Food. Conversation. Community. | BCIT Iftar Night 2026

On February 24, CentreCanada had the privilege of supporting a meaningful Community Iftar at the BCIT Burnaby Campus.

Hosted by BCIT students and attended by faculty members and students from diverse backgrounds, the evening brought people together around something simple yet deeply human: a shared table.

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An Evening Beyond a Meal

Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims — a time of discipline, gratitude, reflection, and compassion. From dawn to sunset, Muslims refrain from food and drink as an exercise in self-awareness and empathy.

But as Kemal Sen, Manager of Corporate Development & Strategy at CentreCanada, shared during the evening:

“What makes Ramadan beautiful is not only fasting — it is what happens at sunset.”

At sunset, people gather. Families, friends, neighbors — and sometimes even strangers.
The act of breaking bread together becomes more than eating. It becomes connection.

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The Power of the Table

The iftar table is one of the few places where differences transform into strengths rather than divisions.

Around the table:

• We listen.
• We ask questions.
• We discover that our stories are more connected than we thought.

In a university setting especially, this matters deeply. Universities are places of ideas, creativity, and questioning — but also places where we learn how to live together in diversity.

And food remains one of humanity’s oldest bridges. Long before policies or conferences, people built trust by sharing meals.

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An Invitation to Dialogue

This was not simply a dinner for Muslims.

It was an invitation:

• To sit together across backgrounds
• Across disciplines
• Across cultures and perspectives

Whether fasting or not, whether familiar with Ramadan or learning about it for the first time, everyone present became part of a shared moment.

As Kemal expressed:

“No fast is meant to be broken alone.”

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A Night of Belonging

The evening included shared meals, open conversations, laughter, and community activities — all grounded in mutual respect and curiosity.

By the end of the night, the hope was simple:

That everyone would leave not only full —
but a little more connected than when they arrived.

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Hosted by BCIT Students

Supported by CentreCanada Newcomer Services Society

At CentreCanada, we believe that belonging begins with dialogue — and sometimes, dialogue begins with a meal.