Men work on new mosque in east Regina (Adam Hunter/CBC)
For a number of people in Regina, building a little mosque
on the prairie has been a big dream.
It's now closer to becoming a reality.
Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community held a stone
laying ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the construction of a new
mosque in east Regina.
25 years in the making
President of the Regina Ahmadiyya Muslim community
Habib Rehman said when he arrived in the city there were only about 10
members. It has now grown to more than 80.
"Our mosques are built completely on donations of the
members and now that we have grown we have been able collect enough donations
to build a mosque," Rehman said.
Room for growth
Members will do a majority of the construction on the new
building to keep costs down. The mosque will be able to fit 160 worshippers.
Rehman believes it may fill quickly.
"I see many more people coming here. Wherever we have
built mosques people have moved there," he said. "I hope a lot
more community will immigrate to Regina after our mosque is built."
It's slated to open in 2016.