Global Centre for Pluralism
Encyclopedia
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Centre seeks to assist the creation of successful societies and was founded on the premise that tolerance, openness and understanding towards the cultures, social structures, values and faiths of other peoples are now essential to the survival of an interdependent world.
The Global Centre for Pluralism is an international initiative of His Highness the Aga Khan
Aga Khan IV
Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
, 49th hereditary Imam of Ismaili Muslims
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
, and was established jointly with the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
in 2006. Located in the old Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum covers all facets of Canada’s military past, from the first recorded instances of death by armed violence in Canadian history several thousand years ago to the country’s most recent...
building along Ottawa's Sussex Drive
Sussex Drive
Sussex Drive is a major street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and one of the city's major ceremonial and institutional routes....
, the Centre draws inspiration from the Canadian experience. It functions as a global repository and a source of knowledge and know-how about fostering pluralistic values, policies, and practices. It aims to work with countries to nurture successful civil societies in which every citizen, irrespective of cultural, religious or ethnic differences, is able to realize his or her full potential.
Board of directors
The Board of Directors of the Global Centre for Pluralism gathered for their inaugural meeting in Ottawa from October 7–8, 2010. Composed of renowned Canadian and international leaders and thinkers, the Board includes the following members:- His Highness the Aga KhanAga Khan IVPrince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
, (Chairman of the Board) Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development NetworkAga Khan Development NetworkThe Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East...
(AKDN) and 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili MuslimsIsmaili' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
; - The Right Honourable Adrienne ClarksonAdrienne ClarksonAdrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
, former Governor General of CanadaGovernor General of CanadaThe Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
; - Kofi AnnanKofi AnnanKofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, former Secretary-General of the United Nations; - Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Head of the AKDN's Social Welfare department;
- Iain BensonIain BensonIain Tyrrell Benson is a legal philosopher, writer, professor and practising legal consultant. The main focus of his work in relation to law and society has been to examine some of the various meanings that underlie terms of common but confused usage...
, Canadian lawyer and Professor of Law at the University of the Free StateUniversity of the Free StateThe University of the Free State is situated in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State, South Africa. The university also has a satellite campus in Qwaqwa that was, until 2003, part of the University of the North.-Academic Divisions:...
in BloemfonteinBloemfonteinBloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
; - Yash Ghai, leading KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n constitutionConstitutionA constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
al expert; - Rudyard GriffithsRudyard GriffithsRudyard Griffiths is a TV co-anchor, author, and social entrepreneur. He is the co-host of the daily business and politics television show National Affairs on the CTV News Channel. He has edited eleven collections of essays on Canadian and international political and historical themes and is the...
, co-founder of the Dominion Institute; - Huguette LabelleHuguette LabelleHuguette Labelle, CC is a retired Canadian civil servant and the Chancellor of the University of Ottawa.Born in Rockland, Ontario, she received a Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy in education from the University of Ottawa....
, Chancellor of the University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
; - Azim NanjiAzim NanjiProfessor Azim Nanji is a Kenyan-born professor of Islamic studies. From 1998 until 2008, he served as Director of The Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, England. At present, he is the Senior Associate Director of the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies at Stanford University...
, Senior Associate Director for The Abbasi Program in Islamic StudiesThe Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, Stanford UniversityThe Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies facilitates, promotes and also serves as the central forum for interdisciplinary research and teaching in Islamic studies at Stanford University....
at Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
; - Margaret Ogilvie, Chancellor's Professor of Law, Carleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
; and - Khalil Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of the Aga Khan Foundation CanadaAga Khan FoundationThe Aga Khan Foundation is a private, not-for-profit international development agency, which was founded in 1967 by . AKF seeks to provide long-term solutions to problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill health in the poorest parts of South and Central Asia, Eastern and Western Africa, and...
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Building
When fully operational, the Global Centre for Pluralism will be located at 330 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, a building that served as the home of the Public Archives of CanadaLibrary and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
from 1906 to 1967 and the Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum covers all facets of Canada’s military past, from the first recorded instances of death by armed violence in Canadian history several thousand years ago to the country’s most recent...
from 1967 to 2005. The building was built from 1904 to 1906 and is designated a National Historic Site of Canada and a Classified Federal Heritage Building.
The building has been vacant for several years and requires significant renovation and rehabilitation. A multi-phased revitalization of the heritage property is currently underway.
Profile of activities
The Global Centre for Pluralism draws on Canada’s successful record in constructing and sustaining pluralist civil societyCivil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
. Working closely with governments, academia and civil society around the world, the Centre is a think-tank for studying and fostering pluralism. It seeks to foster legislation and policy that strengthens developing countries’ capacity for enhancing pluralism in law, justice, the arts, the media, financial services, health and education. In addition, it will deliver programs, facilitate dialogue, develop pedagogical materials and work with partners worldwide to build capacity to promote indigenous approaches to pluralism within countries and communities.
From its inception, the Centre is expected to be one of the largest think-tanks in Canada. Its mission is consistent with Canadian international policy objectives, including the promotion of democracy and good governance, a more equitable sharing of the world’s resources between developed and developing countries, and the projection of Canadian values, such as the rule of law, human rights and respect for diversity.