My name is Nazim Awan, and Alhamdulillah, I have been blessed to live in the Yellowknife area for over 20 years with my wife and children. This city has been our home, where we have grown in faith, served our community, and raised our family together.
Bismillah-Was salatu was salamu ‘ala Rasoolillah
Assalam o Alaikum
My name is Nazim Awan. Alhamdulillah, my family and I have called Yellowknife home for over 20 years, and I have been blessed to actively serve the Muslim community throughout this time. I served for over twelve years as Chair of the Islamic Centre of Yellowknife and currently sit on its Advisory Committee, helping to build a new purpose-built facility for our masjid, youth, and interfaith programs.
Professionally, I am a senior federal public servant and a seasoned economic development practitioner with a post-graduate degree in agriculture. My career includes extensive experience in strategic planning, governance, stakeholder engagement, and program delivery through my work with CanNor, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation.
Community service is at the heart of my life. I have led Qurbani distributions, food bank drives, and youth mentorship initiatives. During the 2023 Yellowknife wildfire evacuation, I coordinated relief efforts in Edmonton — mobilizing over 50 volunteers, raising over $100,000, and distributing more than 4,000 culturally appropriate meals to evacuees. My service has been recognized with both the Premier’s Award of Excellence and the King Charles Coronation Award.
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the current and past ISNA Canada Boards, staff, and dedicated volunteers for their tireless commitment. Their efforts have built a strong foundation on which we can now accelerate our national growth and impact.
Insha’Allah, if elected, I will work with the Board of Directors to:
• Expand national reach by making ISNA Canada membership simple, open, and affordable — reducing cost barriers so Muslims from every region can participate.
• Form an inclusive Advisory Council of elders, youth, and women to guide ISNA Canada’s priorities and ensure it reflects the diverse voices of Canadian Muslims.
• Honour our elders and recognize the contributions of previous leaders by:
– Establishing an Annual “ISNA Canada Builders Award”
– Creating a “Legacy Leaders Advisory Board”
– Launching a Digital Archives Project to preserve our history
• Mentor the next generation of servant leaders by establishing a formal mentorship program connecting elders with youth across Canada.
• Expand ISNA Canada nationally by establishing strong local chapters — supported with seed funding (from the Endowment Fund), governance templates, and a standardized training curriculum.
• Create a national forum for collaboration and idea-sharing, including an annual virtual cross-country conference to inspire innovative strategies and strengthen our collective impact.
• Undertake a comprehensive review of ISNA Canada operations to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
• Establish a multi-purpose National Endowment Fund to support mosque construction and operations, educational programs, and local chapter initiatives.
• Launch a National Ramadan Campaign in collaboration with Muslim charities and federal partners, modeled after the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign, to raise significant funding for social programs and community outreach.
As a senior federal public servant, I bring practical expertise in governance, strategic planning, and program design. I will leverage these skills to ensure ISNA Canada operates with transparency, efficiency, and sustainable impact — fulfilling my commitment to see ISNA Canada become a platform that unites communities, empowers youth, and strengthens faith and service across Canada, Insha’Allah, for generations to come.
