Albanian Muslims of Toronto Achieve a Historic Milestone
The history of Toronto’s first mosque exemplifies perseverance and community unity, particularly highlighting the role of the Albanian Muslim community. Many may not know that this community played a significant role in establishing the city’s first Muslim place of worship.
In 1957, Toronto’s ‘first’ mosque was founded by Albanian immigrants who transformed a modest leather shop on Dundas Street into a fully functional ‘masjid.’ This mosque was later renamed the ‘Jami Mosque.’
However, because of its central location and limited space, the community soon needed a larger facility to accommodate over 2,500 congregants and their families. They sought more than just a place of worship; they envisioned a community center that would serve as a cultural and educational hub.
This endeavor was not immediate. It took the community 70 long years to reach their goal, but they finally succeeded, Alhamdulillah.
In a significant development, the Albanian Muslim Society of Toronto (AMST) has officially completed the purchase of a new property to serve as its future mosque and cultural center. This new location promises to be a wonderful space, Masha’Allah.
Located at 124–126 Queens Plate Drive in Etobicoke, this acquisition marks a new chapter in the history of one of Canada’s oldest Muslim organizations.
A Long-Awaited Dream Realized
For both community elders and new generations, securing a larger, permanent home has been a long-shared aspiration.
“This has been a dream held by generations of Albanian Muslims who came before us,” shared the AMST Board of Directors and Imam in a joint statement announcing the purchase. “Many prayed for this day, worked tirelessly toward it, donated generously, volunteered countless hours, and never lost hope that one day our community would have a larger home for future generations.”
A grassroots campaign made this purchase possible, involving financial contributions from hundreds of local families, extensive volunteer outreach, and essential interest-free, Halal community financing.
AMST’s leadership expressed deep gratitude to community members who provided generous financing, emphasizing that their support allowed the acquisition to proceed in accordance with Islamic ethical principles.
Community leaders stress that the new center is designed as a gathering place to nurture both spiritual growth and cultural preservation.
Planned programs for the new facility include accredited Albanian language classes, traditional cultural arts and dance programs, youth leadership camps, family educational seminars, and social spaces that foster intergenerational connections.
While the purchase is complete, work on the Queens Plate Drive site is just beginning. If all goes well and construction proceeds on schedule, AMST hopes to officially open the doors of the new Albanian Mosque & Cultural Center in time for the start of Ramadan in early 2027, Insha’Allah.
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