Mayor Derek Corrigan issued a proclamation last week declaring October Islamic History Month, despite concerns raised by residents last year.
The city has made the proclamation every year since October 2007, when the federal government first proclaimed Islamic History Month in Parliament.
But it wasn't until last year that the Burnaby NOW received several letters protesting the decision.
At last Monday night's council meeting, Corrigan made the proclamation, which again contained a controversial sentence that was questioned by residents last year.
"Whereas Islamic History Month Canada will enhance Canada's ties with other Muslim countries," the proclamation stated.
Other cities in B.C., including Victoria, Surrey, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver, have also issued proclamations for Islamic History Month Canada.
However, Vancouver's final item reads: "Whereas Islamic History Month Canada will enhance Canada's ties with Muslim countries."
The word "other" is the only difference between the two proclamations.
Corrigan was not available to comment on the proclamation before press time.
Last year, the NOW received many letters both for and against the proclamation.
There are many proclamations made throughout the year, Corrigan's administrative assistant, Sharon Fuller, said at the time.
Some of these include Barbados Heritage Week, Black History Month, Diwali Month, European Heritage Month and Falun Dafa Month.
"We try as a city to be very generous (with the proclamations)," Corrigan said in an interview with the NOW last October, adding that it is part of being a multicultural, multi-religious city. "When asked, we simply recognize what's important to them."
Organizations approach his office and usually provide the wording for the proclamation.
"We're not going to devote a lot of city resources to the wording (of the proclamation)," he said then. "That's not what we do."
His staff looks over the document to ensure it falls within the city's guidelines, and the mayor signs it, he added.
The Canadian Islamic Congress introduced the idea for Islamic History Month Canada after 9/11, as a way to teach Canadians about the Islamic faith, according to Wahida Valiante, congress chair and national president.
On Oct. 25, 2007, Mauril Belanger, MP for Ottawa-Vanier, presented a motion to designate October as Canadian Islamic History Month.
Islam and pluralism is this year's topic for Islamic History Month.
There are events happening across Canada, including lectures and documentary showings, throughout the month, according to the congress' website.
In Burnaby there is a lecture by Michael Hamilton Morgan titled Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslims at the Al Salaam Masjid mosque at 5060 Canada Way on Oct. 22 at 6: 30 p.m.
Admission is free.
