About 100 members of Ottawa’s Muslim community gathered at Taqwa Mosque on March 12 to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, sharing an evening of reflection, community, and generosity that marks this special time of year for Muslims around the world. Earlier in the evening, His Excellency Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Canada, visited the mosque to greet members of the community and introduce himself during one of his first engagements with Ottawa’s Muslim community since assuming his diplomatic post in January 2026.
The gathering was supported by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Ottawa, with generous support from the Qatar Fund for Development and in collaboration with Qatar Charity, helping provide meals for those observing the fast during Ramadan.
Many of those attending were students, including several from the University of Ottawa, who joined members of the wider community to share the moment of breaking the fast together following sunset. During his remarks, Ambassador Al-Ansari spoke about the State of Qatar’s commitment to humanitarian initiatives, cultural engagement, and strengthening ties with communities in Canada. He noted that Ramadan represents values that resonate across cultures, such as generosity, compassion, and solidarity, and expressed his desire to continue building meaningful connections between Qatar and Canadian communities during his time in Ottawa.
In closing, Ambassador Al-Ansari shared his vision for strengthening ties between the State of Qatar and communities across Canada, noting his commitment to highlighting Qatar’s humanitarian initiatives, cultural outreach, and partnerships during his tenure in Ottawa. He expressed his sincere appreciation to the leadership and volunteers of Taqwa Mosque for their warm welcome and coordination of the evening, and emphasized the Embassy’s openness to continued collaboration and support for community initiatives in the future.
Header image: His Excellency Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Canada, visited the Taqwa Mosque in Ottawa on March 12, 2026, during the holy month of Ramadan. Photo: Courtesy Embassy of the State of Qatar in Canada
