Recently, concerns have been raised within Ottawa's Muslim communities about how many of youth that seemed to be involved in gang-related violence, both as victims and as perpetrators, are from Muslim families.

Muslim Link interviewed Arab Canadian political science student Sara Elhawash about her experience studying Political Science at York University.

The Ahlul-Bayt Student Association and the University of Ottawa Thaqalayn Muslim Association spent the past week teaching students about the life of the Muhammed (PBUH), one of Islam's revered prophets.

From January 12th to January 16th, the student groups used a giveaway and information station at the University of Ottawa's central campus to spread knowledge about the prophet. Student volunteers distributed free hot chocolate and held a bake sale to support "Charity: Water," a non-profit organization. Students also distributed information pamphlets about the Prophet and offered passers-by quotes by the Prophet attached to roses.

The Noor Conference, otherwise known as "Go Halal or Go Home" is back for another year from December 19th to 21st at Masjid Assunnah and the University of Ottawa. It began in 2011 and is an initiative that has been led by Muslim Canadian youth from the beginning.

Osman Naqvi reflects on The Dream Catchers, a youth-run initiative aimed at community development and youth empowerment in Ottawa.

What gets you excited?
Space exploration, legos and silent films.
Why?
Space exploration, no explanation needed. Legos, because I love to build things and put things together. Silent films really make you appreciate the cinematography.

~ Sakina at the Palestinian Festival

Muslim Link got a chance to interview University of Ottawa’s Muslim Students’ Association (UOMSA) Executives Mahmoud Dief (President) and Shahad Khalladi (Vice-President) about their upcoming UOMSA 101 Week for new and returning Muslim students which will run from Monday September 1st to Sunday September 7th.

Muslim Link caught up with 17 year old Palestinian spoken word poet Haneen Al-Hassoun aka Freedom Writer as she prepares to compete in this week’s Youth Can Slam National Youth Poetry Festival.

Ottawa’s Muslim community is full of uncommon mixed race identities, but Shady Hafez, 25, might be an original. Born in Ottawa, the son of an Algonquin mother from the Kitigan Zibi reservation and a Muslim father from Syria, Shady was raised in two worlds, each misunderstanding of the other, and both misunderstood by mainstream Western culture.

As the author of the recent BuzzFeed article 12 Easy Steps For Canadians To Follow If They’re Serious About Reconciliation, Shady's writing aims to help bridge the gaps between his communities.

Muslim Link interviewed Shady Hafez back in 2014, about how he navigates his identities.

There are concerns that younger voters might not be very engaged in this year’s Ontario provincial election. Muslim Link has sought out young Muslims in Ontario who are working, volunteering, or running with each major party in the provincial election to get their opinion about why it is important to be engaged in provincial politics. Our second interview is with Samiha Rayeda who is volunteering with New Democratic Party (NDP) Candidate Jennifer Mackenzie who is running in the riding of Ottawa Centre.