Source: Vaughan Citizen from Canada – Front Page Coverage!

Maple boasts a brand-new, multi-million sports and recreation facility and it’s all thanks to Vaughan’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
“Our firm belief is that in order to establish peace and good social values you have to provide opportunities to youth for healthy activities,” said Dr. Aslam Daud, national general secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Canada.
“If you don’t provide opportunities such as that, what ends up happening is people try to create their own activities, which can be negative, like the formation of gangs, violence and drugs.”
Named Tahir Hall after the fourth caliph of the worldwide Ahmadiyya community, the late Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, it is located next to the Baitul Islam Mosque on Jane Street south of Teston Road.
The facility officially opened last week with a special ceremony led by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
Also on hand were Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Vaughan MP and newly minted International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino.
The Ahmadiyya community raised $9.5 million to build the three-storey, 56,000-square-foot facility, which can accommodate two full basketball courts, three volleyball courts and six badminton courts.
It also houses a gym, administrative offices and classrooms.
“This facility is available for the local community for healthy activities,” Dr. Daud said. “They can come and enjoy some sports, have competitions and tournaments and benefit from it as much as possible.”
Although Tahir Hall is available for use by anyone, priority is given to multicultural, interfaith, religious and educational programs, he added.
In addition to providing this new facility, the Ahmadiyya community hosts the annual Run for Vaughan hospital fundraiser and organizes regular blood donor clinics and food drives.
To find out more, visit ahmadiyya.ca.