Wahida C. Valiante

Who is Wahida C. Valiante?

Wahida C. Valiante has been and continues to be a leader among North American Muslim women in social justice advocacy, human rights, anti-racism, inter-faith relations, and in research on community health, Islamic culture and roles of political advocacy. She has been instrumental in connecting Muslims and non-Muslims through events like Islamic History Month Canada held annually since 2007.

Wahida has also been involved in various community-based advocacy projects including testimonies before parliamentary committees, House of Lords' committees, and human rights cases.

As one of this country’s most proactive Muslim women, she is a frequent guest speaker, panelist, consultant, or interviewee on a variety of political and social issues, firmly establishing herself as one of Canada’s leading Muslim woman thinkers and one of Islam’s important Western voices. For her work, she has received awards and international recognition.

Wahida is particularly admired for her strong, positive voice on behalf of Muslims, whether in speech, writing, or action. Her passions for grassroots social justice, accurate research, and “trickle up” solutions to local and global problems motivate others to emulate her affirmative strategies. She has been a transformative agent for issues historically tainted by confrontation.