The growing number of immigrants arriving in Nova Scotia has led to a spectacular growth in some religious communities.
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The number of Muslims in Nova Scotia has nearly doubled in the last decade, according to Statistics Canada. In 2021, there were about 15,000 Muslims in Nova Scotia, compared to about 8,500 in 2011.
The Sikh and Hindu communities have also experienced significant growth.
Aziz stated that attendance at mosques and community centers has been increasing year after year.
“We have to be very creative in making the most of the space we have, but we also need to think about how to meet the needs of attendees,” he said.
Aziz explained that the association helped raise funds to open the first mosque in Pictou County.
The Pictou County Masjid opened in 2019 in a deconsecrated Catholic church that, like many others in the province, had been closed due to low attendance.
Aziz said that Muslim newcomers seek mosques not only to pray but also as a place of belonging that provides them with a sense of comfort amid the unfamiliarity of their new country.
Christopher Helland, associate professor at Dalhousie University studying religion in contemporary culture, states that religion is fundamental to the identity of many immigrants and helps them navigate the world.
He says that places of worship are valuable institutions for people arriving in the province from other countries.
Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh religious institutions help people maintain their cultural identity and sense of purpose and well-being, Helland asserts.
“It’s not just about believing in tradition,” Helland says. “It’s also about the resources that these institutions offer newcomers, how they help them integrate into society.”
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