Visit the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat

Visit the Delegation

The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa is the representational office in Canada of the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat, or the institutional headquarters of the Ismaili Imamat, in Portugal. The Ismaili Imamat is the historical institutional office of the Ismaili Imams of which His Highness the Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam. Afforded diplomatic courtesies by the Government of Canada, it is a secular facility that is home to the Diplomatic Representative’s office as well as the headquarters of Aga Khan Foundation Canada, a registered Canadian charity that works with Canadians and Canadian institutions to eliminate poverty and improve quality of life on multiple fronts in Africa and Asia. The Delegation has been host to numerous activities including conferences, concerts, award ceremonies, and lectures, as well as for wider opportunities for building relationships, enabling quiet diplomacy, and disseminating knowledge and information.

Designed by award-winning architect Fumihiko Maki, the building opened in December 2008. The design emerges from the Aga Khan’s belief that architecture is not simply about buildings, but about the quality of life of those that inhabit the built environment. The Delegation has received the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture (2012), and two awards from the Ontario Association of Architects: the Celebration of Excellence Award and the People’s Choice Award (2010).

Plan Your Visit

The Visitor Program provides an opportunity to explore the Delegation through regularly scheduled tours, and admission is free. Volunteer guides will be on hand to facilitate visits to the Atrium, the Resource Library, and, weather permitting, the Char Bagh (courtyard garden). Please plan on approximately 30 minutes for your visit.

For questions, please call 1 (800) 267-2532 or (613) 237-2532 ext 7, and a representative of the Delegation will then be in contact with you. If you have any special requests, please contact [email protected].

Guests who wish to wear a mask should be fully comfortable doing so.

Book a tour of the Delegation

Public tours take place on Saturdays from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and Wednesdays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Please click below for dates and to book your ticket.

Location and Parking

The building is located at 199 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. Visitors are requested to enter by the Boteler Street entrance.

No parking is available on-site, but street parking is available in the neighbourhood along Boteler Street, Dalhousie Street, Parent Avenue, and Bolton Street. When parking, please take care to respect any posted regulations.