Canada’s population is comprised of descendants of those who were here thousands of years ago, families who settled hundreds of years ago, and more recent arrivals. In each instance they have claimed the land in their own ways and have found ways to make meaning of where one makes home. The presence of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims (also known as Nizari Ismailis, or simply, Ismailis) has unfolded similarly to that of other recent immigrants to Canada, but it also has some unique characteristics, including the distinct ways in which Ismaili Muslims in Canada organize public and private spaces. This article argues that Ismaili engagements with other Muslims and with Western societies have resulted in different aspects of the self being presented in public and private spaces creating discourse. Emphasizing this is the juxtaposition between the Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre in Toronto. Although the buildings are physically separated by a short distance, they seem far apart: as one interfaces with the world the other’s inner sanctum is a jamatkhana; only those who have given allegiance to the Imam (i.e. Ismaili adherents) can attend congregational meetings in jamatkhanas, which maintain the Ismaili private sphere. Occasionally the dual mapping conducted in the Ismaili arrangement of public and private space creates an intriguing dynamic when public events are held in Ismaili Centres and jamatkhana social halls. These responses to modernity and wish to engage with the contemporary world are shaped by history, geography, migration and religious belief, among other factors. The community seeks to promote pluralism as a global value, yet some of its most profound experiences in engaging with others are kept within the private sphere. Nevertheless there is a growing competition of discourses among various Ismaili voices.