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Islamic Heritage Month
Films & Resources
Explore short films about Muslim stories and history in Canada, with resources for classrooms, workplaces, community groups, and events.
About Islamic Heritage Month
Islamic Heritage Month is an opportunity to learn more about the histories, experiences, and contributions of Muslim communities across Canada.
Muslim Media Hub has produced a series of short films exploring important and often little-known chapters of Muslim history in Canada. These films are available as educational resources for schools, workplaces, community organizations, and others looking to meaningfully recognize Islamic Heritage Month.
Explore the films below and incorporate them into your programming, classroom learning, staff engagement, communications, or community events.
First Muslims in Canada
Runtime
6 minutes
Themes
Migration • Early Muslim Life • Belonging
Summary
A look at who the first Muslim settlers to arrive in Canada were, and what challenges they might have experienced in those early days.
Regip Assim: Ever God's Servant
Runtime
6 minutes
Themes
Early Muslim Life • Mosque Building • Community Leadership
Summary
Jami Masjid is the oldest mosque and Islamic centre in the City of Toronto. This film offers a look at the small community of Muslims that built it, and the man who led them.
It Takes One Step
Runtime
6 minutes
Themes
Humanitarian Work • Community Building • Service
Summary
What is now a national organization began with one person and a single act of care. This film traces the growth of Muslim Welfare Canada and the broader story of Muslim institution-building in Canada.
A Journey to Islam
Runtime
7 minutes
Themes
Black History • Social Justice • Journey to Islam
Summary
An intimate look at Dr Abdullah Hakim Quick's journey, from a young man searching for his place in the world to a renowned scholar.
The Woman Behind Canada's First Mosque
Runtime
2 minutes
Themes
Women’s Leadership • Civic Participation
Summary
Hilwie Hamdon helped bring Canada's first mosque to life in 1938, leading the fundraising effort that built Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton and leaving a lasting mark on Muslim life in Canada, a legacy of quiet determination that continues to inspire Muslims today.
Nazem Kadri and the Stanley Cup
Runtime
2 minutes
Themes
Breaking Barriers • Excellence & Achievement
Summary
Nazem Kadri became the first Muslim player to lift the Stanley Cup, doing it in 2022 with the Colorado Avalanche while facing Islamophobic attacks along the way, proof that Muslim excellence has a place on the world's biggest stages.
The Mosque That Travelled
Runtime
2 minutes
Themes
Place & Belonging • Northern Muslim Communities
Summary
The Midnight Sun Mosque made history in 2010 as the first mosque in Canada’s Arctic, travelling thousands of kilometres from Winnipeg to its new home in Inuvik. Built through the determination of Canada's Muslim community, it has become a lasting symbol of faith, belonging, and Muslim life in Canada’s North.
Suggested Uses
Screen during an Islamic Heritage Month classroom lesson or assembly
Use as a starting point for a staff lunch-and-learn
Pair with a lesson on Canadian history, migration, or civic participation
Include in community programming or facilitated discussion
Share internally as part of Islamic Heritage Month communications
Unit Plan, Lesson Plans & Worksheets
Full Teaching Resource
Looking to bring these films into a classroom or structured learning setting? We've built a complete teaching package to make that easy:
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A full unit plan connecting the films together with a suggested teaching order
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Individual lesson plans for each film, including learning goals, discussion prompts, and curriculum connections
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Ready-to-use worksheets for each lesson, with activities designed to work across elementary and secondary grade levels