Supported by Over 200,000 Donors, Indonesia's First Mosque in Western Canada Inaugurated
Ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia’s independence, a historic milestone has been established in North America. The Al-Ikhlas Centre, the first mosque initiated by the Indonesian community in Western Canada, was officially inaugurated on Saturday (1/8/2026) local time, symbolising that the spirit of mutual cooperation, waqf, and Islamic outreach can transcend national borders and deliver benefits to the global community.
The mosque was realised through the initiative of the Indonesian Muslim Community in Edmonton (IMCE), fully supported by a collaborative waqf movement pioneered by the Cinta Quran Foundation. Through the collective efforts of more than 200,000 donors from Indonesia and various countries, along with support from influencers, fundraising partners, the diaspora community, and corporations, funds totalling CAD 1,140,446.09, or approximately Rp 14.6 billion, were raised to establish this centre for worship and community development.
The inauguration was conducted by the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Vancouver, Nina Kurnia Widhi, alongside Cinta Quran Foundation Advisory Board member Ustadz Fatih Karim, IMCE administrators, and Indonesian public figures Nikita Willy and Indra Priawan. This event marked the culmination of a series of Indonesian Islamic outreach roadshows that visited six major cities in Canada, culminating in the establishment of the Al-Ikhlas Centre.
“Inaugurating the Al-Ikhlas Centre is a source of pride and a deeply meaningful moment. I witnessed the journey of this mosque from the early stages of construction until it stands beautifully today. May its presence become a space that strengthens brotherhood, reinforces the role of the Indonesian community in Canada, and serves as a bridge for friendship between Indonesia and Canada through the values of peace, tolerance, and humanity,” said Consul General Nina Kurnia Widhi.
The Al-Ikhlas Centre becomes the third mosque abroad to be realised by the Cinta Quran Foundation, following similar projects in Japan and Australia. Its presence marks the establishment of three Indonesian mosques across three different countries and continents, reaffirming that Indonesian waqf initiatives can make a tangible contribution to Muslim communities worldwide.
“Today we are not merely inaugurating a building, but inaugurating hope. The Al-Ikhlas Centre is proof that when the community unites, national borders are no barrier to delivering benefit. Waqf does not only build mosques, but builds a civilisation that will continue to channel goodness across generations,” stated Ustadz Fatih Karim.
More than just a place of worship, the Al-Ikhlas Centre is set to be developed as the first Indonesian Islamic Centre in Western Canada. With a capacity of around 100 worshippers, the centre will provide a space for Quranic learning, family development, youth empowerment, social services, community empowerment, and cross-cultural dialogue to strengthen harmony within Canada’s multicultural society.
Public figures Nikita Willy and Indra Priawan, who participated in the entire Canadian roadshow, expressed their hopes that the mosque would become a home that strengthens the community. “We hope the Al-Ikhlas Centre becomes a place where brotherhood grows, a space for everyone to find peace, and a centre that gives rise to an increasingly strong Muslim community that supports one another and continues to bring benefits to the surrounding society,” they said.
The inauguration of the Al-Ikhlas Centre is not the end of a struggle, but the beginning of a greater endeavour. Following the successful establishment of the first Indonesian mosque in Western Canada, the Cinta Quran Foundation plans to continue developing the area by acquiring adjacent property to build the first Indonesian Islamic Centre in the region. This area is projected to become a centre for Quranic education, family development, youth empowerment, social services, Muslim leadership incubation, and cross-cultural collaboration that strengthens Indonesia’s contribution to Canadian society.