19th World Religions Conference Prince George

  • Topic: Healing in Polarized World?
  • Day: Monday, September 16th, 2024
  • Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
  • Tel: 604-767-1965
  • Toll Free: 1-877-767-1965
  • Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca

Program

  • 6:25 PM Announcement
  • 6:00 PM Recitation of the Holy Qur’an
  • 6:10 PM Welcome Remarks by dignities
    • David Coleman, President the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
    • Mrs. Darlene Mcintosh, Chncellor UNBC
  • 6:10 PM Introductory Remarks & Moderator Introduction
    • Mr. Rizwan Peerzada, Regional President , AMJ BC
  • 6:20 PM Speakers Panel (Time Allocated 10 minutes)
    • Jewish Faith Mr. El Klasner
    • Christianity Dr. Marie Hay
    • Islam Maulana Umran ul Haq Bhatti
    • Hindu Faith Dr. Pranesh Kumar, PhD
    • Sikh Faith Mr.Surjit Singh Minhas
    • Christianity Mr. David Coleman (The Church of Jesus Christ Latter day Saints)
    • Baha’I Mrs. Charlotte Wenninger
    • Buddhism Ms. Ren Shelmaschuk
    • Q.A with speaker’s panel
  • 8:20 PM Concluding Remarks by Moderator
  • 8:27 PM Vote of Thanks by Mr. Khalid A. Khan, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Prince George
  • 8: 30 PM East Indian Dinner

Moderator

Elder Darlene Mcintosh

Darlene is an Elder of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. She is Grouse clan, daughter of Mary Quaw
of Lheidli T’enneh and Peter Zatorski of Prince George. She is the granddaughter of Elsie George
from Saik’uz First Nation and Augusta Quaw of Lheidli T’enneh. Darlene is devoted to family,
she is married, over 40 years, to Neil McIntosh and is mother to Blake (Laurie) and Kyle, and a
dedicated grandmother to Jake and Konnor.
Darlene comes from a long line of healers and is a sought after healing touch practitioner
working with individuals and groups – in particular she was recently invited by the First Nations
Health Authority to attend three of their conferences. She is a founding member of the
women’s Spirit Keepers and is often at the center of women’s gatherings for meditation, prayer
and healing.  

Darlene is the Cultural Advisor in the Aboriginal Resource Centre of the College of New
Caledonia (CNC) where she support students, advises faculty and is a spiritual leader for the
wider community. Darlene’s center, especially within this role, is one of balance and harmony
within the teachings of The Medicine Wheel. She is a natural teacher who brings a fresh
perspective into the notion of indigenization and truth and reconciliation. Darlene’s most
recent contribution to this process was to organize a powerful offering of The Blanket
Ceremony for administrative and executive staff.
Darlene has a gift of weaving her spiritual connection into words that resonate beyond her
responsibilities as Elder, Advisor and teacher. Darlene’s writing has been published, most
recently, in an anthology called In Our Own Voice, A Collection of Aboriginal Writers and Artists
in BC as well as in two publications on health in Front Lines – Portraits of Caregivers in Northern
British Columbia and Introduction to Aboriginal Health and Healthcare in Canada. Darlene is an
advocate for health, the arts and education.

Speakers

Jewish Faith Perspective
Mr.Eli Klasner

Eli Klasner was raised in Toronto and earned degrees in economics and music from Queens University, University of Toronto, and University of Ottawa. He also studied music and lived in Hungary and France as a youth. Eli had a successful business career in Toronto and then relocated to Vancouver where he founded a successful arts and sports marketing agency. He has been a resident of Prince George since 2017 where he is currently the Executive Director of the Community Arts Council of Prince George & District. In Prince George, Eli is involved with many community and arts groups, and is currently involved in several cultural infrastructure projects, including the development of a new entertainment complex and a community creative hub for the region.  Eli is active in the Jewish community of Prince George, the Lower Mainland where he is active with several synagogues and sits on the Board of the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC, and also Brooklyn, NYC where he resides part-time.  

Christianity Perspective
Dr. Marie Hay

Dr. Marie Hay is an immigrant medical doctor who came to Prince George from Ireland. For 30 years Marie served Northern British Columbia as a Consulting Paediatrician and Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC/UNBC, providing medical care for children 0-19 years and education for hundreds of medical students. She has been an invited guest speaker at conferences in Canada, the USA and China. Dr. Hay has lived and worked on three continents of the world and from these experiences she developed a great respect and love for different faith traditions. Marie is a Christian who worships at St. Michael and all Angels in Prince George. She has been the People’s Warden in the Anglican church there, since 2016. Marie is the Board Chair of Prince George’s inter-faith Centre of Peace and Reconciliation, established in 2019. The Centre promotes the love of the Divine, Mother Earth, Neighbours and Self, to achieve peace, harmony, and reconciliation among all diverse peoples.

Maulana Umran Bhatti
Islam Perspective

Umran ul-Haq Bhatti is a Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. Umran acquired his degree in Islamic Theology and Comparative Religions in 2013, Canada. He has served in Ghana, Atlantic Canada, and Toronto. During his 4 yrs in Atlantic Canada he was a monthly columnist writing for the local newspaper in removing misconception about the peaceful teachings of Islam and building bridges in the community. Currently he is the Imam of the Baitur Rehman Mosque in Delta, BC. He served as an Imam and Missionary for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Calgary  branch at Baitun Noor Mosque from 2013- 2015.For the last 4 years he was serving Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Jamaica, West Indies, in the capacity of Missionary in Charge. He was recently appointed to serve the British Columbia chapters and the community based around Baitur Rahman Mosque in Delta, & Surrey BC. He is currently living in Delta with family (wife and 3 children)

Hindu Faith Perspective
Dr. Pranesh Kumar, PhD

Dr. Pranesh Kumar was born in a Hindu family of a Northern Indian State of Utter Pardesh. He was keen interest in literature religion, culture, science and its global impact, in particular on human society. He is fascinated by the diversities which he experienced during the vast travels, interactions with people and observing their social, cultural and religious events. Kumar values life in any form and believes in very ancient, preached and practiced Sanskirtsaying “VasudhaevaKutumbukam” meaning the “ Entire world is one family.

Sikh Perspective
Mr. Surjit Singh Minhas

Surjit Singh Minhas is an active member of the Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Temple serving in Prince George since 1977 to residents by providing “Langar” meal free to the public. Surjit moved to Prince George in  1973 from India. He has a degree in B.SC & B.Ed from Punjab University, India. He worked in lumber industry for two years and retired from BC Rail in December 2005. Now he volunteers for the temple and has been supporting charities including donating his blood to Canadian Blood Services seventy three times.

Buddhism Perspective
Ms.Ren Shelmaschuk

Ren was blessed to be born and raised at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako rivers, on the traditional ancestral lands of Lheidli T'enneh (Prince George, BC) to a Catholic family who instilled a strong love of God, family and faith. She works as a high school teacher after completing Bachelor of Science (2009) and Bachelor of Education (2012) degrees at UNBC and a Master of Education (2020) degree from Thompson Rivers University. She has also completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2018, and teaches yoga weekly. In addition, Ren is an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church. She first heard about Buddhism and became a Buddhist in her first undergraduate degree and has been exploring Mahayana Buddhism, also known as the Universal Vehicle, ever since. This branch of Buddhism focuses on finding Buddhahood and enlightenment through service to others by following the path of the Bodhisattva. Her purpose in this life is to teach and awaken bodhicitta (open, loving-kindness enriched heart space) in herself and all beings.No one needs to change religions to follow the basic tenets of this path: be kind, help others,and look beyond the self to find peace.May you and all beings be happy, healthy, safe, and peaceful Om Mani Padme Hum

Christian Perspective ( The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Church)
Mr. David Coleman

David Coleman has been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since birth. He has served in many capacities in the church including a two year mission in Peru.  He has also served as a Teacher, a scout leader, a counsellor to the Bishop, five years as a Bishop, a counsellor to other leaders and is now serving as the Stake President for the Prince George BC Stake. This role covers congregations. in Burns Lake, Vanderhooof, Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Bella Coola. He is happily married to his wife Laurel and together they have four children and ten grandchildren.

Registration

Baha’i Perspective
Mrs. Charlotte Wenninger

Charlotte Wenninger has been a member of the Baha’i community for over 35 years.  She has served for many years as one of the elected, nine members on the local governing body of the Baha’is of Prince George.  She has served as a chairman of the Interfaith Chaplaincy Committee at UNBC almost since its inception.   She is married and has raised four daughters and now has 7 grandchildren.  She has a keen interest in sharing her religion with others and learning about all aspects of spirituality, especially the science behind spiritual reality.

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