Congratulations to the Ahmadiyya community for their 20th Annual World Religions Conference in Victoria. We’re happy to report that 271 people attended the event at the Saanich Commonwealth Centre on Sunday, 1 February, plus another 321 views online. Speakers from 8 different spiritual traditions spoke on the theme of “Building Bridges” followed by a wonderful Indian meal. Thank you to everyone who attended and made it a success, and special thanks to the Ahmadiyya community for their hard work and generosity. Here’s a link to the photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/raixupYxNs2MVf3H6
Victoria’s 20th annual World Religions Conference sponsored by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be held at 4:30 PM on Sunday 1 February at the Saanich Commonwealth Centre’s Garry Oak Gymnasium.
The theme this year is “Building Bridges”: an important reminder in a world often marked by challenges, division, and uncertainty, that the world’s faiths can stand as a powerful approach to fostering encouragement, unity, and hope. This theme invites participants to reflect on how faith traditions can serve as common ground for mutual understanding, compassion, and collaboration. The guiding question for discussion will be How does your religion contribute to uniting humanity for the common good?
Speakers representing 8 different religons/belief systems will each deliver short presentations: Maulana Farhan Iqbal (Islam); Dr. Anneli Driessen (Metaphysical); Mr. Graham Sanderson (Christian LDS); Mr. Gurdeep Singh (Sikh); Ms. Gita Badiyan (Bahá’í); Fr. Allan Doerksen (Christian); Mr. Shrikant Shenwai (Hindu); and Rabbi Elisha Herb (Jewish).
Our Moderator this year will be Adam Olsen, a well-known figure in BC and member of the Tsartlip Nation who has twice served as interim leader of the province’s Green Party and also as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
The presentations will be followed by an East Indian Dinner, generously provided by the Ahmadiyya community. The conference brings together a cross section of Victoria’s population to enjoy each other’s company and share conversation. We hope this theme will spark meaningful dialogue and highlight the shared values that can bridge divides across all of our diverse communities.
Those present at our AGM will remember the announcement of a special vending machine called “The Giving Machine” at Tillicum Centre from 14 Nov. to 3 Dec. The project has been a great success with funds going to several local and international charities. All administrative costs have been covered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Congratulations to all who participated!
The board of the Victoria Multifaith Society warmly welcomes Taranjeet Singh Makker as its newest member, in the Sikh seat. Taranjeet is originally from Lucknow, India and moved to Canada in December 2024. He was interviewed by the board at its November meeting. “I am eager to contribute to the multicultural community here in Victoria. I was a practicing lawyer in India for 33 years and also served as the Vice President of the Main Gurdwara in Lucknow, where I was actively engaged in community service. I look forward to sharing my experiences and learning from others through the Victoria Multicultural Society.”
Taranjeet replaces Bhavin-Singh Nihang who stepped down from the board several months ago.
We did so many things in 2025… and the year is not even over! Some were new, like the creation of the Multifaith Youth Council (page 8), some were collaborative and some were of our own invention, such as the Listening Circles that have been wonderful in creating closer relationships between individuals and communities. A milestone for VMS at this AGM was the passing of new bylaws that include the E.D. position created in 2021.
Please click on the image to see our Annual Report for 2025.
One event that is upcoming but found in the report is a collaborative project called The Giving Machine, a very special vending machine that will be at Tillicum Mall from 15 November to 3 December. See page 10 of the report for details!
Our AGM was held Sunday, 19 October, at Christ Church Cathedral in a beautiful space called “the Chapter Room”, with 29 people attending. Interfaith educator Harold Rosen’s presentation “Why Learn about Other People’s Religions?” was filled with examples of the interconnection of our faiths and their positive effect on history and civilizations. Harold has compiled and edited “Sharing Light: a Multifaith Manual for BC Educators”, a wonderful resource freely available to all interested.
Around 90 people attended the One Spirit event on 21 September at the Hindu Temple. It was a great success, with uplifting, touching, sometimes funny presentations: chanting, singing, guitar, dance, and drumming.
The program went about 90 minutes, starting with a First Nations blessing by Patrick Leon, ending with a Sufi Dance of Universal Peace, and in between presentations from many communities: Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha’i. For those who weren’t (or were!) at the event, here’s a little video clip: https://youtu.be/kkNBxRNQ6ac
The vegetarian Indian meal afterwards was also wonderful, offered free of charge by Praveen and Deepika Pottumutu of the Urban Rebar restaurant in Bastion Square. Conversations were lively and people were joyful and complimentary. A number of volunteers assisted with cleanup around 7PM.
VMS is happy to announce that we will collaborate again this year with the Hindu Parishad & Cultural Centre to present the always wonderful multifaith arts devotional, One Spirit: Celebrating our Faiths Together.
This unique event is a joyful celebration of religion and culture through song, music, chant, poetry, dance from many different traditions. The program will begin at 4:00 PM Sunday, 21 September 2025 at 1934 Cultra Ave in Saanichton, followed around 6:00 PM by a vegetarian Indian meal generously provided by The Urban Rebar.
Please register here as soon as possible, or RSVP at victoriamultifaith at gmail.com. Payment is by donation. This is one of our most popular events, so space is limited. We look forward to seeing you there!
VMS is pleased to introduce Claire Grant as the newest addition to the board of the Victoria Multifaith Society, in the Buddhist seat. Claire started practicing mindfulness meditation in the tradition of Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh in 2010 while living in France, and has been practicing and facilitating as Bell Master with the Victoria Mindfulness Community since 2012.
Claire was ordained a member of the Order of Interbeing in 2017 and was given the dharma name Chân Đức Dung meaning True Virtue of Inclusiveness. She has attended many mindfulness retreats in Plum Village, France and has supported her local mindfulness community with retreats and Days of Mindfulness. Claire lives in Victoria with her partner Stephane and has two adult children.
Would you be open to meeting a person from another faith for coffee and conversation, one on one? Just a relaxed conversation with someone new whose beliefs and personal experience you might like to know more about? No pressure, just connection, curiosity, and maybe a new friend. Connection starts with one conversation.
People are encouraged to be open and ask questions, but where the chat goes is totally up to you. No speeches, no proselytizing – just real talk with someone who respects your beliefs.
We will match you up with someone according to the preferences you express on this questionnaire, Google Form, Let’s Talk (Multifaith) We’ll then send you both an introductory email to connect you so that you can follow up with each other to make arrangements for coffee, wherever and whenever you choose.
Let’s Talk — and build a better, closer, safer community one conversation at a time.
This is a personal initiative of a member of the VMS Listening Circles, who collaborated with VMS to create the above multifaith version of the original Let’s Talk Tuesdays at Spinnakers. For those who would also like to participate in that project please follow the link or sign up on Eventbrite. NOTE: These are 2 separate projects, with the project at Spinnakers running 12 to 2 p.m. on select Tuesdays.
