Stittsville Community Unites to Unveil New Sign After Hate Incident

Stittsville, Ottawa—In a powerful display of community resilience and local government solidarity, a new permanent sign for the Stittsville Muslim Association (SMA) was officially unveiled on the morning of Thursday, December 4, 2025, in front of their community building on Stittsville Main Street.

The ceremony was described by local leaders as a "full-circle moment," marking a pivotal victory for visibility over intimidation.

The new sign is the physical manifestation of a community's determination to heal and assert its place after the SMA property was targeted by hateful graffiti in August.

From Vandalism to Visibility

The August incident, where hateful graffiti was found spray-painted on a storage shed, caused shock and pain, particularly as the racist slur was seen by children attending the SMA’s summer camp.

The response from the wider Stittsville community was immediate and overwhelmingly supportive, leading to a crucial reflection and healing event days later.

During that meeting, SMA President Amir Siddiqi explained that the association had previously chosen not to display its name prominently due to concerns about attracting "unintended consequences"—a stark example of how fear can force minority groups into the shadows.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe publicly rejected this notion, stating firmly that communities cannot be allowed to make decisions based on fear, and pledged to ensure the SMA could install a proper, visible sign.

A Unified Front

The sign’s unveiling fulfilled that promise, serving as a beacon of inclusion.

The event drew a significant cross-section of political, faith, and community leadership, sending an undeniable message of unified support for the Muslim community.

In attendance were City Councillor Glen Gower, who led the effort and described his pride in the association’s growth; Mayor Mark Sutcliffe; MP Bruce Fanjoy; and Amira Elghawaby, Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.

Their presence, alongside SMA Imam Ahmed Elemam, President Amir Siddiqi, and volunteers, underscored the governmental commitment to fighting anti-Muslim hatred at the local and federal levels.

Councillor Gower highlighted the SMA’s substantial and growing role in the local fabric of Stittsville.

“I’ve been thrilled to see the SMA’s growth in recent years, and their continuing involvement in the community,” he noted.

The association is now recognized as one of the largest in Stittsville, actively supporting residents and giving back through initiatives such as Adopt-A-Park, Cleaning the Capital, and crucial local food drives.

For a community organization that had, out of precaution, long remained physically discreet, the installation of this permanent, dignified sign marks a profound symbolic shift.

It transforms a place of worship and community into an openly recognized and celebrated landmark on Stittsville Main Street.

The moment provides a clear, practical lesson in how systemic issues like Islamophobia are best fought: not just through policy, but through visible acts of solidarity, official support, and community members bravely stepping out of the shadows.

It is a powerful reminder that when hate seeks to divide, local unity can always build something stronger, more visible, and more enduring in its place.