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Dr. Adel Guitouni Elected President of the BC Muslim Association
3-29-2026
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Leading with Experience as BCMA Approaches Its 60th Anniversary (2025–2027 Term)The British Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA) has announced the election of Dr. Adel Guitouni as its new President for the 2025–2027 term.
A long-time dedicated member and former Chairperson of the Victoria Branch, Dr. Guitouni brings proven leadership, strategic expertise, and a unifying vision to the province’s largest Sunni Muslim organization at a pivotal moment in its history. Founded on November 17, 1966 (corresponding to 4 Sha’ban 1386 AH), the BCMA is a non-profit society that has served British Columbia’s Muslim community for nearly six decades.
It operates multiple Islamic centres across the province, runs the BC Muslim School (with campuses in Richmond and Surrey and delivers essential services including Hajj coordination, dawah outreach, marriage and burial services, youth programs, halal certification, and support for new Muslims. With about three thousand members and 17 branches, the BCMA supports an estimated 100,000 Sunni Muslims in BC while fostering religious, cultural, and educational facilities for current and future generations.
As the association approaches its 60th anniversary in 2026, Dr. Guitouni’s leadership will guide BCMA through a period of reflection, renewal, and continued growth. Dr. Guitouni’s deep roots in the BCMA span more than 20 years of active membership and service. As Chairperson of the Victoria Branch (Masjid Al-Iman), he has been a hands-on leader, recently securing over $470,000 in grants for BCMA Victoria during a single term — funding that has strengthened local programs, facilities, and community initiatives.
His track record demonstrates a commitment to practical results, transparency, and community empowerment at the branch level. A respected academic and practitioner, Dr. Guitouni is an award-winning Associate Professor of Management Sciences, Operations Research, and Decision Support Systems at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business. This professional background equips him uniquely to modernize BCMA’s governance structures, enhance operational efficiency, and build sustainable systems for the association’s growing needs. In his campaign platform, Dr. Guitouni outlined a clear path forward under the themes “Trusted Leadership. Modern Vision. United Community.”
Key priorities include:Restoring trust and accountability across the organization
Modernizing governance and operations
Strengthening education, religious, and youth services
Empowering local branches and chapters
Building a united voice for the broader BC Muslim community
As he steps into the presidency, these values will guide efforts to rebuild trust, modernize the BCMA, and unite its diverse membership.The BCMA community has expressed strong support for Dr. Guitouni’s election, viewing his blend of local branch experience, professional management expertise, and inclusive outlook as exactly what the association needs as it enters its seventh decade of service.Congratulations to Dr. Adel Guitouni on his election! The coming 2025–2027 term promises renewed energy, strategic growth, and a strengthened sense of unity for the BC Muslim Association as it celebrates six decades of faith, service, and community building in British Columbia.
Dr. Guitouni thanked everyone that voted for him, and said, "I appreciate everyone who voted for me, or for Brother Raza. I think we are all part of the same organization, and we need to bring this organization together. We need to think deeply why we are here, This is an Amanah (trust), and we are responsible for our Muslim brothers and sisters in this province from birth to death. So, we need, actually, to come together.
So, before congratulations and so on, I see this as a huge responsibility. So, I really ask you for Dua (prayer), because we cannot actually change this organization as one person. So, we need all to come together and recognize this Amanah. We are standing on the shoulders of the people that came before us to do what we are to do. And what we’re going to be doing, Insha'Allah, is going to pave the road for those who are going to come after us.
So, in the next few days, Insha'Allah, I will try to reach out. I will try to learn, I'll try to listen, and then we'll start, Insha'Allah, coming with changes—what I call the 'short-term, low-hanging fruit' changes that will start kicking in. But also, we need to have some reforms starting now."
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