Dignitaries present included Minister Peter Van Loan, who was representing Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatieff, and various other political leaders and prominent community members including Indian Consul-General Preeti Saran, Ontario Minister Harinder Takhar (who brought a message from Premier Dalton McGuinty), Dr Kuldip Kular, Dr. Shafiq Qaadri, Amrit Mangat, Gurbax Malhi, Navdeep Bains, Ruby Dhalla, Linda Jeffrey, Scott Simms and Jim Karygiannis.

Others in attendance included Judy Sgro, Mauril Belanger, Maria Minna, Joe Volpe, Kirsty Duncan, Rob Oliphant, Greg Sorbara, Reza Moridi, Bob Delaney, Monte Kwinter, Laura Albanese, Mayor Hazel McCallion, Mayor Linda Jackson, Suzanne Hall, Sue McFadden, Elaine Moore, Janet Davis, Mario Ferri, Peter Meffe, Tony Carella and Colin Best, York Regional Police Chief Armande Labarge and Ontario Fairness Commissioner Jean Augustine.

Representatives of various faith groups were also present.

All dignitaries spoke highly of the peaceful contribution of the Ahmadiyya community to Canadian society.

Ignatieff commended the motto of the community 'Love for all - hatred for none', while van Loan read the greetings from Prime Minister Harper, who recently called Ahmadiyya Muslim community the "benevolent face of Islam".

On the occasion Farhan Khokhar, the National Communications Director of Canada's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, spoke of the future of Islam in the West, while emphasizing the West will only accept the peaceful interpretation of Islam.

Based on the Quran, he elaborated on the teachings of jihad, the Islamic model of governance, freedom of conscience, and loyalty to the country.

The keynote address was delivered by Naseem Mahdi, Senior Vice President and Missionary In-charge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Canada, in which he provided the Islamic perspective on the current global economic crisis, highlighting some of the foundational principles of an Islamic economic model which promotes justice, productivity, stability and charity, as well as calls on all citizens and governments to recognize the dominion of God over all things and their responsibilities to Him regarding their wealth.

Earlier, the first day of the conference opened with the Friday sermon and prayer service and was followed by a number of lectures during the evening session.

During his sermon Naseem Mahdi, the Senior Vice-President of Canada's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, spoke of the many achievements of the community under the leadership of its Khalifa and reminded participants of the mission of the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community which was to convey the true and peaceful teachings of Islam.

Commenting on the rise of atheism, Lal Khan Malik, the President of Canada's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, called on all participants to demonstrate the existence of God by living in accordance with His teachings of love and thus acting as lights of guidance for society.

Hadi Ali Chaudhry delivered a lecture on how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) championed the cause of proving the existence and the unity of God.

On the conference's second day, scholars discussed, among other topics, the moral and spiritual excellences of the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the companions of Prophet Muhammad, the correct interpretation of the finality of his prophethood according to the scholars of Islamic history, and the correct understanding of the Shariah concept of justice and criminal punishment.

In his keynote address, within the context of describing the history and evolution of the persecution of Ahmadiyyas, Iftikhar Ayyas noted the community continued to prosper despite facing various adversities.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is a worldwide religious organization that notes it strives to promote the message of societal peace and harmony as preached by Prophet Muhammad. It was established in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India.

For further information on the Ahmadiyya community in Canada visit www.ahmadiyya.ca or www.islamevents.ca