The Parish of St. John the Divine, Victoria invites you to a Parish and Community Conference:

“Singing a New Song: Creating a Renewed Relationship with First Nations”

Dates: Friday, April 26^th,7:30 to 10:00 p.m.and Saturday, April 27^th,10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: St. John’s Church Hall, 925 Balmoral Street, Victoria

Keynote Speakers and Commentators include:

John Borrows (Robins Chair in Law, Public Policy and Society, School of Law, University of Minnesota, Chippewas of Nawash, Anishinaabe First Nation)

Glen Coulthard, (Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies and Political Science, University of British Columbia, Yellowknives Dene First Nation)

On “Past and Present: the First Nations Quest for Justice in Canada”

Robert Morales (Lead Negotiator, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group and Aboriginal and Human Rights Lawyer, Cowichan Tribes)

Heidi Kiiwetinepinesik Stark, (Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Victoria, Turtle Mountain Anishinaabe)

On “Making the Case for Justice for First Nations: Using International Human Rights Law”

Val Napoleon, (Law Foundation Chair of Aboriginal Justice, University of Victoria, Saulteau First Nation and Gitxsan First Nation (adopted))

On “Recovering Indigenous Legal Systems and Governance”

Ana Maria Peredo, Professor, Faculty of Business and Director, Centre for Co-operative Based Economy (CCBE), University of Victoria

On “Community Building and Economies in First Nations”

Tickets: $15.00 (including Saturday lunch) available from Church Office. (250) 383-7169

Subsidies available upon request. For further information contact the Rev’d. Dr. Larry Scyner, Priest-in-Charge.

 The Compassion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
With Q/A session
This will be an introduction to the Prophet of Islam.

March 18th. 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Location – Masjid Al-Iman
2218 Quadra St.

The practicality of Islam in solving problems of the masses
with Q/A session

March 20th. 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Location: UVic Human and Social Development Building
Room – A240

Delivered by
Shaykh AbdulBary Yahya

Shaykh AbdulBary Yahya is currently the Imam of Masjid Jaamiul Muslimeen in Seattle, WA. He also holds the positions of President of the Cham Refugee Community and Vice-President of the Islamic Center of Washington State.
He is often used as the example for patience at its best.

For updates, please visit masjidal-imam.com
Or email bcmavictoria.com

 BCMA Victoria Branch
Masjid Address:                          Postal Address:
Masjid Al-Iman                             P.O.Box 8618
2218 Quadra Street                     Victoria, BC, V8W 3S2
Victoria, BC, V8T 4C6                 CANADA
CANADA                                      Tel: (250) 995-1422
Website  www.bcmavictoria.com – http://masjidal-iman.com
Azhar Omarjee (Chairperson BCMA – Victoria Branch)

BRINGING THE VICTIM INTO THE ROOM

Kamal Dhillon, author of Black and Blue Sari and winner of the 2012 Courage to Come Back Award, brings the dark issue of domestic violence into the light.

For many victims of relationship violence, their faith leader is the first person they disclose their abuse to. We want to support faith leaders in meeting the challenges such disclosures present.

The workshop will provide attendees with support, knowledge and resources to effectively counsel and support victims of domestic violence.

For Faith Leaders
Thursday April 18, 2013                Register at kamalfaith.eventbrite.ca
8:00 am – 12:30 pm                      Marriot Inner Harbour – Pacific Ballroom
FREE – Includes breakfast           728 Humboldt Street, Victoria

For more information, contact Shannon Whissell via email at swhissell@cridge.org or by phone at (250) 995-6419

Presented by: The Cridge Centre for the Family.
Sponsored by: Marriott. Victoria Inner Harbour.

You are invited to attend the Victoria Multifaith Society AGM.
Our focus this year is to seek direction from our faith community on priorities
of service for the Society.
To this end a Guest Speaker will set the stage on the benefits of bridging
multifaith communities in the South Island.
A facilitated discussion will follow with the intent of soliciting concrete
direction for the next year.

Your Voice Is Important!

Where: Victoria Society of Friends (Quakers) Meeting Hall
1831 Fern St.
When: Sunday, February 10th 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Membership Fee: $2

We are seeking Representatives for Muslim & Jewish Board Seats.

Sunday, February 3rd.

Unitarian Universalism: Then and Now
Reverend Shana Lynngood
This Sunday we welcome guests from the Victoria multi-faith society and will take this opportunity to reexamine our faith tradition. Are there a few formative historic stories we should regularly remind ourselves of? What does our faith have to offer in the 21st century? What is the link between our past and present?

Worship services every Sunday at 10:30am – Everyone Welcome!
First Unitarian Church of Victoria
5575 West Saanich Road
Victoria, B.C.
V9E 2G1    

Dear friends,

A multi-faith conference in honour of World Religion Day will be held,

Sunday, January 20^th, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Place: David Lam auditorium,  MacLaurin Building (A)*
University of Victoria

The theme of the conference is: Justice and Compassion – Where is the Balance?  The public is warmly invited to attend this free event, which will include panel discussions with local members of 8 world faiths, music, a question and answer period, displays and refreshments.

The event is sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Victoria, the Victoria Multifaith Society, the Inter-Cultural Association of Victoria, Restorative Justice Victoria, and Mead Simon the Baha’i representative with UVic Multifaith Services.

Program:

1:30 pm Audience views displays and chooses seats.
1:45 pm Welcome by MC, Dr. Elaine McCreary.
1:50 pm Video Presentation: “I Was Here”
1.55 pm Keynote, Mead Simon of UVic Multifaith Services.
2:00 pm Moderated Panel of Faiths, Question1: Christian, Islam, Aboriginal Spirituality, Buddhist.
2:40 pm Audience Interactive Pause.
2:45 pm Moderated Panel of Faiths, Question 2: Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Baha’i.
3:25 pm Audience Q & A for panel.
3:40 pm Closing arts presentation.
3:45 pm Refreshments in the lobby, with displays and information.

MC and Discussion Chair: Dr Elaine McCreary.
Dr. McCreary has been a tenured professor in the field of lifelong learning as applied to social and economic development. Her degrees are in in Andragogy, History and Philosophy of Adult Education, and information science. she has worked for over five years in Haifa, Isreal at the Baha’i World Centre and has served as the Baha’i representative in UVic Multifaith Services. She currently works for the BC Ministry of Advanced Education.

Discussion Panel One.
Question: How do we balance compassion and justice, based on the teachings and spiritual principles of our respective faiths?

Islam: Sheikh Afraz Baksh. Immam of the Masjid Al-Iman, the new mosque of Victoria’s Muslim community, now estimated at 2000 members, more than one-quarter being students. Afraz is also the Muslim Chaplain for UVic Multifaith Services.
Christian: Jenn Geddes. Jenn is currently the Presbyterian Chaplain for UVic Multifaith Services.
Buddhist: Venerable Eshu Martin. He is the guiding force behind the Victoria Zen Centre and the past chair of the World Interfaith Education Association (BC).
Aboriginal Spirituality: Sabrina Williams. Sabrina is the Cultural Programs Coordinator at Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services. She is from Quw’utsun territory and has worked with Aboriginal organizations for over twenty years.

Discussion Panel Two.
Question: What does a compassionate world and compassionate community look like, especially when dealing with those who hold different world views?

Baha’i Faith: Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford. Mary was a family doctor and Palliative Care Physician for 15 years, was active in the nuclear disarmament movement. She has received the prestigious Gandhi Award and the Governor General of Canada’s medal on two occasions.
Judaism: Rabbi Harry Brechner. Harry has been the spritual leader of Congregation Emanu-El in Victoria, he has served as the head and director of education for a number of schools in the USA. He has a background in early childhood education and child development.
Hinduism: Dr. Shashi Prasad is active in the Hindu community in Victoria. She has degrees in the Hindi language and Litrerature, Comparative Religion and Philosophy and has taught at universities in India and Canada including the University of Victoria.
Sikhism: Jagir Singh Virk has served as the Sikh Board member for the Victoria Multifaith Society since 2010. He has an M.A. in Sociology and an M.B.A. He has lived in Victoria since 1994, working as a mental health worker and a real estate agent.

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting and joyful event!

Kind regards,

S. Flood for the WRD Organizing Committee

* The closest parking lots are near the Music Wing of the MacLaurin Building and also the Fine Arts Building / Interfaith chapel.  There is no charge on Sunday for either lot.

The Multifaith Action Society  is pleased to announce the launch of its latest interfaith bridging project, entitled “The Power of Spirit: A Multifaith Exploration of Triumph Over Adversity and Persecution,” on the evening of January 23, 2013 at the Vancouver Baha’i Centre (5880 Main Street, Vancouver).

The Power of Spirit focuses on the various ways in which faith and spirituality has helped BC’s diverse religious communities to overcome adversity throughout history and into today. By inviting community-nominated speakers and participants of different faiths to reflect on and share the spiritual principles that saw them through dark times, the Society hopes to explore how they might empower people and communities who find themselves in similar situations today.

The January 23 session at the Vancouver Baha’i Center will be the first of six monthly forums, each hosted by a different spiritual community and featuring a revolving guest community. The series will conclude with a communal event in which all participating faiths will gather together to share what they have learned and forge new intercultural and interfaith connections.

All sessions will take place between 6:30pm and 9:00pm. Admission is free, event passports will be stamped for door prizes, and refreshments will be served. All are welcomed to attend.

The event schedule is as follows:

• January 23: Vancouver Baha’i Centre, 5880 Main Street, Vancouver
• February 20: Laxmi Narayan Mandir, 8321 140 Street, Surrey
• March 27: Church of Scientology of Vancouver, 401 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
• April 17: Aboriginal Mothers’ Centre, 2019 Dundas Street, Vancouver
• May 15: Masjid al-Salaam, 5060 Canada Way, Burnaby
• June 19: Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, 8115 132 Street, Surrey

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

Celebrate Gandhi’s Birthday and the International Day of Non-Violence!

Place: 1st. Metropolitan United Church Chapel
            932 Balmoral Avenue, Victoria.
Time:   7pm – 9pm

FREE EVENT – ALL ARE WELCOME!

Discover and explore the many paths to peace through storytelling and discussion with members of Victoria’s spiritual communities.

… be the change you want to see in the world …
A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.
Mahatma Gandhi.

In collaboration with the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (Victoria) www.departmentofpeace.ca
Contact: Penny Joy,  pjoy@shaw.ca or phone 250-383-5878

There will be an event hosted by the Baha’i Community of Victoria to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the visit of Abdu’l-Bahá to Canada.

Abdu’l-Baha was the son of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith.  He came to America at the invitation of the American Baha’is.  He was 67 years old and in frail health, having lived most of his life in exile and as a prisoner.   He had, before coming, received seven invitations to speak.  Beyond these engagements an amazing number of opportunities emerged, affecting thousands of people.  This performance will share some of the stories of those who met him.

Date: The event will be held on Sunday, 9 September, 2012
Place: Alix Goolden Hall – 907 Pandora Avenue.
Time: There will be a reception at 3:00pm, followed at 4:00pm by  a performance.

You are all warmly invited to attend this joyful event, and to share this invitation with others. The event is open to everyone.

We hope to see you all there.
Sharon Welsh, Victoria Multifaith Society Baha’i Member

Indigenous Rights in the UN System
Celebrating the 5th. Anniversary of the UN Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Speakers:
Journalist & Educator Kenneth Deer of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake.
Robert Morales, lawyer and chief negotiator for Hul’quminum Treaty Group.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 7:00 – 9:00p.m.
Room 159, Fraser Building
University of Victoria (3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC)
Admission is free. Seating is limited.

To mark the 5th. anniversary of the UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples, Kenneth Deer will discuss (via videotape) the development of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its 25-year passage through the UN system. Deer’s talk will be followed by an address by Robert Morales on the recent Canadian developments & issues relating to the UNDRIP.

For other talks in the series see www.lrwc.org or contact lrwc@portal.ca; 604-738-0338

Co-sponsored by: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, www.lrwc.org; www.hulquminum.bc.ca; Amnesty International, www.amnesty.ca; University of Victoria – Law, www.law.uvic.ca; University of Victoria – Social Justice Studies, web.uvic.ca/socialjustice.