The Architects of a Community: Remembering Dr. Ismail Peer and Sister Khalida
It is with heavy hearts that we reflect on the passing of Dr. Ismail Peer, a giant of the Windsor community and a pioneer of the Canadian Muslim experience. His departure comes just one month after the passing of his beloved wife, Sister Khalida.
It is with heavy hearts that we reflect on the passing of Dr. Ismail Peer, a giant of the Windsor community and a pioneer of the Canadian Muslim experience.
His departure comes just one month after the passing of his beloved wife, Sister Khalida.
Together, they formed a partnership of faith and service that spanned more than half a century, leaving behind a legacy that is etched into the very bricks of our institutions and the hearts of our people.
To understand the impact of Dr. Peer and Sister Khalida, one must look back at the landscape of Canada in the 1960s and 70s.
This was an era when the Muslim community was small, and the foundations of our religious and social life were still being laid.
The Peers were not just witnesses to this history; they were its architects.
From Apartheid to Excellence
Dr. Peer’s journey was one of remarkable resilience.
Coming to Canada from apartheid-era South Africa, he carried with him the weight of systemic exclusion and the brilliance of a man who refused to be defined by it.
He was the first non-white recipient of the Oppenheimer Scholarship in Medicine, a testament to his intellect and determination.
When he settled in Windsor in 1972, he didn’t just practice medicine; he transformed it.
As the city’s first gastroenterologist and one of the first in Canada, he founded the gastroenterology and endoscopy departments across all of Windsor's hospitals.
His professional life was defined by leadership, serving as Director of Endoscopy, Chief of Medicine, and Chief of Staff at Windsor Western Hospital.
Yet, despite these immense professional pressures, his commitment to his faith remained central.
Dr. Peer was a hafiz (one who has memorized the Qur'an), and his life was a living embodiment of the prophetic tradition of excellence (ihsan).
A Partnership of Purpose
While Dr. Peer broke barriers in medicine, he and Sister Khalida worked side-by-side to build a home for the growing Muslim community.
Their service was a shared mission.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the couple traveled across North America and internationally, raising the funds necessary to expand the Windsor mosque.
They did not simply sign checks; they brought vision.
They were instrumental in the design and development of the Windsor Islamic Association (WIA Centre), ensuring that the mosque was not just a place of prayer, but a vibrant community hub that reflected the diverse needs of its members.
Their tireless efforts turned a modest gathering place into a cornerstone of Windsor’s social fabric.
Sister Khalida was a force in her own right.
Her commitment to youth engagement and activism was legendary.
Together, they understood that for a community to thrive, it needed to inspire its young people.
They brought figures like basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon to Windsor, showing the youth that they could be proud of their faith while excelling in the wider world.
Many of today’s community leaders in Windsor and beyond grew up under their guidance and warmth.
Building Bridges and Civic Presence
The Peers were also visionaries in the realm of civic engagement.
Long before "political outreach" became a buzzword in community circles, they were building relationships with local and federal leaders.
They fostered a deep, lasting connection with the longtime Windsor West MP Herb Gray, helping the broader Canadian society see the Muslim community as an integral, contributing part of the nation.
Their influence extended far beyond Windsor’s borders.
They were involved in the founding of numerous national organizations, spanning the fields of civil rights, humanitarian relief, and social welfare.
They understood that to be a Canadian Muslim was to be an active citizen, concerned with the well-being of all.
A Legacy of Honour
The scale of their contribution was recognized at the highest levels. Dr. Peer received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for his medical and community service.
Sister Khalida was recently honored with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award and the King’s Coronation Medal, nominated by MPP Lisa Gretzky for her outstanding service to the country.
In 2019, the Windsor Islamic Association presented them both with a Lifetime Achievement Award—a fitting tribute to a couple who volunteered continuously from the early 1970s until 2010.
As we mourn their loss, we also celebrate the profound void they filled during their lives.
They taught us that leadership is not about title, but about service; not about recognition, but about results.
Their lives were a testament to the Qur’anic principle: “But the Lord of Mercy will give love to those who believe and do righteous deed” (Qur’an 19:96).
May Allah accept their countless acts of service, forgive their shortcomings, and grant them the highest ranks in Jannah.
They have returned to Him, but the community they built stands as a lasting witness to their faith.
“Truly, we belong to God and to Him we shall return” (Qur’an 2:156).