This is an example of the Islamic style of art we saw in the Aga Khan and the Ismaili Center.
This is the outside of the Aga Khan Museum.
Over the last weekend I went with 28 other International Affairs Scholars to Toronto. We went to many different areas in the city, including three different museums and group bonding activities. We went to the Royal Ontario Museum, which is a fascinating history museum with extensive Egyptian and cultural history exhibits. We also went to the Casa Loma, which is an old mansion that looks like a castle. It is absolutely stunning, and I learned a lot about the history and culture of 1920’s Canada. Additionally, we visited the Aga Khan Art Museum, which contains rare Islamic Art from centuries past. We also went into the attached Ismaili center and had the honor of visiting their prayer space. The entire experience changed my perspective on Canada’s internationalism. I learned that 30% of Toronto’s population was born abroad, and that Canada has promised to take in many new refugees by the end of the year. I visited different neighborhoods of the city: Chinatown, Little Portugal, and Kensington Market, an area full of colorful hole-in-the-wall shops. This trip was eye-opening and made me realize just how globalized the world is.