Remarks by Fauzia Mazhar at the 36th Mayors’ Dinner
Published June 2025
It is an honour to stand before you tonight to reflect on the power of community and the meaningful connections we can build. This gathering is a testament to our shared commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant Waterloo Region, where everyone feels they belong.
As I look around, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the many faces, experiences, and stories that make up our community. It is this sense of belonging that I want to share with you tonight.
My journey to becoming part of this community began over two decades ago when I first arrived in Canada as a newcomer, uncertain about the future. I walked into 58 Queen Street South as a jobseeker, unsure of what to expect. There, I was greeted with warmth and support.
It was at The Working Centre that I found mentors, coaches, and lifelong friends—people who believed in me when I was losing my confidence. The Working Centre, with its commitment to service, provided more than just job search resources; it gave me something invaluable—community.
I felt welcomed. I felt like I belonged. And through that, I found the strength to step into my new neighbourhood as an active citizen and a good neighbour. Being a good neighbour, for me, is about breaking down barriers, building relationships across differences with empathy, kindness, and genuine curiosity.
Tonight, I want to share a few stories that exemplify the spirit of community and resilience we continue to foster in Waterloo Region.
In 2010, a group of diverse newcomer women responded to adversity—Bill 94 in Quebec, which sought to restrict the rights of Muslim women based on their clothing choices. These women feared the bill would affect their lives and their daughters’ futures. They came together to act but were unsure if their voices would be heard.
Choosing hope over despair, they invited their neighbours to start a conversation. They organized an event called “Let Us Talk,” inviting people from all walks of life to discuss the implications of the bill. To their surprise, over 250 people showed up. They listened, engaged, and stood in solidarity. This event was a turning point, opening hearts, building understanding, and creating stronger connections across our community.
As Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
The seed planted in 2010 by these courageous women, nurtured by their neighbours, grew into the Coalition of Muslim Women (CMW), a not-for-profit organization known in Waterloo Region for empowering racialized Muslim women and youth. Through CMW, these individuals are provided opportunities for social connection, personal and professional growth, and leadership development.
At the core of CMW’s work is building connections—within the diverse communities we identify with, as well as between those communities and the broader region. This work addresses gender-based violence, racism, discrimination, Islamophobia, and xenophobia through culturally appropriate support services, outreach, advocacy, and bridge-building.
But it’s also been a journey full of heartwarming stories of reaching out, even in the darkest times. One such time was January 29, 2017, when a mosque in Quebec City was targeted with hateful violence, leaving six worshippers dead. In the wake of this tragedy, CMW members and volunteers came together to share their grief and fears for their families’ safety. This sharing led to action—one of which was the “Salam KW, Salam Canada” campaign.
Inspired by a group of women in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the campaign was simple: bake cookies, share them with neighbours, and spread a message of peace. People from all backgrounds came together to bake thousands of cookies, which were distributed at locations such as Kitchener City Hall, the Winterloo Festival, local schools, and neighbourhoods. The message was simple: “Salam Neighbour, thank you for making KW a safe and welcoming place to call home.”
The response was heartwarming. People expressed gratitude and reciprocated with sweet treats and warm drinks. It was a small act of kindness—baking and sharing cookies—but the impact was profound. It reminded us that even in dark times, small acts of compassion and connection can make a difference.
The “Salam KW, Salam Canada” campaign became more than a one-time event. It grew into a movement—a reminder that the spirit of kindness and understanding doesn’t have to be big or complicated to be effective. What matters is that we continue to reach out to one another, especially in times of darkness and uncertainty, and that we show up for each other with open hearts and minds.
As we celebrate these stories of connection tonight, let us also remember that the work of community-building is ongoing. It is not a one-time effort or a single event. It is the small, everyday acts of kindness, the conversations that bridge gaps, and the willingness to listen and learn from one another that truly make a difference.
It’s up to each of us to carry forward the spirit of initiatives like “Salaam KW, Salam Canada.” We can continue reaching out to our neighbours, fostering understanding, and building bridges of communication and respect. We can bring peace and kindness into our neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, and homes.
Building community isn’t always easy, but it’s always worthwhile. It requires effort, dedication, and the willingness to see each other as neighbours—each of us a vital part of the diverse tapestry that makes up Waterloo Region.
There are times—dark times—when we’re struck by collective grief or uncertainty. In these moments, it can feel like our voices and actions are too small to make a difference. But it’s precisely then when collective action is most needed. We have a choice: retreat into silence or step forward with compassion, support, and presence for those who are struggling.
When our communities face grief or loss, we must listen for the small voices urging us to “do something.” These voices may not always be loud, but they call us to come together, to share in healing by “acting together, by “doing something together”.
When our communities are hit by challenges, may we have the courage, compassion and empathy to “call in”, even when our voices are trembling.
May we have the ears to hear these “calls for action”, May we have the courage, compassion and empathy to join hands to continue to build connections across differences in the midst of challenging times. In doing so, we restore hope by reminding ourselves that we are not alone—we are in this together.
Tonight, I’m reminded of the powerful role each of us plays in building the community we want to see. To Joe and Stephanie, to TWC team, to the incredible women of the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW, to community leaders, and each of you here tonight—thank you for your commitment to making Waterloo Region a place where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and cared for.
Let’s continue to nurture relationships, reach across differences, and build a community where everyone feels at home, and has a place to call home. Thank you.
Founded in 2010 by a handful of diverse Muslim women, the Coalition of Muslim Women (CMW) of K-W is a charitable organization that empowers women and girls to be leaders and changemakers. The non-profit provides Muslim women opportunities for personal and professional growth, leadership, and skills development while addressing issues of gender-based violence, racism, discrimination, and Islamophobia through innovative programming and services, partnerships, collaboration, advocacy, and outreach. Learn more at: cmw-kw.org
