Al Rashid Mosque is working with the City of Edmonton to rezone 34 acres of land in the city's northwest, to help pave way for future facilities to meet the local Muslim community's growing needs.
Rezoning the land near the Rampart Industrial area would allow Canada's oldest mosque to build a grand mosque, private high school, recreation centre and business complex.
"We are a community of pioneers," Noor Al-Henedy, chair of the Al Rashid Mosque board, told CBC News.
"Investing in community and growing is something that is a priority."
Al Rashid Mosque wants to rezone an area of land in the Rampart Industrial area, located between Campbell Road, 142nd Street and 162nd Avenue. (City of Edmonton)City administration presented a proposed rezoning bylaw amendment to councillors during a series of public hearings last week. Bylaw 21000 seeks to change the Northwest District Plan to facilitate the proposed rezoning.
Eins Development Consulting Ltd. submitted the rezoning application on behalf of the Arabian Muslim Association — the original name under which Al Rashid Mosque was registered and built in 1938.
In September 2021, Al Rashid signed a preliminary sales agreement for the land in question. Now, it's going through the requirements to fully acquire the parcel.
Its location — between Campbell Road, 142nd Street and 162nd Avenue — is ideal, because of its size and proximity to Anthony Henday Drive, Al-Henedy said.
"We do have a big population in the north side, so we were looking at lands where a lot of people can have access to very easily — especially in days like Eid, where we have very large celebrations and we have people that come from across the city," she said.
A growing population has made it more difficult to organize large community gatherings at the new Al Rashid Mosque, which was built in 1982.
Edmonton Islamic Academy, located on 127th Street in northwest Edmonton, aims to open a new campus for elementary students in the coming years. The new campus is proposed to be about three minutes away on 151st Avenue.
There are more than 1,500 kids on the school's waiting list, and every Eid, the facility exceeds capacity, Al-Henedy said.
"We hold at least two Eid prayers, and we see 15 to 18,000 people walk in for each one of the prayers," she said.
"We still have to host two [prayers] to be able to accommodate our community."
City council was divided during the public hearings, with multiple city councillors voicing support and concern over how the rezoning would impact the city's industrial investment action plan.
Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson appreciated the "complexities of this application," but didn't feel she could support it.
"Fundamentally, it comes down for me, to the economical development of our city. Having a healthy mix of residential and non-residential is critically important," Stevenson said.
Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz mulled over the future implications of rezoning.
"I can see why many other parcels or spaces would not be compatible uses," Janz said.
"This is very challenging, what could be a missed opportunity."
Edmonton city council was split during last week's public hearings regarding the rezoning of industrial land. (David Bajer/CBC)High schools are "messy" from a development standpoint, he said, noting that they require a large land parcel, have complex needs, need parking and have traffic.
He also feared that future councillors will be "scrambling to get any single industrial land parcel" they can, as the city grows.
For other councillors, the decision to approve the bylaw amendments was more clearcut.
Coun. Erin Rutherford, who represents Ward Anirniq, which includes the land Al Rashid wants to rezone, recognized the potential to reinvigorate the industrial tax base long-term.
"Does it actually make some of those other vacant parcels surrounding this even more enticing and viable, if there's increased traffic to this industrial area?" Rutherford said.
Coun. Erin Rutherford, shown here at city hall in 2023, represents Ward Anirniq, which includes the land Al Rashid wants to rezone. (Travis McEwan/CBC)Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack suggested the city will have enough industrial land supply for decades, pointing to sluggish interest and land use in the Winterburn Industrial area.
"If we had only 20 years of land supply of industrial land in the city of Edmonton, I might be worried," said Knack.
"We don't. We have 100 years."
Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette agreed with Knack, saying the city has enough industrial land to "last for generations."
He also stressed that council should move quickly on the rezoning decision, given the lengthy timeline to build a school.
"A kid could be born today, grow up and graduate before this land gets developed," Paquette said.
"Our city urgently needs schools, homes, community spaces."