Town honours legacy of community leader
BY ADAM MC LEAN May 20, 2011
Richmond Hill’s Naim Malik remembered for impressive community legacy
“I am blessed that I have the skills to make a difference and wanting a safe and prosperous town for my family and other families is my motivation to give back to Richmond Hill”.
These were the words of Naim Malik in 2008, upon being presented with a YMCA Peace Medallion.
Mr. Malik passed away last month, following a lengthy battle with cancer, but the legacy he left behind was that of a giant in the community.
“Simply put — Richmond Hill needs more citizens and this world needs more peacemakers like Naim Malik,” said retired York Regional police chief Armand La Barge.
PEACE MEDALLION WINNER
It was Mr. La Barge who nominated Mr. Malik for the peace medallion in 2008, following his years of citizen collaboration with local police.
“Naim helped me and he helped our police service come to a better understanding of Islam and he worked hard to encourage young men and women in the Muslim community to consider a career in policing,” said Mr. La Barge.
Alongside the police chief, the Kenyan-born Mr. Malik attended numerous multicultural events, was on the police Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau and the Police Community Advisory Committee, among others.
Mr. Malik was also a proud member of the Richmond Hill Rotary Club and one of York Region’s most active Road Watch members.
Fellow Road Watch member Dave D’Silva called Mr. Malik his community mentor.
Mr. Malik was nominated for the Character Community of York Region-Change Our World award, but was unable to attend the April 27 ceremonies. He died in hospital the next day.
In a statement following Mr. Malik’s passing, Mr. D’Silva recalled the impact of the community leader.
“If you drive or walk on Richmond Hill roads, you benefit from Naim’s leadership as past chair of Richmond Hill Road Watch. But, Road Watch is merely one aspect of the value Naim brought to our community,” Mr. D’Silva added.
That value was not lost on Mayor Dave Barrow. During his five years in office, Mr. Barrow said he, too, would often rely on Mr. Malik for guidance and assistance.
BROUGHT ETHNIC GROUPS TOGETHER
“He was great at bringing a lot of different ethnic communities together. Sometimes old, white, grey-haired guys like me can use some help and he helped us establish our Eid dinner and helped us regarding issues for new Canadians and inclusivity,” said Mr. Barrow.
“His legacy of tireless work behind the scenes is what will inspire and long resonate with me,” added Mr. Barrow.
A friend of Mr. Malik’s for 20 years is former Markham councillor Khalid Usman.
Mr. Usman called his departed friend, “the best volunteer I had ever seen” and someone who always put the needs of others before his own.
“I asked him once, ‘Naim, why don’t you just relax? Why are you always compelled to do so much?’. He told me ‘whatever amount of life I have left on earth, I want to make a difference with it’,” Mr. Usman explained.
“I miss him and I think the whole community will miss him. He was a great leader,” Mr. Usman added.
TURNED EFFORTS TO HOSPITAL
In recent years, Mr. Malik expanded his philanthropy to the York Central Hospital Foundation, working with foundation president Bill Leacy to establish connections with the local Muslim community, growing various committees and bringing people of various backgrounds together and work for the unifying cause of health care.
The goal of “inclusivity” was a key goal in Mr. Malik’s community involvement.
“He was the real deal,” exclaimed Mr. Leacy. “When he joined a committee, it would double in size almost immediately”.
The foundation has also set up a web page, hailing Mr. Malik’s work and giving the option for residents to make a donation in his memory at http://malik.ychfoundation.ca
Mr. Malik’s legacy will hopefully serve to inspire many to follow his selfless example.
“I hope I am able to present an example to young Muslims in Richmond Hill to see that we are very much a part of this community,” said Mr. Malik in 2008. “It is the responsibility for all of us, no matter what your race or religion is, to make a better community”.
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