The following events take place as a continuation of Part II Dialogue Project (ICA) and The Victoria Multifaith Society.

Open House Series.
The Victoria Multifaith Society and the Intercultural Association invite you to the following Open House series.
People of all faiths are invited to attend these events and to learn about each other in community.

Christian Open House
Saturday April 28, 2012, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Christians from a diverse range of Christian backgrounds will come together for an afternoon of sharing, music and essential Christian expressions and presentations, each sharing from their own tradition, resulting in a mosaic of Christian expression as found in the Greater Victoria area.

Christian Faith Open House.
First Church of Christ, Scientist. (Christian Science Church)
1205 Pandora Ave. at Chambers St.
(Large white domed building at the top of Harris Green)
Program:
2:00 – 3:30pm   presentations and question and answer.
3:30 – 4:00pm   meet and greet and refreshments.
Parking is in the lot next to the church on Chambers St.
For more information about this event contact the Christian Science Reading Room 250-383-0216; or christiansciencebooks@telus.net

Speakers at This event will be:

• The Very Rev. Dr. Logan McMenamie fulfills roles in both the local Victoria Anglican parish and the diocese of British Columbia. As Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, he is a pastor and teacher and supervises all operations of the parish. As Dean of Columbia, he is second in ecclesiastical rank to the Bishop.

• Anna Bowness Park is a full time Christian Science practitioner of spiritual healing, and the spokesperson for Christian Science in British Columbia. She also is the founder and co-moderator a multifaith discussion blog, Spiritually Speaking,  for the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper print edition and website.

• Pastor Lyle Mackenzie is pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church Of The Cross, on Cedar Hill Road. He also is a chaplain at the University of Victoria, and a contributor to the Times Colonist Spiritually Speaking blog.

• Margaret O’Donnell is founder and executive director of The Oasis Society for Spiritual Health offering spiritual care for the most vulnerable – those largely on the street.

• Gordon Miller is a United Church member and a professional musician with a music business that offers a wide range of services.  As a person of deep faith, he has beautifully melded his faith with his music and loves to engage people with their community through music.
  Please join us for this family friendly community faith event. Refreshments and snacks served. No registration required.

Baha’i’ Faith Open House.
Sun. May 27th. 3 – 5pm
At Windsor Park Pavilion – 2451 Windsor Road, Oak Bay.

Buddhist Open House Open House.
Sat. June 9th. Noon -2pm
4095 Orion Place – Saanich, Gordon Head near UVic.

Unitarian Faith Open House.
Sun. June 10th. Service10am – 11am, Open House 11am – 2pm.
Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation at James Bay New Horizons – 234 Menzies Street, Victoria.
All faiths are welcome at the service and the open house.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be holding its first Regional Event, April 13-14, 2012 in the city of Victoria, BC.
There will be two – five day workshops leading up to this event – one for non-aboriginal people and the other for aboriginal people – the workshops are sponsored by Returning to Spirit non-profit society to support the healing process of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission dealing with residential schools in our communities.
For more information go to:
www.trc.ca and http://vimeo.com/33428256

RETURNING TO SPIRIT
WELCOME to the RTS Workshop One (NON-ABORIGINAL)
Monday to Friday (March 26 – 30, 2012)

Hosted by the Diocese of Victoria at:
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
753 W. Burnside Road, Victoria, BC V8S 3Y2

Coordinators: Cynthia Bouchard-Watkins and Mary Parry
For information, please contact Mary at 250-477-0593 or
via email: maryparry@shaw.ca

RETURNING TO SPIRIT
WELCOME to the RTS Workshop Two (ABORIGINAL)
Monday to Friday (March 26 – 30, 2012)

Hosted by the Diocese of Victoria at the:
Health Unit – Penelakut Island

For information, please contact the Coordinators:
Fr. Jai Joseph (250) 737-1967
Rella Sylvester (250-709-9394)
Sarah Modeste (250-701-7103)

Brought to you by: CONNECTING CULTURES

Info at www.healthandsocialdevelopment.com or romy.pritchard@ccultures.com 250.920.0373

5 Diverse communities, 10 Artists, 50 Pieces of Art.

5 Cultural Events, One Final Art Show.

Connecting Cultures would like to invite you to participate in the upcoming “Seeing it Through Your Eyes 2”.  This project comprises 5 events with 5 diverse cultures where the Culture, Art, Music, Food, Friendship, Customs, Language, Conversation and Community will be shared. Be a participant in this cultural exchange.

There is no charge for these events but donations will be gratefully accepted. The next events are at:

Italian Community, March 11, 2012, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Da Vinci Centre, 149 Bay St.

Art Show – Opens May 14 – May 26, Hours 9 – 4 pm.
Daily: Opening Night, May 14, 6 – 9 pm.
Arts Centre at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd.

This project is made possible through the funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia in partnership with the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria and the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill. .

Brought to you by: CONNECTING CULTURES

Info at www.healthandsocialdevelopment.com or romy.pritchard@ccultures.com 250.920.0373

Connecting Cultures would like to invite you to participate in the upcoming “First Conversations”.  This project is a series of discussions and cultural events bridging Aboriginal peoples in the South Island and four diverse faiths.  Come respectfully with open hearts and minds ready to have your soul touched and be welcomed into new territories.  These conversations hit home with our current events right where we live. Be a part of the discussion and change.

There is no charge for these events but donations will be gratefully accepted. The next events are at:

Victoria Society of Friends (Quakers)
Sunday, March 25, 2012. 1:00 – 3:30 pm
1831 Fern St.  Community lunch provided.

T’Sou-ke Nation
Band Hall, T’Sou-ke Indian Reserve 1.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012. 5:00 – 6:30-7:00 pm

Esquimalt Nation
Longhouse, Esquimalt Nation
Sunday, April 15, 2012. Time: TBA

Victoria Hindu Temple
Sunday, May 20, 2012. 1:00 – 3:30 pm
1934 Cultra Ave. Community lunch provided.

Tsawout Nation – TBA

This project is made possible through the funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

Part II of the GVID project is scheduled to begin soon. Begun earlier this year, the project is a collaborative effort between the Intercultural Association (ICA), South Island Dispute Resolution Centre and VMS, bringing together people of diverse faiths in dialogue sessions and various activities. Part I brought together those of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Bahá’í Faiths. Part II, which is also funded by Embrace BC, will focus on those of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Unitarian faiths, and will include those of the previous GVID project as well. Stay tuned!

Invitation to Participate
Food, Faith and Community: Interfaith Bridging Project
The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), Victoria Multifaith Society (VMS) and the South Island Dispute Resolution Centre (SIDRC) invite local faith group members to cook, experience, share and  celebrate the cultural foods associated with Victoria’s different faith communities. ICA, VMS and SIDRC, in partnership with local faith groups, are hosting a series of no-cost interfaith cooking classes. Each class will be followed by a shared community meal and interfaith open house celebration. Interfaith cooking classes will be held beginning in January 2012 and hosted by the local Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish faith
Who can participate?
* Cooking class enrollment is restricted to 20 persons
* Cooking classes are open to members of local faith groups including: Baha’i', Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Unitarian, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, First Nation’s Spirituality, among others
* The shared community meal and interfaith celebration that follows the cooking class is open to cooking class students and their family members as well as members of the wider public-please note that due to limited seating priority will be given to faith group participants.
Is there a cost for taking the cooking class or shared meal celebration?
* There is no cost for the cooking class or the shared meal celebration
* Ingredients, kitchen facilities and instruction are all provided
What is involved with taking the cooking class?
* classes last approximately 2 hours and will involve the preparation of cultural dishes such as dahl, roti, butter curry chicken, samosas, potato latkes, etc.
* participants will also learn about the cultural significance of the food being prepared and the history and beliefs of the host faith group
* a recipe booklet will be produced as part of the project that will include photos of participants and the food they have prepared
What is the shared meal and interfaith celebration about?
* following each cooking class participants will come together, with other faith group members to share the food they have created
* an interfaith celebration will be part of the shared meal with the host faith group presenting their history, culture, principles.
* a dialogue activity designed to increase interfaith understanding will also be part of the event.
For more information click here: http://www.icavictoria.org/services/upcoming-workshops-and-training
If you are interested in signing up for the cooking class and/or shared meal celebration please register on this link: http://www.icavictoria.org/content/food-faith-community-interfaith-bridging-project.

The next event is being hosted by the Jewish Faith Community on Sunday March 25th- so be sure to register as soon as possible.

Jewish Cooking Class and Open House
Date:     Sunday March 25, 2012
Time:    Cooking class, 12:30 – 2:00pm
Place:   Fairfield Gonzales Community Association,
Garry Oak Room, 1335 Thurlow Rd. (off Moss St.)

Open house / Shared meal
Date:    Sunday March 25, 2012
Time:    5:00 – 7:00 pm
Place:  Jewish Community Centre, 3636 Shelbourne St.

For more information, please contact Steven Lorenzo Baileys of ICA at: sbaileys@icavictoria.org or phone: 250-388-4728 ext. 116
This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

In May, the Times-Colonist began the Spiritually Speaking blog with a team of writers (roughly the same faith groups as those represented on the board of Victoria Multifaith Society) and guest writers submitting articles and fielding comments.
Each faith group is taking one week each, on a rotating basis.

Click on “comments” at the link above to post a response and continue the dialogue.