08/26/2016
CALGARY: Alberta – It
was a reunion that will be
remembered for many years to
come and extremely hard to match.
I say this from experience
having co-chaired the first full
scale Arusha Ismaili Reunion
held in the Toronto area in 2006.
Organizers of the three-day
Calgary event which started July
29 went out of their way to make
their event an amazing success.
Organizers of Arusha Reunion in Calgary lauded for memorable event
Suggestion to hold next reunion in Arusha
By Sultan Jess a And now there is already some
talk the next event, whenever that
is, be held in Arusha, Northern
Tanzania’s rapidly mushrooming
expanding tourist Mecca.
More than 350 people, some
from as far afield as Tanzania,
Kenya and around Europe,
attended the reunion to keep the
Arusha spirit alive.
Nurdeen G. Maherali thanked the
committee for an “incredible
and outstanding efforts of the
whole team.”
“It was surely worth traveling
all the way from Tanzania for
an amazing weekend,” added
Karim Jamal.
He suggested the next reunion
be held in Arusha.
Zulekha Ahmed said it was a
fantastic three-day journey.
“It was heartwarming to
connect with Arushawallas after
40 and 50 years.”
Immi Hirani and Abdul Ebrahim
Janmohamed agreed the reunion
was an unforgettable event.
The reunion started with the
welcome reception and buffet
dinner at the Coast Plaza Hotel.
This was followed by a
barbecue picnic at the Priddis
Community Center where there
were outdoor and indoor which
included old and favorite games,
music and entertainment.
On the final day, a brunch and
music party was hosted by Gulzar
and Afzal Rajan at the Holiday
Inn in Red Deer.
This was in memory of Sakina
and Gulamhussein Rajan of
Continental Hotel in Arusha.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi,
whose parents once lived in
Arusha before migrating to
Canada in the early 1970s, was the
guest speaker at the gala banquet
also held at the Coast Plaza.
The buffet dinner was followed
by live band and dancing.
The highlight of the evening
was an impromptu performance
by Sameer Dewji who played the
role of Shamshu Mollel, a Masai
warrior, dressed in the traditional
garb and carrying a spear.
He came all the way from Dubai
bringing with him a gold medal his
team won in soccer at the Ismaili
Jubilee Games in Dubai.
Towards the end of the banquet
congratulatory messages received
from Canada’s Governor-
General David Johnston,
Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau, Alberta’s Premier
Rachel Notley, Opposition
Conservative leader Rona
Ambrose, Thomas Mulcair,
leader of the national New
Democratic Party and also
a message from Tanzania’s
President Dr. John Pombe
Magufuli were read.
Retired journalist
Sultan Jessa, originally
from Arusha, has been a
regular contributor to
Times of Arusha.)
Picture 1 Arusha Reunion official logo
Picture 2 Sameer Dewji played the role of Shamshu Mollel, a Masai Chief.
Picture 3 A dancing event by bollywood professional dancing group of Calgary at the reunion
