that November evening at Tahir Hall will bear fruit for generations to come.
