On Sunday, July 5, 2026, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW), with support from the Quebec Chapter, hosted the Montreal Sisters Social at the Côte-des-Neiges Community Resource Centre. The event brought together Muslim women from across the Montreal community for a warm and meaningful afternoon of connection, learning, and celebration. Members, staff, and members of the wider Montreal community gathered to enjoy delicious food and learn more about CCMW’s initiatives and continued work across the country.
The program opened with a recitation of the Qur’an, followed by a land acknowledgement recognizing that the event took place on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk Nation). Quebec Chapter Member Asiyah Siddique spoke to the importance of approaching the land acknowledgement with sincerity – reminding attendees that it is not a performative gesture, but a meaningful commitment to honouring the land and its people.
Attendees heard from CCMW Executive Director Nuzhat Jafri, who shared an overview of CCMW’s vision and mission, and walked attendees through CCMW’s newly updated website, which houses a wealth of Position Papers and Publications – several of which were made available for attendees to take home. Nuzhat also highlighted key national initiatives currently underway, including the Capacity Building Project, which focuses on leadership development, ethical innovation, and long-term organizational sustainability; the DARE (Digital Anti-Racism Education) program; the WISH Project; and CCMW LAW, CCMW’s legal advocacy branch, which provides culturally responsive, faith-based, and trauma-informed legal support to Muslim women across Canada.
Farida Mohamed, a longstanding and dedicated CCMW member, reflected on the decades of work carried out by the Quebec Chapter and spoke passionately about the importance of showing up, in all ways, to support the community. Asiyah Siddique also shared her personal journey to joining CCMW, and the profound value of an organization that authentically represents Muslim women in a political climate that too often misrepresents them.
The afternoon featured a vibrant vendor marketplace celebrating Muslim women-owned businesses, including Hilal Arts & Crafts, Maksab Designs, DivineArt Foundation, Esraya Designs, Made By Huda, AleenOr, and Habibti Please. Attendees also had the privilege of meeting three talented local authors: Sally Zain (The Crocodile’s Gift), Zeina Jhaish (Ancestral Daughter), and Munirah Maclean (Veils of the Heart). Zeina moved the room with a reading of a poem from her book – a truly memorable moment in the afternoon.
Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and helped make this event possible. We look forward to seeing you at the next one, in sha Allah.
