Root Causes of Poverty & Solutions

4th WRC Interfaith Symposium on Fasting

Topic: Root Causes of Poverty & Solutions

Date: Wednesday, May 30th, 2018

Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Venue: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Address: 30635 Blueridge Dr, Abbotsford, BC V2T 5W3

Tel: 604-767-1965
Toll Free: 1-877-767-1965

Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca

Moderator

Dr. Andy Sidhu, Chancellor of University of Fraser Valley

Andy Sidhu is the University of the Fraser Valley’s third Chancellor. A long-time proponent of community engagement and integration. An accountant by trade before emigrating from Malaysia in 1974, Sidhu worked first on a dairy farm, then as a bookkeeper with the Canada Farm Labour Pool, where over the course of his 21 year career he became the Assist. Manager. He was an unofficial ambassador, bridging gaps in culture and language between local businesses and people emigrating from the Punjab.

Sidhu is best known for founding B.C.’s first multi-language newspaper, the Punjabi Patrika. Printing 15,000 copies every Friday in English and Punjabi, the Patrika was established as a beacon of inclusivity and multicultural connection nearly 22 years ago. Sidhu received an honorary degree from UFV in 2017 and was also a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his community service.

Profiles

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Dave Murray

Dave Murray is Manager of the Abbotsford Community Services Food Bank and Christmas Bureau. He is also the Manager of Philanthropy for all of ACS. He has been the Manager/Director of the Food Bank and all its programs for 18 years. Under his leadership the Food Bank has progressed in several ways:

Serving a record number of people (from 800 per month in 2000 to over 3,500 per month currently). The Food Bank and all its programs have over 5000 “guests” who access its various services.
Developed many new and innovative programs

The latest:

Say Yes Program, A three-fold program for persons with disabilities that encompasses volunteering…a part-time job and a drop-in we run 4 days a week.
Starfish Backpack Program, with the awesome support of Rotary we are currently feeding 263 elementary school children every weekend in 25 schools.
The Free Dental Clinic, the only free dental clinic in a Food Bank anywhere…staffed by volunteer dentists…CDA’s and hygienists
Other Programs: Christmas Bureau Everest for families we are assisting in getting off the Food Bank roll and back to work.

Community Endeavours

Served on various committees in relation to poverty, housing and other social issues in the community

Volleyball Coach at Columbia Bible College, and various schools for over 31 years

Pastored in Churches for over 22 years

National Youth President for 10 years

Lectured at UFV and several schools in the community

He has extensive work in helping the poor and orphaned with Wendy in Romania and teaching/helping poor in Haiti. Dave has a BA in Theology, Masters in Divinity and Doctorate in Ministry/Theology. Dave is husband to a fantastic lady (Wendy) who owns a business called Winks Home Garden and Gifts in Chilliwack. He is Grandpa to four fantastic girls Grace, Lily, Jordyn and Jared.

Christian Perspective
Mrs.Valerie Thomson

Valerie is a passionate advocate of whole foods and nutrition education. She believes that health starts in the kitchen and with one’s shopping choices at the grocery store and uses diet and lifestyle shifts to mitigate and reverse health conditions. A strong voice for ‘small changes, big results’ and self-advocacy, Valerie encourages and empowers her clients to be active participants in their own health care. Working as a Nutritionist since 2011, Valerie is part of the integrative health team at Seabird Health servicing six aboriginal communities in the eastern Fraser Valley. She councils with individuals, facilitates group sessions and is the lead administrator for Seabird’s annual health conference.

Valerie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Food, Nutrition, Consumer and Family Studies at UWO and PIDP (Adult Education) at VCC. Her most valuable education has come from her real life experience in the home. In her youth she developed a passion for health and fitness. As a wife and mother of eight children she enjoyed live as a full time mother for many exciting years. Valerie is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and has served in many volunteer positions working with children, youth and the women’s organization. She is currently serving in the Presidency for the Regional Relief Society for her church.

Islamic Perspective
Maulana Tariq Azeem

A Tariq Azeem graduated from Ahmadiyya Islamic University in Toronto in 2013. His study was on Theology and Religious.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 missionary incharge of British Columbia. After Graduating in 2011 from Ahmadiyya Institute of Islamic Studies in Toronto, he has worked as a Missionary in Canada, USA and in Africa for sometime. Currently he is serving as Imam at Baitun Nur Mosque, Calgary. Taha has keen interest in interfaith dialog, he has traveled across Alberta and presented Islamic perspective at various conferences. Taha also likes to spend a lot of his time in the education and training of youth, he regularly holds special sessions for Ahmadiyya youth. He likes Hiking and is active member of Tahir Hiking Club.

Hindu Faith Perspective
Acharya Shrinath Dwevidi

Acharya has three Master degrees: English,Hindi & Pol.Sc. He taught in Indian and Canadian universities.He organized and participated in several national and international interfaith, peace and literary conferences. He has been actively involved, for more than thirty seven years, in interfaith movement in Canada. He is a poet, essayist, literary critic, social activist and journalist. His six books of poems are in circulation and edited two anthologies. He writes in English and Hindi languages. He has been featured in major radio talks and telivision shows. He is President of Multifaith Action Society (The oldest Interfaith organization in Canada), Founding President of Global Clergy Association of Canada, Hindi Literary Society of Canada, South Asian Literary Society and Global Hindu Foundation. He was invited by UNO in its Millennium Peace Conference- 2000 in New York and URI Global Summit in Rio. He has been honoured and recognized for his contributions by Government , literary and faith organizations.

Program

6:00 PM Arrival of guests (Registration, Light Refreshments, Exhibition )

6:30 PM Prayers for Peace, Blessing Prayers by Anwar Hussein Shah & Translation

6:35 PM Welcome Remarks by Dignitaries

Chief Daltion Silver, Sumas First Nation Abbotsford

Mr. Neil Mckenzie President of Ward Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints

6:45 PM Intro of WRC Canada & Moderator

Time allocated to all speakers 12 minutes

Keynote Speaker
Dr. David Murray, Executive Director of Abbotsford Food Bank

Christian Perspective
Mrs. Valerie Thomson

Hindu Perspective
Acharya Shrinath Dwevidi

Islam Perspective
Maulana Tariq Azeem

Jewish Faith Perspective
Rabbi Susan Shamash

Sikh Faith Perspective
Mr. Kulpreet Singh

Award Presentation

Dinner

Q/A Session Launches (Moderator to control the session)

Moderator’s vote of thanks

Vote of Thanks By Rizwan Peerzada, President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Abbotsford