Historic Opening: Islamic Society of Toronto Unveils Expansive New Masjid in Thorncliffe Park

After seven years of anticipation and planning, the Islamic Society of Toronto (IST), also known as Masjid Darussalam, celebrated the grand opening of its new Islamic Centre at 20 Overlea Boulevard this past Sunday, November 16, 2025.

The momentous occasion, which began with Maghrib prayers, marks a significant milestone for one of Toronto's largest and most diverse Muslim communities, serving approximately 40,000 Muslims across Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, and the surrounding areas.

A Dream Two Decades in the Making

The journey to this historic opening began long before the first brick was laid.

Since 1995, the Islamic Society of Toronto has operated from its original location at 4 Thorncliffe Park Drive, serving a steadily growing community.

As the Muslim population in East York expanded dramatically—from the early 1970s to today—the need for a larger, more comprehensive facility became increasingly urgent.

"When is the Masjid opening? We've been asking for seven long years," community members had repeatedly inquired.

That patience finally came to fruition this past weekend as the community gathered to witness the unveiling of their new spiritual home.

In February 2018, IST purchased the property at 20 Overlea Boulevard with a vision to create an expansion that would better serve their growing congregation.

The property, spanning over 3.2 acres with a 66,377 square-foot building and 142 parking spaces, represented the culmination of the community's aspirations.

A Transformative Partnership with Metrolinx

The realization of this dream received a significant boost through an unprecedented partnership with Metrolinx, announced on December 14, 2021.

As part of the Ontario Line transit project, which required the demolition of IST's original mosque at 4 Thorncliffe Park Drive to make way for a maintenance and storage facility, Metrolinx agreed to a $49.5 million deal to help convert the 20 Overlea Boulevard building into a state-of-the-art Islamic Centre.

"Transit has always been a catalyst for community building, development and growth," said Metrolinx President and CEO Phil Verster at the time of the announcement. "Helping the Islamic Society of Toronto deliver on their vision for a new, bigger Islamic Centre will bring benefits to the community far beyond the positive impact the new Ontario Line subway will bring".

The IST leadership described the agreement as bringing to life "the dream that we have had for our community for the past two decades".

The collaboration ensured that as Thorncliffe Park underwent transformation with new transit infrastructure, including the future Thorncliffe Station on the Ontario Line, the Muslim community would have enhanced facilities to support their spiritual and social needs.

A Facility Five Times Larger

The new Islamic Centre represents a quantum leap in capacity and services for the community.

At approximately five times the size of the previous facility at 4 Thorncliffe Park Drive, the 20 Overlea Boulevard location addresses longstanding space constraints that had seen thousands of worshippers praying outside during Jumuah prayers, Ramadan, and Eid celebrations.

Enhanced Prayer Spaces

The most significant improvement comes in the form of vastly expanded prayer areas.

The original facility regularly accommodated more than 3,000 people during back-to-back Jumuah prayers and over 6,000 during Eid celebrations, with many forced to pray outdoors. The new centre provides:

• Larger main prayer halls designed to accommodate the growing congregation comfortably^.
• Improved women's prayer spaces including a dedicated mezzanine area, addressing long-standing concerns about equitable access and comfort for female worshippers.
• Modern facilities that meet the needs of a 21st-century Muslim community while maintaining traditional Islamic values.

Community and Educational Facilities

Beyond prayer spaces, the new centre serves as a comprehensive community hub offering:

Educational Programs:

• Full-time and part-time Hifz (Quran memorization) programs
• Six-year Alim and Alima courses teaching Arabic, Fiqh, Hadith, and Islamic sciences
• Evening Madrasah classes
• Sunday Islamic school for children ages 6-16
• Islamic Essentials courses for high school students

Recreational Facilities:
The new gymnasium provides much-needed space for youth activities, including basketball, volleyball, and indoor cricket—addressing a critical gap in recreational opportunities for young Muslims in the community.

Business and Community Centre:
Up to 24,000 square feet of dedicated space will house as many as 19 local businesses and community organizations whose properties were impacted by Ontario Line construction plans, ensuring these vital community resources remain accessible.

Funeral Services:
For the first time, the facility will enable the mosque to provide Islamic funeral services directly in the Thorncliffe Park community, eliminating the need for families to travel elsewhere during times of grief.

Serving One of Toronto's Most Diverse Communities

The new Islamic Centre opens its doors in one of Toronto's most culturally diverse neighborhoods.

According to the 2016 Census, Thorncliffe Park has a population of 21,108, with the vast majority being visible minorities.

The neighborhood is characterized by its significant South Asian population, with Urdu being the predominant non-English mother tongue (24.4%), followed by Pashto (5.1%), Tagalog (4.7%), Persian (4.6%), and Gujarati (4.1%).

Pakistani, Indian, and Afghan Canadians make up 21%, 17.6%, and 8.8% of the neighborhood's population respectively.

The area is often affectionately referred to as "Little Pakistan" due to its thriving South Asian and Muslim community.

Just under one-third (32%) of Thorncliffe Park residents were born in Canada, with over 18% having immigrated between 2011 and 2016.

This demographic diversity reflects the broader composition of the IST congregation, which has served Muslims from varied cultural backgrounds since 1995.

The Islamic Society of Toronto has consistently worked to provide a welcoming space where Muslims of all ethnicities and national origins can worship together, united by their shared faith.

Three Decades of Service and Growth

The Islamic Society of Toronto's history reflects the broader story of Muslim immigration and community building in Toronto.

Since the early 1970s, when Muslim families began moving to East York, the population has grown steadily and substantially.

The unique location of Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park—offering affordable housing, good schools, and community amenities—attracted thousands of Muslim families, eventually making it one of the most densely concentrated Muslim populations in the Greater Toronto Area and one of the fastest-growing Muslim communities in North America.

For years before establishing their first permanent facility, the community rented various spaces for daily and Friday prayers, Taraweeh during Ramadan, and evening programs for children.

The lack of a dedicated place of worship and religious education center posed significant challenges for preserving Islamic identity and practice among both current and future generations.

By the grace of Allah (SWT), as the community often states, Muslims of East York purchased the property at 4 Thorncliffe Park Drive in 1995, establishing a permanent Islamic centre that could provide not only a place of worship but also religious education and a center for meeting social and religious needs.

From that foundation, IST has grown to offer comprehensive services including:

• Multiple daily prayers and three back-to-back Jummah services
• Wait-listed Quran classes with over 200 students on waiting lists for evening Madrasah
• Youth programs and summer camps
• Marriage and family counseling services
• Community support and social services tailored to North American Muslim needs

The organization has also extended its charitable work internationally, providing iftar at Masjid Al-Aqsa and distributing food relief packages in Gaza, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malawi, Sudan, Burma, Cuba, Sri Lanka, and Somaliland.^[15][16]

A Vision Realized

As community members gathered this past Sunday for the official opening, the emotion was palpable.

Social media posts captured the significance of the moment: "After seven long years, today is the day of the grand opening of Masjid at twenty Overlea Boulevard".

Another post described it as "Introducing the grand opening of Masjid Jerusalem Islamic Society of Toronto Thorncliffe the home to the largest Muslim community in North America".

The IST leadership has emphasized their commitment to excellence in serving the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Muslim families in their community.

Their vision statement speaks to creating "a united, vibrant, and diverse Muslim community rooted in faith and service," inviting every member to join "on a shared journey of spiritual, social, and collective growth".

Looking to the Future

The opening of the new Islamic Centre at 20 Overlea Boulevard represents more than just a larger building—it symbolizes the maturation and institutional development of Toronto's Muslim community.

The facility's comprehensive approach, offering everything from early childhood Islamic education to funeral services, reflects a community building for generations to come.

The centre's location also positions it strategically for the future.

With the Ontario Line's Thorncliffe Station being constructed nearby, the mosque will be easily accessible via public transit, potentially serving an even broader community.

The station is projected to bring 12,800 people within walking distance of transit and see approximately 3,100 customers during the busiest travel hour by 2041.

As Thorncliffe Park continues to evolve with new transit infrastructure and development, the Islamic Society of Toronto stands as a cornerstone institution, providing stability, spiritual guidance, and community cohesion.

The new facility ensures that the growing Muslim population—now estimated at 40,000 within a five-kilometer radius—will have the resources and space they need to practice their faith, educate their children, and build a strong, united community for decades to come.

The grand opening on November 16, 2025, will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of Toronto's Muslim community—a day when years of planning, patience, and perseverance culminated in a facility that honors the past while building for the future.