About Us

	About CAIR-CAN  CAIR-CAN Board

The Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA (CAIR-CAN) is an Ottawa-based, nonprofit organization with a grassroots membership. CAIR-CAN is a fully independent and separate organization from the Washington D.C.-based CAIR, although the two may coordinate on issues of mutual concern.

Striving to be a leading voice that enriches Canadian society through Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.

Through activism in the areas of media relations, anti-discrimination and political advocacy, CAIR-CAN aims to educate Canadians and empower Canadian Muslims. We believe misrepresentations of Islam are most often the result of a lack of knowledge on the part of non-Muslims and reluctance on the part of Muslims to articulate their cause.

Media Relations

We work in the media to help shape an accurate understanding of Islam. This includes monitoring local and national media to challenge stereotypes, providing accurate information about Islam and Muslims to media professionals, writing frequent opinion pieces, providing human resources from local Muslim communities, meeting with editorial boards, and conducting sensitivity training sessions.

CAIR-CAN works through its legal advisors and local members to fight discrimination directed against Canadian Muslims. This discrimination often relates to the violation of basic rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or national or provincial human rights legislation.

We offer a variety of publications addressing the needs of Canadians and Canadian Muslims. Our publications include “A Journalist’s Guide to Islam,” “An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” “An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” and “A Health Care Provider’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices.” We also offer a succinct "Know Your Rights" pocket guide.

Practical handbooks, such as Hajj and Ramadan Publicity Resource Kits, are also available for use by the Muslim community and the media.

CAIR-CAN offers seminars and workshops to train Canadian Muslim community members and leaders in techniques of effective media relations and well as knowledge of legal rights guaranteed under Canadian law. We also offer workshops to service-providers which highlight relevant Islamic practices and offer suggestions for religious accommodation.

CAIR-CAN issues action alerts to local communities as a means of promoting local activism and generating a grassroots response on important issues. We believe that local response is a key factor in making our voices heard.

Islam places much emphasis on promoting mutual respect and good relations between communities. CAIR-CAN works toward this goal through public education and inter-community dialogue.