Our History

Our Journey:

 Celebrating 19 Years of Excellence at Horizon Academy Institute

(Imagine a vibrant banner or a photo of the school building here, perhaps with students engaged in an activity)

For 19 years, Horizon Academy Institute has been a cornerstone of Islamic education and leadership development in Calgary, dedicated to our vision of ‘Developing Leaders through Transformational Learning’. Our journey began with a commitment to nurturing intellectual minds and fostering value-driven leadership within the community.

The Early Years (Since 2006)

Our story began in 2006, when Horizon Academy Institute first started offering essential leadership training, comprehensive Arabic language courses, and in-depth Islamic studies programs on weekends. These initial programs laid the foundation for our distinctive approach to education, blending universal Islamic values with practical modern learning.

A New Horizon: Partnership and Full-Time Education (2017 Onwards)

A significant milestone occurred in March 2017, when we partnered with the Board of Trustees of Palliser Regional Schools. This collaboration led to the establishment of Horizon Leadership Academy School, a full-time program that officially opened in August 2017, initially offering Kindergarten through Grade 6. This partnership allowed us to expand our reach, creating a faith-based alternative program that positively impacts a diverse segment of the community, regardless of ethnicity, origin, gender, or faith.

Growth, Innovation, and Excellence (Today)

Today, Horizon Leadership Academy has grown to encompass Kindergarten through Grade 9, integrating the rigorous Alberta Education curriculum with Arabic, Islamic Social Studies, Quran, and vital leadership studies. We are proud to be recognized as the "Best Islamic School in Alberta". Our commitment to academic excellence is reflected in our remarkable improvement in the Fraser Institute rankings, climbing from 75th out of 848 schools in 2024 to 50th out of 729 schools across Alberta.

Beyond academics, our acclaimed "Best Weekend & After School Program in North America" continues to thrive, offering popular programs like Quran Tahfeez, Youth Leadership, high school Arabic credit courses, and adult Arabic classes. We currently serve 232 enrolled students in our full-time academy and 200 students in our weekend programs.

Leaders Beyond Academics: Our "Do Good Ranking"

Our mission extends beyond the classroom walls to cultivate value-driven leaders who contribute positively to society. Our unique "Do Good Ranking" initiatives encourage students to look beyond academic achievements and engage in meaningful community service. A recent parent council initiative successfully raised $8,915, exceeding its $6,000 target, to sponsor 15 children in Gaza for one year.

 

Looking Ahead: Our Future Vision (2025-2028)

As we look towards 2025-2028, Horizon Academy Institute is committed to continuous growth and enhancement. Our strategic goals include further improving our academic ranking to the top 5% and expanding our full-time school by adding one new classroom per grade over the next six years. We are also developing a Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 to ensure sustained progress and invite community participation in this exciting phase.

(A conceptual rendering of future classroom expansion or a timeline graphic for upcoming plans)

We continue to be guided by our mission to provide programs and services in education and leadership development through the universal values of Islam and modern best business practices, fostering a new generation of competent, knowledgeable, and value-driven leaders.