Muslim leader draws crowds in Vancouver
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 | 8:37 AM PT
CBC News
The Aga Khan was greeted by a crowd of thousands as he arrived at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver on Monday night. (CBC)Thousands of people turned up outside the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver on Monday night to jubilantly welcome the Aga Khan. But even organizers of the event said they weren't expecting the crowds that lined the streets for five blocks.
As the hereditary and spiritual leader of an estimated 15 million Nizari Ismaili Muslims around the world, the Aga Khan is wrapping up a four-city tour of Canada to mark his 50th anniversary as Imam.
Cheers erupted spontaneously as people waited almost two hours for the Aga Khan to pull up to the red carpet, and there was no shortage of adoration for the billionaire philanthropist, whose followers say they love him for his extremely generous humanitarian work.
"He just wants to make life better and he thinks that everyone should. We just have unconditional love for him, unconditional love," said one of the reception's co-coordinators, Farrah Devji.
After arriving in a motorcade of white cars, the Aga Khan gave the crowd a quick wave before stepping inside the hotel. He will be making several more public appearances in Vancouver.
On Tuesday, the Aga Khan is schedule to attend a luncheon in his honour hosted by Premier Gordon Campbell.
In the evening, he is scheduled to lead an estimated 25,000 people in a religious gathering at BC Place.
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