In 1985, the Markaz acquired its present facility at 1885 Neilsen Street in the City of St. Hubert. This building is located on a residential street with a total area of about 5,000 sq. ft. Its area, including the basement, is about 1,800 sq. ft. The parking lot can take only 30 cars.
This facility has served well as a prayer hall for a small population but it’s space has become totally inadequate for the educational, cultural and communal needs of the growing Muslim community on the South Shore of Montreal. These activities and larger congregation prayers are usually organized in rented public premises.
Muslim Population
The Muslim population of the South Shore of Montreal has been growing rapidly. Over the last ten years, it has nearly tripled, through the normal birth rate and with the arrival of new Muslim from Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt and other North African countries.
The present Muslim population, estimated at about 9,000, lives on the South Shore of Montreal, in the co-joined cities of St. Hubert, Greenfield Park, St. Lambert, Brossard, Longueuil, St. Bruno and La Prairie.
The South Shore has no Islamic school that children of this large Muslim community can attend. Our project, in the city of Brossard, includes an Islamic school. It will meet a vital need of the Muslim community.