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His Highness the Aga Khan is visiting Canada this month as part of an international celebration of his 60th, or “Diamond Jubilee,” anniversary as spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims. I’ll be delighted to join past and present Canadian leaders of all political stripes in celebrations of his remarkable six decades of leadership.

Frankly, the visit also affords us all an opportunity to turn the page from domestic political squabbles to what’s really important: the Aga Khan’s vital and ongoing global contribution to the most important project of our time, promoting pluralism and understanding in a fractured and angry world.

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Like every Canadian prime minister over the past 60 years, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Aga Khan. One moment in particular has stayed vividly in my mind.

It was just weeks after 9/11. The world was still reeling from the unspeakable terror attacks. I hosted the Aga Khan in January 2002 in Ottawa. Our agenda was his vision of using the concept of pluralism as a practical means of fostering peace and helping to bring about greater stability in fragile societies and failed or failing states. What struck me then has stayed with me since.