Simerg is an independent initiative dedicated to Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan — their Hereditary Imam — and the Ismaili Imamat, and Islam in general through literary readings, photo essays and artistic expressions
For tourists from around the world as well as individuals and families living close to Canmore or Banff National Park, whether in Alberta or British Columbia, as well as those in “distant” cities like Edmonton — and Canadians DO love driving their cars — make it to Lake Minnewanka and Grassi Lakes during these last 7 days in August, before schools commence. With almost a full week of sunshine promised — and daytime highs in the mid to upper 20s — your children will love the trip to these amazing places and they will have a lot of fun including swimming and seeing wildlife! The loop drive to Minnewanka Lake would include stops at the beautiful Two Jake Lake, Johnson Lake and the Cascade Ponds. Near Canmore, you have the stunning Grassi Lakes, and the two separate 1.9km trails to the lakes from the parking area are easy to moderate.
Please click on the links LAKE MINNEWANKA and GRASSI LAKES — or on the images below — for full stories and photographs.
Big Horn Sheep near Two Jack Lake on the Lake Minnewanka loop drive. Please click on photograph for complete story and more beautiful photographs.
A view of the Upper Grassi Lake. Please click on photograph for complete story and more beautiful photographs.
Date posted: August 17, 2023. Last updated: August 24, 2023.
Editor’s note: This photo and video post that would normally appear in our photoblog Simergphotos is being published on our primary website Simerg, while we carry out essential upgrades to Simergphotos.
The author arrives at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE to the beautiful sight of two newborn grebettes to Red-necked Grebes, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
Readers should note that both the male and female Red-necked Grebes share in the incubation. During the many many hours I spent at the pond over the past week, I observed that the dominant partner in the incubation was the male, and I say that because I saw the male, which is slightly larger than the female, spend more time in the nest than his female partner.
The mom’s time was mainly spent in the water, always looking out for danger through her perceptive senses of hearing and eyesight. A constant threat was a nearby resident muskrat. When she became aware of its presence, she would immediately go underwater and swim toward the muskrat to make sure it changed its direction away from the nest. The mom, as per my observation, also gathered and fed the newborns as well as participated in the upkeep of the nest. However, her food offerings to her babies were not always accepted and she would wisely retreat.
Further to my sighting on July 22 of the first baby (henceforth also referred to as a grebette) this new post now reflects my two additional visits to the pond that took place on July 24, when I sighted two grebettes, and on July 26 when I saw three grebettes swimming with their parents in the middle of the pond, at least 125 metres from the nest. It appears to me that the nest with 1 more egg still remaining to be hatched has been abandoned.
Story continues below
Nest abandoned (?) by the Red-necked Grebes with one unhatched egg following the birth of 3 grebettes between July 22-26, 2023 in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE; July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
I say this because the Red-necked Grebes never returned to the nest during my 2 hour stay at the pond. I tried to capture a video and photographs of the far-away Grebes and their babies as best as I could with the 40-150 mm lens on my Olympus camera.
Enjoy the photos from my visits to this great pond on Country Hills Blvd in NE Calgary. Of course, I shall be returning to the pond to see the grebettes in the coming days, as I have been told that they continue to ride on their parents backs for the first two weeks of their lives. From time to time, they are given the opportunity to swim by their parents side. The male parent literally flips them into the water as you will see in some of the videos. The male, I noted, exerted his authority over the family quite firmly, while at the same time being warm to his babies and showing deep attachment and love to his female partner. He was also a great educator, as you will see in one of the videos, where he appears to be instructing his baby on how to take care of the nest! I think that was amazing. There are a couple of yawns from the little baby as he was watching his father’s demonstration. Didn’t we all when we were children and even more so later in life as we began taking serious classes?
July 24th, 2023: Photographs and Videos of Red-necked Grebes and their Babies at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE
Two unhatched eggs in the Red-necked Grebes’ nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe incubating the two remaining eggs in his nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Non-threatening ducks pass by and the female Red-necked Grebe at right ensures they are away from her nest where her male partner is incubating 2 eggs in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe is beautifully reflected in the calm waters of a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe incubates the two remaining eggs in his nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The new Red-necked Grebe family of four, with 2 eggs still to hatch, next to their drenched nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The mom Red-necked Grebe offers food to her newborn grebettes as they have their heads out from the their dad’s wings in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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A series of 4 related photographs and a video
As mentioned earlier, the incubation of eggs in the Grebe family is shared between the male and female. This series of 4 photographs and the video after encapsulate the transition of incubation from the male Red-necked Grebe to his female partner.
The male stands up in the nest and decides to return to the water. The female prepares to take over the incubation process. She has one of her new-born grebettes swimming in front of her, while carrying the second newborn baby on her back — it is partially visible in this photo but fully visible in the next photo. Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe wades into the pond as his family watches, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe arrives with her babies at the nest to assume her incubation role in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe with her baby on her back leaps onto the nest and does some house keeping on the nest, while the second grebette is still in the Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
VIDEO 1 (This is a sequel to the 4 preceding photos)
DESCRIPTION: The following video below is a fantastic conclusion to the sequence of 4 photos shown above of the incubation transition from the male Red-necked Grebe to his female partner
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 2/13
DESCRIPTION: In this extremely short video, the mom arrives at the nest to feed her new-born grebette and returns to the pond to get some more nourishment
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 3/13
DESCRIPTION: In this interesting video, we see the female Red-necked Grebe returning to the nest, carefully jumping onto its edge, taking great care to organize it before gracefully sitting on her unhatched eggs.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 4/13
DESCRIPTION: In this video, the mother fails in her attempt to feed her babies, and retreats. The 2 new born grebettes are being playful by their father’s tail. Once the tail wind opens, they slide into it and one of the babies is then seen emerging on centre of his back.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 5/13
DESCRIPTION: In this cute video, the new born gribette decides to have some fun with its mother by pushing against her such in such a way that she moves in a clockwise direction. Seemingly, the baby having been well nourished, appears to have gained enough strength to become playful since its birth in the last 48 hours.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 6/13
DESCRIPTION: In this extraordinary video, we see one bregette on the back of its mom, while the second one swims beside her. The male Red-necked Grebe decides to leave the nest where he was incubating the remaining 2 eggs. The mom then takes over the incubation duty after carrying out some nest maintenance. The bregettes who were with the mom join their dad for some play time. One easily slides into his wing while the second one has a hard time and continues with its struggle
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 8/13
DESCRIPTION: In this incredible short video, I capture the first and only instance I hear the cries of the Red-necked Grebes during my entire period at the pond. Unfortunately my camera shook and the remaining video had to be edited out.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 9/13
DESCRIPTION: In this very short video, we see the female Red-necked Grebe bathing while her male partner has the two grebettes, one on the back and the second at the end of his tail.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 10/13
DESCRIPTION: In this amazing video, we see the mom Red-necked Grebe suddenly appear by the nest. First, she looks around for any signs of danger and then she performs some maintenance on the nest before elegantly sitting down on the eggs for more incubation.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 11/13
DESCRIPTION: In this stunning video, we see the male Red-necked Grebe swimming with his two new born grebettes towards the nest. The female, who is left a little bit behind, catches up with him as he reaches the nest and she begins to feed her babies while they are still with the male. The male then suddenly flips his two babies into the water as he climbs onto the nest. He then commences his incubation duty, but not before performing some maintenance on the nest. The female assists in the nest maintenance. The grebettes are then playful with their mom before she finally accepts them under her wing, which she folds down for their protection.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
VIDEO 12/13
DESCRIPTION: In this last video taken late in the afternoon on July 24, we appear to see the beautiful and caring parents provide a 45 second lesson on nest upkeeping to one of their new-born grebettes. After the demonstration is over, the father lets the grebette slide underneath his wing for a a well-deserved rest! Gribettes spend their first two weeks or so on the backs of their parents and I would guess they are taught about life’s duties just as any other living thing
Red-necked Grebes Bring Their Baby Gribettes into the World, July 24, 2023, Video by Malik Merchant.
July 24, 2023, Photograph of the Day: Thanking the Maker of the Heavens and the Earth
Red-necked Grebe after the birth of 2 grebettes in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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July 26, 2023: The Red-necked Grebe Family of 5 and Other Wildlife at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE,
Wildlife, ducks, in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Wildlife, large water birds, in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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VIDEO 13/13
DESCRIPTION: In this video, we see the new Red-necked Grebe family of 5 in the middle of the pond, about 125 metres from the location of their nest where one egg remains unhatched. There is a grebette already swimming in the water and in a few moments we see the male flip his 2 babies that were in his wings into the water.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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The Beautiful New Red-necked Grebe Family
A beautiful new Red-necked Grebe family of 5, with 3 newborn grebettes riding on the back of their dad in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
Date posted: July 27, 2023.
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Malik Merchant’s recent walk around a Calgary pond led him to a floating nest built by a pair of beautiful Red-necked Grebes. Two days later, one egg out of four hatched and Malik saw the new born grebette’s first day of life in the new world. Below is one of four videos that he took. To see Malik’s collection of photographs and more videos of his stunning day at the pond, please visit his beautiful PHOTOBLOG.
For more stunning videos and photographs please click HERE
Simergphotos, a sister website of Simerg, is dedicated to photographs. Since his relocation to Alberta from Ontario, Malik has visited a number of Alberta’s magnificent national and provincial parks. Here are a few of his many pieces:
Kananaskis Country is my second home; so thrilling and beautiful that I like to escape to it frequently. I love the beautiful nature, the mountains and the wildlife. I also love being a spectator — to watch others enjoy in activities that give them thrill and excitement and makes others say “WOW”. My latest outing was to Canoe Meadows and Widow Maker Trail by the Kananaskis River. Here are my photographs and videos from a spectacular day. I have seen more wildlife here than in any other provincial or national park in Alberta. Please click KANANASKIS or on the photo below. I strongly urge you to visit this beautiful part of Canada!
Please click on image for spectacular videos and photographs.
Toronto’s Shafin Valla was at the Ismaili Centre Toronto at dawn to capture photographs of Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s exhibition The Living Sea — Fragile Beauty, while Montreal’s Muslim Harji presents his exclusive photographs from a recent trip to Cairo. Here are the links to their insights and photographs:
UPDATE MAY 9, 2023:Due to the severity of wildfires in Alberta, this special event commemorating the coronation of King Charles III has been cancelled.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is joining with the University of Alberta in a special celebration to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden in Edmonton. The celebration will feature free public admission to the Botanic Garden throughout the day, and an afternoon program to include performances by the Treaty 6 Singers and Dancers (Aga Khan Garden, 1:30 PM), the RCMP Pipes and Drums (Pine Pavilion, 2:15 PM), the Royal Canadian Artillery Band (Aga Khan Garden Amphitheatre, 3:00 PM) and Kita no Taiko Japanese Drummers (Kurimoto Japanese Garden, 3:45 PM.)
The official program will commence at 1:00 pm at the Aga Khan Garden’s beautiful Talar building with greetings by Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
A view of Aga Khan Garden’s magnificent Talar Building, where Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta will offer greetings on Saturday, May 13, 2023, before the commencement of special musical events celebrating the coronation of King Charles III.Photograph: Nurin Merchant/Simerg.
Here is a brief description of the bands that will be performing at the Coronation celebration:
Treaty 6 Singers and Dancers (Aga Khan Garden)
For our readers’ information, Treaty 6 encompasses 17 First Nations in central Alberta including the Dene Suliné, Cree, Nakota Sioux and Saulteaux peoples. Treaties are the law of the land in the relationship between First Nations and the rest of Canada.
The peoples of the Treaty 6 area have diverse cultural traditions that are reflected in their musical and dance styles. All of these groups regard music and dance as vital parts of their lives. For them, music has a strong presence in their lives; in ceremonies, rituals, prayer, and various other spiritual practices. Along with dance, it is a means to unite people with each other and with the Creator. Dancers follow the beat of the drum, which is interpreted as a continuation of the Earth’s heartbeat – the same heartbeat that unites all people and is first heard inside the mother’s womb.
Today, music and dance continue to play a vital role in the spiritual and cultural lives of the Treaty 6 peoples.
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The Royal Canadian Artillery Band (Aga Khan Garden, amphitheatre)
The Band provides music for military parades and ceremonial occasions, formal concerts, government functions, tattoos, and special events. The RCA Band performs as a 35 piece Brass / Reed Parade Band, a 35-piece Concert Band, as well as in various smaller configurations.
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The RCMP Pipes and Drums (Pine Pavilion)
RCMP Pipes and Drums will perform at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden’s Pines Pavilion on Saturday, May 13, 2023 in honour of the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey, London, on May 6, 2023. Photograph: RCMP Pipes and Drums.
The RCMP Regimental Pipes and Drums of Alberta is comprised of Civilian, Military and RCMP members. The band is a not for profit group with members throughout Alberta that promote the RCMP within Alberta and nationally. The band uniform consists of the RCMP scarlet tunic and the RCMP tartan kilt. This uniform is recognized world wide and represents a national institution.
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Kita no Taiko Japanese Drummers (Kurimoto Japanese Garden)
This drumming group is one of the oldest Japanese drumming groups in North America and will enthrall the audience through the powerful, beautiful sound of the taiko (drum). Watch how taiko combines dynamic music, primal rhythms, and the human spirit to create an unforgettable artistic experience.
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Coronation Celebration of King Charles III
Please click on image to visit the Lt. Governor of Alberta website for further information about the coronation celebration event.
Date posted: May 8, 2023. Last updated: May 9, 2023 (event cancelled.)
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Material for this post was compiled from the following websites:
Albertans can count themselves lucky for being blessed with incredible nature and the scenic beauty of the Rocky Mountains. For example, the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper is one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Along the entire route, there are mountains, canyons, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, forests and hiking trails and wildlife. The natural spaces in the province are utilized by its residents as well as visitors from around the world throughout the year. During the past 4 months, I was amazed to meet visitors from as far as Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, Lebanon, Peru, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands and Brazil, among many other countries, enjoying our winter activities.
A stingray. Photograph: Hussain Aga Khan/Focused on Nature.
As lovers of nature, and to experience nature of a different kind, Albertans travel to the oceans to swim and snorkel in warm waters as well as for relaxation. The oceans are filled with over one million speciesof living creatures — from the tiniest Zooplankton, to the nudibranch to the blue-ringed octopus, to the dolphin, to the shark and the whale. But how many of us, while playing and enjoying the ocean, will dive into its depths to experience the marvels of the underwater world?
Well, we have a wonderful opportunity here in Calgary as the Glenbow presents a captivating exhibition of sea animal photographs captured by Prince Hussain Aga Khan, whose love for wildlife began when he was only 5 years old. This early childhood interest has grown into a passion for diving into the oceans and mingling with sea creatures of all kinds. Over the last decade he has taken thousands of pictures and a selection of his photographs have been published in books such as Diving Into Wildlife and the most recent one The Living Sea which is also the theme of the Glenbow exhibition. Hussain’s photographs have also appeared on National Geographic blogs.
Aside from taking photographs, Prince Hussain has become an activist on the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas. Through his organization Focused on Nature (FON), the Prince shares his passion and personal mission of conservation and the urgent need for more research and actionable initiatives on global issues negatively impacting the environment.
Glenbow’s exhibition from May 11-21, 2023, will feature a collection of his stunning photographs in large scale format. The exhibition is free and an opportunity that none of us should miss. It will be inspirational for everyone, and perhaps a turning point in many peoples lives when they see how the ocean is in danger of losing many of its species. It might even spur the youth to consider careers in oceanography. In any case, children as well as adults will be awed by Prince Hussain’s stunning underwater photographs.
Once again, this incredibly curated exhibition, The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty, is being held at the Glenbow at the Edison from May 11-21, 2023. It is FREE to attend. Please click Glenbow: The Living Sea to register.
Date posted: May 5, 2023.
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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
From a young age, Prince Hussain Aga Khan developed a keen interest in conservation, tropical fish, reptiles and amphibians – and began scuba diving at 14. He started travelling to the tropics frequently after high school and began taking photographs of fauna and flora on a trip to the Brazilian Amazon in 1996.
Multiple photographic expeditions, often organized jointly with scientists or professional photographers, have led him to constitute extraordinary archives, covering various geographic areas and types of habitats. He has also captured many marine and terrestrial species.
His international exhibitions aim to inspire admiration for wildlife and the desire to protect it. Collections of Prince Hussain’s photographs have also been published in four books: Animal Voyage (2004), Diving into Wildlife (2015), Fragile Beauty (2022) and The Living Sea (2022). Proceeds from the sale of his books are donated, via Focused on Nature, to shark, cetacean or sea turtle conservation.
On Monday. April 17, 2023, Simerg’s sister website Simergphotos will launch a special 4-week series on Cairo — a city founded more than a 1000 years ago by the Fatimids, ancestors of the present 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, His Highness the Aga Khan.
Lanterns in Islamic Cairo. Photograph: Muslim Harji.
Muslim Harji’s photographs will cover Islamic Cairo, the city’s popular foods including its street foods as well as the beautiful Al-Azhar Park that has captured the hearts of Cairo’s residents. He will conclude the series with photographs of his memorable visit to Aswan, the burial place of the 48th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (d. July 11, 1957.)
Fellucas on the Nile in Aswan. Photograph: Muslim Harji
As a forerunner to the Cairo series, we invite our readers to view a selection of Muslim’s highly acclaimed photo essays that have appeared in Simerg and its sister blogs over the last decade. Muslim’s dazzling pictures will capture your imagination and leave a permanent mark on your minds.
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TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH MUSLIM HARJI TO CANADA, SPAIN, THE MIDDLE EAST, CENTRAL ASIA, IRAN, INDIA AND MORE
Please click on the hyperlink or corresponding image for full story
On April 9, 2023, Christians around the world will observe Easter Sunday as mark of their faith that Jesus Christ — Prophet Issa (may peace be on him) as he is known in Islam — was resurrected three days after his death by crucifixion. Simerg presents a selection of photos related to Easter traditions and the Christian faith captured by Montreal’s Muslim Harji during his travels around the world. The photographs shown on this page are part of a broader presentation of Harji’s highly acclaimed and must-read photo essay SACRED SPACES in world faiths that appears on Simergphotos.
If you are in Alberta, and are waiting for warmer weather to see Banff National Park’s emerald coloured lakes, green forests and wildlife, make no mistake that the Park offers extraordinary scenery in winter. Its snow covered mountains and frozen lakes will baffle your eyes and, with the exception of bears who will be in hibernation for a few more weeks, you will also encounter an amazing variety of wildlife. Malik Merchant’s short excursion to Banff and Lake Louise offered him a rare opportunity to witness how Albertans, Canadians and people from all over the world come to Banff to enjoy its extraordinary mountains, ski resorts, sulphur springs, canyons and trails….as well as coffee shops, restaurants and art galleries! Please click HERE or on the photo below for Merchant’s story and photographs on Simergphotos.
A coyote off Banff’s Tunnel Mountain Road. Please click on image for story and more photos.
Featured photos at top of post: A CP freight train passes through Morant’s curve on the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A), 6 kms from Lake Louise. The lookout point is a very popular spot for visitors as it offers a stunning view of trains coming around the bend, with the Bow River flowing along the side and mountains in the background. It is a dream spot for train lovers! The frequency of the trains is unreliable, though.
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 