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.