The Edmonton Islamic Academy started in 1987 with 21 students in the basement of the Al Rashid Mosque.
Its new elementary campus is built for roughly 1,600.
The $80-million school, known as Al Rashid Islamic Elementary School, has opened for the new school year in northwest Edmonton, serving kindergarten through Grade 6.
The academy describes it as the largest faith-based educational development in Canada. No public data ranks Canadian faith-based schools by size, so the claim hasn't been independently verified.
Why it was built
The waiting list.
"Today, there are over 1,400 students on the waiting list," the academy states on its own site. "We need a new campus, to continue protecting the Islamic identities of our children and empower them to find their strength in their identity and a purpose."
The academy currently serves more than 1,800 students from preschool to Grade 12 across its campuses, which the Al Rashid Foundation describes as making it one of Canada's largest and most respected Islamic schools.
The community paid for it
Primarily through donations.
"This project is a testament to the strength, generosity, and unity of the Edmonton Muslim community," the Al Rashid Foundation states. "Through collective support, tens of millions of dollars have already been raised, allowing construction to move forward. Parents, donors, volunteers, and community leaders have all played a role in advancing this vision."
The foundation adds that ongoing support remains essential to completing the project in a way that aligns with Islamic values and long-term sustainability.
Donations came through several routes. The academy notes that giving to the school falls under Fi Sabilillah, one of the eight recipients of Zakat, covering individuals engaged in activities that benefit the broader Muslim community, including scholars and educators.
It also accepted Qard-Al-Hasan, described by the academy as a no-interest loan where the borrower repays only the initial amount, based on helping others without expecting financial gain.
What's in the building
The academy has described the design as focused on both faith-based and 21st-century learning, with dedicated prayer rooms and Wudu areas to integrate Islamic faith into daily learning and foster Islamic character development.
Alberta's Major Projects registry lists the facility as a new elementary campus expected to serve 1,600 students in grades K to 6, developed by the Edmonton Islamic Academy.
The history behind it
The Al Rashid Mosque opened in Edmonton in 1938 as the first mosque in Canada, and the Al Rashid Foundation dates its work in the city to that year.
"Since then, we have built Canada's First Mosque, the Al Rashid Mosque, that solidified the position of our community in Edmonton," the academy states. "The first school we established was a startup school, with 21 students, in the basement of the Mosque."
In 2006 the community established what it calls the largest Islamic school. Six years later it opened the first Islamic high school in Western Canada, with more than 200 students enrolled before opening.
The original mosque was relocated to Fort Edmonton Park in 1992, after the Canadian Council of Muslim Women championed its recognition as cultural heritage. The academy's own account notes the move happened amid anti-Muslim sentiment.
"Our ancestors' unwavering faith and determination paved the way for open practice of Islam in Western society," the academy writes. "Their courage in adversity has left an indelible mark on Canadian history and Edmonton's community."
The academy calls the elementary campus its "Next First."
What the academy says it's trying to build
The stated mission is worth reading in the school's own words, because it explains the scale.
"To create an unparalleled Islamic school with world-class facilities, empowering our students to excel without compromise," the academy writes. "We believe our children deserve nothing but the best."
The vision statement adds: "To provide innovative, top-tier education grounded in Islamic values, nurturing respectful, responsible leaders who positively impact society."
The academy also frames the campus around interfaith engagement, saying the facility "will continue this tradition, providing high-quality faith based education while fostering leadership, interfaith understanding, and technology integration."
Whether that translates into practice is something families and the broader community will judge over the coming years. What's measurable now is the scale of what was built and who paid for it.
How the school performs
The academy points to the Fraser Institute, which it says has recognized EIA as one of the top K-12 schools in the province, second in Edmonton and seventh in Alberta.
Rankings of that kind are contested and measure a narrow set of outcomes, but it's the metric the academy itself cites.
If you're trying to enroll
Registration runs through the academy directly at elementary.islamicacademy.ca.
Given the size of the waiting list, families should expect the process to take time, and the academy has historically prioritized re-enrolment.
The school hasn't published a civic address publicly. Contact the academy for location and registration details.
Donations to the academy are tax deductible.
What's next
The academy has framed the campus as part of a broader ecosystem that includes the Edmonton Islamic Daycare and Preschool, the Imam Al Shatibi Quran Institute, and the existing EIA campus, all under the Al Rashid Educational Foundation.
Sources
Al Rashid Islamic Elementary School — Alberta Major Projects
New School Project (Elementary) — Edmonton Islamic Academy
About Us — Edmonton Islamic Academy
FAQ — Edmonton Islamic Academy
Edmonton Islamic Academy Elementary Campus — Al Rashid Foundation of Canada
Comments
Conversation