Our London Family

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Community events and initatives

Our London Family Five Year Commemoration Vigil and March

Hosted by Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia (YCCI)

Road closures and traffic impacts

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Community leaders will share words of remembrance, healing and hope before inviting attendees to join on a spiritual march towards Oakridge Secondary School. All are welcome to participate.

• Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
• Time:  Remarks begin at 6:00 p.m., event closes with a call to prayer at 9 p.m. at Oakridge Secondary School
• Location: Vigil begins at South Carriage Road west of Hyde Park Road. March will then proceed south towards Oakridge Secondary School
• Parking: Parking is available at Oakridge Secondary School (1040 Oxford Street), Real Canadian Superstore (1205 Oxford Street) and The Medical Centre (990 Gainsborough road)
• Shuttles: Shuttles will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to bring participants parked at Oakridge Secondary School up to South Carriage Road for the vigil. A bus will follow the march back to Oakridge for those in need of assistance. After prayer, shuttles will be available to ferry those who parked north of the site to Gainsborough.

Ribbon Making Workshop

Hosted by the Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia (YCCI)

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Join YCCI in their annual ribbon-making event and come together to create ribbons, raise awareness, and show support for an important cause.

• Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: MAC Masonville Centre (1737 Richmond St unit 105)

Ribbon Making Workshop Part II

Hosted by the Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia (YCCI)

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Join YCCI in their annual ribbon-making event and come together to create ribbons, raise awareness, and show support for an important cause.

• Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• Location: MAC Hyde Park Masjid & Youth Centre (1175 Hyde Park Rd Unit 9)

London Islamic School Art Exhibition

London's Next 200 Years: Muslim Faith and Culture Building a Common Future

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Join the London Islamic School in commemorating five years since the loss of Our London Family while looking ahead to the next 200 years of Muslim contributions to London.

• Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
• Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: London Muslim Mosque (151 Oxford Street W)

Rooted in Remembrance and Growing Together as Allies

Hosted by the London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership

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Turning a painful memory into collective action through dialogue circles. 

• Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
• Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: Earl Nichols Arena (799 Homeview Road)
• Registration: Please register in advance.

Our Voice, Our Rights: Muslim Youth Open House

Hosted by the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (MRCSSI)

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MRCSSI is pleased to invite high school Muslim Students' Association (MSA) leaders and members to interactive discussions and activities with a focus on realities of Islamophobia, as well as a healing art workshop.

• Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
• Time: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Location: Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (111 Waterloo Street)
• Registration: Please register ahead of time.

Service Provider Training: Strengthening Community Responses to Islamophobia

Hosted by the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (MRCSSI)

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MRCSSI is pleased to invite service providers to an interactive training to deepen understanding around Islamophobia and gendered Islamophobia, and its impact on service providers, community, and survivors.

• Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
• Time:  1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (111 Waterloo Street)
• Registration: Please register ahead of time.

Time to Heal

Breaking Barriers: Islamophobia Awareness and Healing Circle

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Join the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support & Integration for discussions on lived experiences with Islamophobia, storytelling, and a healing circle. Open to Highschool and University Students

• Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Time: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: London Muslim Mosque (151 Oxford Street w)
• RSVP: Please RSVP here.

London Public Library Reading Lists

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The London Public Library will be displaying materials across Library locations in support of Our London Family. 

Visit lpl.ca/ourlondonfamily to access reading lists representing contemporary Muslim authors and perspectives for adults, teens, and families. 

Our London Family Memorial Benches

In partnership with the Youth Coalition Combatting Islamophobia (YCCI) the City has installed five purple benches across London. 

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The benches support the City's anti-Islamophobia initiatives as part of the Action Plan to Disrupt Islamophobia. They are designed to encourage conversations across communities and cultures, accompanied by signage which reads:

"This purple bench honours the memory of the four members of Our London Family who were killed in an Islamophobic attack on June 6, 2021. Purple, the favourite colour of Yumnah Afzaal, has come to symbolize remembrance and a collective commitment to standing against Islamophobia and all forms of hate. The bench invites people to sit, listen, and connect across cultures and communities."

Benches can be found at the following locations:

• Foxfield Park
• Stronach Park
• Raleigh Park
• Pottersburg Park
• Victoria Park

Our London Family lawn signs

Londoners are invited to show their support for Our London Family by picking up a free Our London Family  lawn sign courtesy of the City of London. 

One sign is available per household at the following locations:

• London City Hall (300 Dufferin Ave.)
• South London Community Centre (1119 Jalna Blvd.)
• Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre (656 Elizabeth St.)
• North London Optimist Community (1345 Cheapside St.)
• Stronach Arena & Community Centre (1221 Sandford St.)
• Earl Nichols Arena (799 Homeview Rd.)

Flags and facilities

City of London

The Our London Family flag will be flown June 3 - 9 on the community flag pole behind City Hall. City facilities will also be lit green and purple from June 8 - 10. The Canadian flag will be lowered to half mast on June 6 in memory of Our London Family.

We remember Our London Family, together

Without the continued dedication, compassion, and commitment from many community partners and organizations, these very important events of healing and recognition would not be possible. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to helping remember and honour Our London Family, including the London Muslim Mosque, Thames Valley District School Board, London Catholic District School Board, Muslim Resource Centre for Social Service Integration, Muslim Association of Canada, London Public Library , Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, Youth Coalition Combatting Islamophobia, Muslim Wellness Centre, Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Hyde Park BIA. 

Community resources

As a community we need to continue to learn more on how we can disrupt Islamophobia and hate in our City. There are many community organizations and resources available to Londoners who are interested in learning more about how we can be a more welcoming and inclusive City.

• I am London campaign
• Letters from Londoners in support of healing
• London Public Library - Find children’s books, teen books, adult books (fiction and non-fiction) and other resources featuring Muslim authors and stories. You can also borrow Let's Talk About Race kits with your library card. These kits encourage families, caregivers, and educators to have open conversations about race, racial differences, and racial inequality with their children or students, in an age-appropriate way.
• Bill 86, Our London Family Act (Working Together to Combat Islamophobia and Hatred), 2022
• A London for All – An Action Plan to Disrupt Islamophobia

Mayoral Muslim Advisory Circle

As part of the “A London For All: An Action Plan to Disrupt Islamophobia”, an advisory circle is to be created to advise the Office of the Mayor on various topics related to Muslim life in London. Therefore, the majority of the Advisory Circle is to be comprised of professionals, community members and leaders who have lived Muslim experience. Topics can include but are not limited to barriers in the professional fields, legal reform, social justice, education, civic engagement, health, literacy, academia, finance, integration, programs and services, highlighting Muslim contributions & achievements, supporting Muslim identity-affirming policies and the like to name a few.

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The Mayoral Muslim Advisory Circle provides a close-knit connection between Muslim leaders and professionals and the Mayor. The purpose of the Circle is to advise the Mayor on topical issues that Muslims face in the short and long term. As the purpose of this circle is a response to Islamophobia, many of the discussions will be grounded in addressing and eliminating Islamophobia and how it shows up in a variety of sectors across the City of London. Advisors are to provide perspectives and recommendations on Islamophobia, be it violent and/or systemic barriers. 

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The Advisory Circle is to be an ongoing annual initiative that serves the London Muslim Community meaningfully and also serves as an inspiration to other municipalities across Canada as a working model.

Mayoral Muslim Advisory Circle Members