Root Causes of Poverty & Homelessness

13th World Religions Conference Prince George

Topic: Root Causes of Poverty & Homelessness
Date: Saturday, September 22nd , 2018
Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM

Tel: 604-767-1965 or
Toll Free: 1-877-767-1965
Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca

Moderator

Kenora Stewart

Kenora Stewart belongs to the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, of which she is an elder. She has one son, Sherman, with her late husband James, and a 15 month old grand-daughter Vayda. She has 3 sisters Lenora, Renata and Dolleen, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Profiles

Indigenous Perspective
Mrs. Karin Hunt

Karin Hunt joined the association as one of the prinicpal artitects of an Aboriginal labour market delivery strategy. Karin is certified adult instructor, studied Leadership as a Banff center for the management, and certifed Professional Managemnet Institute, earned Master Certificate in Program Management at UNBC. She is proud member of the BC A-Team, an alliance of First Nations professionals in Labour force development. At the home front, Karin is currently the chairperson of the Prince George Nechako Urban Aboriginal Working Group, is a member of the College of New Caledonia President’s Council, and a member of the University of Northern British Columbia First Nations Senate.

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.

Buddhism Perspective
Mr. John DeGrace

John DeGrace has been practicing in the Theravada Buddhist tradition (mostly vipassana meditation since 1991 and, since 2006, jhana meditation as well). He has been teaching part-time since 2000. He has taken many meditation retreats, mostly at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and Cloud Mountain near Castle Rock, WA; and he has taken several courses related to Buddhist practice at the Barre Center for Buddhist studies. He coordinates and teaches a vipassana meditation group (sangha) in Prince George, and also coordinates a Christian meditation group.

Christianity Perspective
Mrs. Carla Anderson

Charla Anderson grew up in Williams Lake as the oldest of 10 children. She has been living in Prince George for the past 21 years. She has raised 4 children here with partner Darryl and they love this community. Over the years she has had many opportunities to serve both professionally through Postpartum Passages, as a doula and with her church family.

Christianity (Mennonite) Perspective
Pastor Rob Dyck

After a very personal and profound stirring of God’s Spirit, together with my wife Leanne and our three awesome children (Adriana, Malia, and Colin), followed God’s leading to Westwood. I am excited to use my gifts in this ministry context and throughout this community and am inspired by the ministry team with which I have the opportunity to serve. I look forward to shepherding this faith community trusting God to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine… (Ephesians 3:20).

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 has a 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 Sanskirt saying “ Vasudhaeva Kutumbukam” meaning the “ Entire world is one family.

Maulana Tariq Azeem
Islam Perspective

Tariq Azeem graduated from Ahmadiyya Islamic University in Toronto in 2013. His study was on Theology and Religions. He served as an Imam in Liberia (Africa) for a period six months. He served as a missionary from May 2014 to April 2017 in Lloydminster, appointed by the Worldwide Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He is married and currently serving as missionary incharge of British Columbia.

Dr. Sikh Perspective
Balbinder Singh Deo

Dr. Balbinder Deo worked in academic and industrial organizations for more than 29 years. He joined School of Business, UNBC Prince George campus faculty member in 2002. Prior to UNBC, Dr. Deo worked at University of Saskatchewan, University of Manitoba, and at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, India. In addition to his work experience in academic institutions, he also worked on various industrial projects and submitted research reports to both private and public sector organizations.

James Miller

James Miller has always taken an active interest in what it was to be alive. He attended the United Church while young and practiced Transcendental Meditation for many years. Looking further afield, Miller was profoundly influenced by “The Forum”, a seminar developed out of Werner Erhard’s est training and the teachings of Eckhardt Tolle and American spiritual teacher, Gangaji. In 2013, Miller was introduced to A Course in Miracles and, since then, has been reading the book’s Text and practicing its Workbook, a series of daily lessons in mind training. Two other books, companions to ACIM, Journey Beyond Words and The Other Voice have become staples of his spiritual enquiry. Miller is an artist, writer and musician, living and working in Prince George. His work can be viewed on his website jamesmillercreative.com.

Program

2:55 PM Announcement

3:00 PM Recitation of the Holy Qur’an

3:10 PM Welcome remarks by Dignitaries

3:20 PM Introductory Remarks

3:30 PM Introduction by the moderator

3:35 PM Speakers Panel (10 minutes per speaker)

Indigenous Perspective Mrs. Karin Hunt
Baha’I Perspective Mrs. Charlotte Wenninger
Buddhism Perspective Mr. John DeGrace
Christianity Perspective Mrs. Carla Anderson
Christianity (Mennonite) Perspective Pastor Rob Dyck
Hindu Perspective Dr. Pranesh Kumar, PhD
Islam Perspective Maulana Tariq Azeem
Sikh Perspective Dr. Balbinder Singh Deo, PhD

5:05 PM Award Distribution Rizwan Peerzada

5:15 PM Question / Answer Period

5:50 PM Concluding Remarks by Moderator

6:00 PM Vote of Thanks by President Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Prince George

6:00 PM Dinner