Imam Zijad Delic

Dr. Zijad Delic was born in Bosnia, where he received his formal training as an Imam (Muslim spiritual leader). He received his BA (Hons) in Islamic Studies and Arabic Language from the International Islamic University of Islamabad, Pakistan. He holds a Masters degree from the University of Oregon, Faculty of Education, Eugene OR, the United Sates of America and a Doctorate from Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Education, Vancouver BC, Canada.

From 1990 through 1995, Dr. Delic served as an Imam and teacher in Bosnia and Croatia. Since immigrating to Canada in 1995, he has held a variety of leadership responsibilities, initially within the BC Muslim Association where he served as head Imam, Vice-Principal of the BC Muslim School, community spokesperson, and other related positions. In 2006, he moved to Ottawa, where he now resides, to take on a national NGO position (2006-2011).

As a dynamic promoter and motivator of interfaith relations in Canada, Dr. Delic has forged enduring relationships with numerous religious leaders. In October 2007, the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) invited him to address their Plenary Assembly — the first Muslim Imam in CCCB history to do so.

In 2008 Dr. Delic was honored for a decade of continuous volunteer service by the Province of Ontario and in both 2009 and 2010 he was included in the prestigious publication, “The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World,” edited by John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin, Islamic Studies scholars at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He currently works with South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC) and serves as their resident Imam. He resides in Ottawa ON with beloved wife Senada and daughters Lejla and Emina.