2025 – World Religion Confrence https://worldreligionsconference.ca Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:17:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://worldreligionsconference.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-synotech-32x32.png 2025 – World Religion Confrence https://worldreligionsconference.ca 32 32 Kindness and Kinship https://worldreligionsconference.ca/kindness-and-kinship-2/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:12:51 +0000 https://worldreligionsconference.ca/?p=3252 Tel: 1-877-767-1965 or 604-767-1965
Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca]]>

World Religions Conference White Rock

  • Date & Time: Monday, November 17th, 2025 | 6:30 PM  8:30 PM
  • Venue: Star of Sea Community Centre
  • Address: 15262 Pacific Ave, White Rock, BC, V4B 1P7
  • Admission: Free 
  • Dinner: Complimentary East Indian Dinner will be served

Moderator

Jonquil Hallgate

Jonquil has been involved in Interfaith work for over 50 years. Her journey began through lessons learned from parents and service opportunities at church as a young girl.  Jonquil was involved in the inception of the Surrey Interfaith Council almost 30 years ago.The opportunity to meet, to learn from, to share with, and to be invited to participate in other people’s  Faith Communities has enriched her life immensely Jonquil has worked for decades in non-profit organizations that have supported people who live in poverty, who have been unhoused, perhaps experiencing substance use issues, fleeing violence, etc. 

More recently, Jonquil has worked supporting women, children and gender-diverse individuals to find appropriate housing and needed  services in Downtown Vancouver. Jonquil has also worked for different  environmental organizations and has been a working Board member of the Surrey Urban Farmers Market for more than 15 years. Jonquil has volunteered with many other organizations that she has been interested in throughout the years.The idea that ‘a stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet’ is a major principal in how she lives her life.

Speakers

Baha`i Perspective
Dr. Elaine McCeary 

Dr. Elaine McCreary, professor of international development, who served five years at the Bahá’í World Centre, and then back in Canada, as staff of the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, now retired.  She has since published two books to share with multi-faith audiences her love of research into Bahá’í Sacred Writings.

Christian Perspective
Deacon Richard

Rev. Mr. Richard Chau is an ordained Roman Catholic cleric serving as a permanent deacon at Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver. He is the appointed Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Officer for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. In this role, he also serves as executive member at the Canadian Council of Churches’ Social Justice Commission and Multifaith Summit Council of BC. Before his ordination, he was an engineer by profession with forty-years of experience in I.T. software development and data analytics in the telecom industry in Australia and Canada. He taught at Trinity Western University and was a faculty member of BCIT’s School of Computing. He and his wife are thankful for their children and grandchildren. His faith journey continues to lead his family to live the life of Thanksgiving.

Islam Perspective
Mr. Naeem Ahmed Lakhan

Naeem Ahmed Lakhan was born in Pakistan, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering before moving to Canada in 1997. He currently works as an IT Manager with a local private company. Deeply committed to community service, he is presently serving as the President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Greater Vancouver Area.

Outside of his professional and community responsibilities, Mr. Lakhan enjoys playing field hockey and cricket. His wife and two children are also active volunteers within the local Ahmadiyya community.

Sikh Faith Perspective
Ms.Sukhvinder Kaur Vinning

Sukhvinder Kaur Vinning is the CEO and founder of Ek Oh Ung Kaar Alliance (EOUK), a dynamic organization dedicated to building an intergenerational community that drives systemic change to combat poverty, food insecurity, racism, discrimination, and climate change. With 30 volunteer teams across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, EOUK provides meals, hampers, and rescued food to food hubs, shelters, Indigenous communities and Indigenous agencies – while keeping perfectly good food out of landfills and reducing environmental waste.

As former Executive Director of World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), Sukhvinder led Sikh community engagement with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and both Vancouver Walks for Reconciliation. She also co-produced the impactful short film It Matters: The Legacy of Residential Schools and launched WSO’s inaugural One Billion Rising event, raising awareness about the staggering reality that over one billion women worldwide face violence in their lifetimes.

Previously, as Vice President of the Multifaith Action Society, Canada’s oldest interfaith organization, she played a key role in developing the Kirpan accommodation policy for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, promoting cultural respect and inclusion. 

Born and raised in British Columbia, Sukhvinder brings a deep commitment and proven success in fostering trust, understanding, and collaboration among diverse communities and cultures.

Christianity (LDS) Perspective
Mr. Eden Engen

Eden and his wife, Tonya, have been married for 38 years and are the parents of four children and nine grandchildren. He has spent more than 30 years in the wealth management industry and enjoys coaching CrossFit in his spare time. Eden also serves as the stake president of the Surrey British Columbia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, supporting eight congregations and nearly 3,000 members speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Mandarin, Tagalog, and English.

Jewish Faith Perspective
Rabbi Arik Labowitz

Rabbi Arik Labowitz is a dynamic educator and leader committed to connecting people to the Jewish tradition in meaningful and relevant ways. Arik comes from a diverse Jewish background and especially identifies with couples and families who are looking for a connection to Judaism outside of a traditional synagogue setting.Arik comes from a family of rabbis and has spent most of his adult life in Jewish leadership roles. In addition to devoting years of study and practice to the Jewish tradition, Arik has gleaned wisdom from other spiritual traditions of the East and West. In the past two decades Arik has worked professionally with synagogues, small communities, and unaffiliated families and couples to help them all find a personalized relationship with Judaism. He has recorded two CDs of Jewish Music under the title Simu Lev, and has been privileged to produced CDs for several talented musicians as well.  

Hinduism Perspective
Mr. Shrinath Dwivedi

Shrinath Dwivedi has three Master digrees: 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 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

  • 6.25pm Announcement
    • We would like to acknowledge with gratitude that we are on the unceded territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations who have been stewards of this land for thousands of years.
  • 6:30 PM Recitation of the Holy Qur’an Rukshan Butt
  • 6:35 PM Welcome remarks by Dignitaries 
  • 6:45PM Introductory Remarks By
  • 6:45 PM Introduction to moderator

Speakers Panel (Time Allocated 10 minutes)

  • 6:50 PM Baha’i Dr. Elaine McCeary 
  • 7:00 PM Christianity  Fr.Augustine Obiwumma
  • 7:10 PM Islam Mr. Naeem Ahmed Lakhan
  • 7: 20 PM Sikh Faith Mrs. Sukhvinder Kaur Vinning
  • 7:30 PM Christianity LDS Mr. Eden Engen
  • 7:40 PM Judaism Rabbi Arik Labowitz & Cantor Michael Zoosman
  • 8:00 PM Hindu Faith Mr. Shrinath Dwivedi 

Question & Answer Session

  • 6:20 PM Concluding Remarks by moderator
  • 6:35 PM Vote of Thanks by Dawood Ahmad Malik, Regional Incharge Ansatullah BC, (Elders Organization) 

East Indian Dinner

Map

Registration

]]> Pathway to Peace https://worldreligionsconference.ca/pathway-to-peace-2/ Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:06:54 +0000 https://worldreligionsconference.ca/?p=3063 Tel: 1-877-767-1965 or 604-767-1965
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20 th World Religions Conference Prince George

Information & Online Login

If you require a direct link to the conference

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 (Neysa) and a dedicated grandmother to Jake, Konnor and Kade.

Larry Bagnell served as Yukon’s representative in Ottawa for over a decade, served as a federal Member of Parliament from 2000-2020 retired in 2021. During his time as a Liberal MP, Larry was appointed to the Privy Council and served as Parliamentary Secretary to both the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Natural Resources. Larry also sat on many Parliamentary Committees, developing expertise in the areas of Transport, Defence, Industry, Veterans Affairs, Justice & Human Rights, and Aboriginal Affairs.

Speakers

Jewish Faith Perspective 
Mr.El Klasner

Eli was born and raised in Toronto and earned degrees in economics and music from Queens University, University of Toronto, and University of Ottawa. He has been a resident of North Central British Columbia since 2016 where he is involved in non-profit leadership. Eli is a member of Chabad of Downtown Vancouver and Chabad-Lubavitch of Crown Heights, NYC. He studies Torah, Talmud and Chassidus primarily under the tutelage of Rabbi Binyomin Bitton of Vancouver. Starting in 2017 Eli began the process of identifying and connecting with Jewish residents of this vast area of British Columbia. This was accomplished through exploring personal networks and social media. Eli enjoys information sharing and creating meeting opportunities for the Jewish population of the region (2016 census indicates a Jewish population of approximately 150 people) and is spearheading organizing annual holiday and festival celebrations. His dream is to help establish a dedicated meeting and worship space that will serve a wide spectrum of Jewish residents of Northern BC.

Christian 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.



Islam Perspective
Maulana Asif Kahn Mujahid

Maulana Asif Khan Mujahid has been serving and representing the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in various capacities since 2011 such as Head Coordinator for the National Youth Education Camp and Researcher for various MTA (Muslim Televison Ahmadiyya) programs & documentaries. 

He has, in recent years, also served as an auxillary Imam in many countries across the globe such as Sierra Leone, Uruguay, Palestine and The U.K. 

Having graduated from the Ahmadiyya Institute of Islamic Studies, he has served as an Imam and Missionary in Toronto and Mississauga and is currently the Imam and Missionary in Vancouver as well as regularly being called upon for various interfaith events and discussions by the National Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community located in Vaughan, Ontario. 

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
Dr. Balbinder Singh Deo, PhD

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.

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.

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
Ms. Ren Stelmaschuk

Ren was born and raised at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers, on the traditional lands of the Lheidli T’enneh (Prince George, BC). With deep roots in a faith-based family, Ren values the connection between spirituality, service, and community. She holds a BSc (2009) and BEd (2012) from UNBC, along with a Master of Education (2020) from Thompson Rivers University.

Currently, Ren serves as the Wellness Promotion Coordinator at the College of New Caledonia, where she works to foster holistic wellbeing across the campus. In addition to her professional role, she is a certified yoga teacher, offering weekly classes that encourage mindfulness and emotional balance.

Ren’s spiritual journey began during her undergraduate studies when she encountered Mahayana Buddhism. Since then, she has embraced the Bodhisattva path, focusing on compassion, selflessness, and the pursuit of enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. Her life’s purpose is to cultivate and share bodhicitta—an open, loving heart—through both her personal practice and her work with others.

Ren is honored to be part of the World Religions Conference, and she hopes to share insights on the intersection of mindfulness, spirituality, and community service.

May all beings be happy, healthy, safe, and at peace.
Om Mani Padme Hum

Program

  • 6.25pm 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 Mrs. Marie Hey
    • Islam Maulana Asif Khan Mujahid
    • Hindu Faith Dr. Pranesh Kumar, PhD
    • Sikh Faith Dr. Balbinder Singh Deo
    • 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

Map

Registration

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Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca]]>

15th World Religions Conference Whitehorse

Moderator

Larry Begnell, Member of Parliament 

Larry Bagnell served as Yukon’s representative in Ottawa for over a decade, served as a federal Member of Parliament from 2000-2020 retired in 2021. During his time as a Liberal MP, Larry was appointed to the Privy Council and served as Parliamentary Secretary to both the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Natural Resources. Larry also sat on many Parliamentary Committees, developing expertise in the areas of Transport, Defence, Industry, Veterans Affairs, Justice & Human Rights, and Aboriginal Affairs.

Larry Bagnell served as Yukon’s representative in Ottawa for over a decade, served as a federal Member of Parliament from 2000-2020 retired in 2021. During his time as a Liberal MP, Larry was appointed to the Privy Council and served as Parliamentary Secretary to both the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Natural Resources. Larry also sat on many Parliamentary Committees, developing expertise in the areas of Transport, Defence, Industry, Veterans Affairs, Justice & Human Rights, and Aboriginal Affairs.

Speakers

Indigenous Perspective
Mr. Phillip Gatensby
Tutchone and Tlingit Raven’s Tail Weaver

For over twenty-five years Phillip has worked with human beings using a value- based transformational approach to human development. This approach is facilitative in nature, drawing on life experiences, Tlingit values, counseling techniques and the unique perspective of having emerged victorious both from residential school and the correctional system.  It is based on the idea of creating healing opportunities that people may draw on their own resources to make healthy choices for themselves, their families and their communities. Phillip has applied this approach across North America, and Europe, in diverse settings with people of all ages, from all walks of life. Street people, Christian groups, gangs and Supreme Court judges have equally found great value in this vision-driven combination of universal truths and modern principles. The approach is profound in its inherent simplicity and powerful in its unfailing ability to transform the lives of those who choose to participate.

Christian Perspective
The Right Reverend Frances Kitson

Reverend Frances Kitson began her ministry at Whitehorse United Church in August of 2023. Originally from Vancouver, Frances moved to the Yukon from small-town central Saskatchewan (Lanigan), where she spent 2.5 years completing her ministry internship and learning about community, the power of small, and the beauty of the prairie skies. Particular passions in ministry include children and families, building trust and relationship, wrestling with challenging scripture passages, and creating a healthy culture around stewardship and money. She’s also a member of the United Church General Council Theology, Inter-Church and InterFaith Committee. Frances has completely fallen in love with the local mountains and forests, and loves salsa dancing,cheese, and her two cats.

Islam Perspective
Maulana Umran ul Haq Bhatti

Umran ul-Haq Bhatti is a Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. Umranacquired 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.

Sikh Faith Perspective
Ms. Navdeep Kaur

Navdeep Kaur is a Yukon Resident. She is passionate about social justice issues. She has been advocating for women issues and human rights issues and helping new immigrants to Yukon by volunteering at Guru Nanak Sikh Organization Of Yukon. Navdeep Kaur is currently the president of the organization

Jewish Faith Perspective
Mr. Rick Karp

Rick Karp was born and raised in Ottawa and went to Carleton University for his undergraduate work before moving to Kingston Ontario to go to Queen’s University for a Degree in Education. Before coming to Whitehorse Rick taught High School in Picton Ontario for close to fourteen years. During his teaching career he returned to Queen’s to study for a Master’s Degree in Education.Rick and his wife Joy came to Whitehorse in 1985 to open the first McDonald’s Restaurant in the north of Canada, and at that time, the most remote McDonald’s in the Country. They owned and operated the franchise until 2000.  In 2002, Rick designed and built a hair salon and retail shop, Hair Sensations in Whitehorse, which he and his wife operated until 2016.He became the President of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and remained in that position until July 2018, when he retired.Rick and his wife Joy have two grown children, and two grandchildren, who live in Vancouver B.C. 

Buddhism Perspective
Mr. Rick Buchan

Rick Buchan and his family moved to Whitehorse in 1988. As a lawyer, Rick has devoted his professional practice primarily to the field of dispute resolution, including serving as a mediator, arbitrator, and adjudicator. Since the early 1970s, Rick has explored various traditions of Eastern philosophy and related practices of meditation and yoga, which he has been authorized to teach to the public. After moving to Whitehorse, Rick encountered the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, which rekindled his deep interest in studying, contemplating, and meditating on its profound principles of equanimity and compassion. As a member and director of Yukon’s Vajra North–Rigdrol Dechen Ling–Society, Rick is one of several senior practitioners offering regular mindfulness meditation practices to the public.

Bahi`a Perspective
David Jensen

Born and raised within the Baha’i Faith. Brief near death experience as a child. Jensen Advocated for racial equality as child in civil rights South Carolina and apartheid South Africa. Served at Baha’i World Centre for a few years in the Holy Land. Has lived in Yukon and Alaska for past 35 years. He is adopted Deisheetaan Tlingit, wife of 35 years is Dawklaweidi Tlingit, his daughter currently is an associate professor at University of Southeast Alaska Juneau. His passion is the purpose of the physical and spiritual realities.

Program

  • 5:30PM Arrival of guests (Registration, Light Coffee & Tea Refreshments, Exhibition )
  • 6:00 PM Beginning Prayers 
  • 6:05 PM Welcome Remarks by Dignitaries
  • 6:15 PM Intro of WRC Canada & Moderator By Mr. Rizwan Saeed Peerzada 
    • Regional President BC & Yukon
    • Time allocated to all speakers 9 to 10 minutes minutes
  • 6: 25 PM Indigenous Perspective
    • Mr. Phillip Gatensby 
  • 6: 33 PM Protestant Christians Perspective
    • The Right Reverend Frances Kitson
  • 6:41 PM Islam Perspective
    • Maulana Umran Bhatti
  • 6:49 PM Sikh Faith Perspective 
    • Ms. Navdeep Kaur
  • 7:07 PM Anglican Christians Perspective
    • The Right Reverend Lesley Wheeler-Dame
  • 7:15 PM Jewish Faith Perspective
    • Mr. Rick Karp
  • 7:23 PM Buddhism Perspective
    • Mr. Rick Buchan
  • 7:31 PM Bahi`a Perspective  
    • Mr. David Jensen
  • 7:39 PM Award Presentation By Mr.Rizwan Peerzada
  • 7:46 PM Moderator`s vote of thanks
  • 7:56 PM Vote of Thanks By Mr. Rizwan Peerzada, 
    • Regional Coordinator & President  Ahmadiyya BC & Yukon
  • 8:00 PM Dinner
  • 8:30 PM Those are interested in Q/A , Please stay after dinner

Map

Registration

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Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca]]>

18 th World Religions Conference Abbotsford

  • Topic: Relevance of Religions in Modern Life
  • Day: January 13th, 2025
  • Time: Starting at 6:30 PM
  • Tel: 604-767-1965
  • Toll Free: 1-877-767-1965
  • Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca

Moderator

Mr. Art Turnbull

Arthur (Art) Turnbull was born in Summerland, BC.  He joined the Canadian Army (R) as an Apprentice Soldier at age 16.  After serving for seven years he left the army and entered the University of King’s College, Halifax, to study theology.

   Art was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Nova Scotia, the Anglican Church of Canada, in 1967.  He was the rector of  The Parish Arichat/Port Hawkesbury in Nova Scotia.  In 1969 Art was recruited to be a Chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces where he served for sixteen years.  He was assigned to several military communities across Canada. 

 Returning to civilian parish ministry, Art has been the priest in parishes in B.C., Alberta, and Ontario.  He has been trained in pastoral psychology in marriage and family counselling, addiction and health issues, and social justice issues.  For sixty years Art has  been an active person in ecumenical and interfaith participation.  

 After retiring to Abbottsford in 2010 Art has been a member of St. Matthew Anglican Parish. a member of the Abbotsford Interfaith Movement, and a volunteer to various activities of the city.  For three years Art has  been the host for the Fifteen Minutes for Peace every Tuesday at the Interfaith Garden on George Ferguson Way.

 Art’ married his wife Gordi Jones in 1959.  Gordi died in 2020.  They have six adult children, 18 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

In his spare time he does daily walks, sometime gardens, and reads and writes steadily.

Speakers

Baha`i Perspective

Mr. Matt Murdoch

Matthew Murdoch is active member of Baha’i community of Mission and currently sits on its Assembly. His primary paths of service have been in holding Baha’i children’s classes and deepening classes in Mission and Abbotsford over sevral years. He attended UFV and UBC, but ended up getting his nursing license in 2010 and has been working as a nurse at the Mission Memorial Hospital ever since. His personal studies focus especially on world religious scripture 

Christian Anglican Church Perspective
Fr. James Hwang

James Hwang is a former member of a Franciscan order at the Roman Catholic Church in Korea. In addition to the theological education for the priesthood, he studied at Loyola University Chicago for a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling. James has served as a priest, a spiritual director, and a formator in Korea. Since he came to Canada, he worked at St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican parish as a curate and now he is the rector at St. Matthew Anglican parish in Abbotsford.

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)

Mr. Bhupinder Singh
Sikh Faith Perspective

Bhupinder Singh, born in Prince George, lives in Surrey with his wife and two kids. He has learned about the Sikh faith from priests and scholars. Due to his Sikh based education and ability to connect with youth, he is often invited to speak at Gurdwaras, camps and other events, which he’s being doing since 2004. Bhupinder Singh is a lifelong student and enjoys sharing what he’s learned with others. 

Christian LDS Perspective
Mr. Paul Hardy

Paul is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a full-time missionary for the church in Montreal. From 2010 to 2015, he served as a bishop of a local congregation in Langley, with duties similar to those of a pastor, priest, or rabbi. From 2016 to present, he serves as a counselor in a stake presidency. As a counselor, he assists the stake president oversees Church programs in the Fraser Valley. Outside of volunteering at church, he works full-time in the insurance industry. He is married, has 4 children, and 2 grandchildren.

Myoshin Kate McCandless
Buddhist Perspective

Myoshin Kate McCandless and Shinmon Michael Newton began Zen practice in 1983 as university students in Japan, with a Rinzai priest at an ancient temple on Mount Tsukuba, later moving to Kyoto and practicing Soto Zen with Shohaku Okumura. Since returning to Vancouver in 1987 they have practiced with Zoketsu Norman Fischer. They received priest ordination from him in in 2003 and dharma transmission in 2011. They were installed as guiding teachers of Mountain Rain Zen Community in May, 2017.

Hindu Faith Perspective
Dr. Rajnish Dhawan PhD

Rajnish Dhawan [PhD] is an Associate Professor with the Department of English at the University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC, Canada. He teaches Creative Writing, Classical Literature, and South Asian Literature. He has been involved with South Asian Studies Institute since the day he joined UFV in September 2009.  Rajnish is also a playwright who has written and produced two full length plays and two one act plays since joining UFV. Before moving to Canada, Rajnish used to teach at the DAV College, Amritsar. As a freelance writer in Amritsar, he wrote consistently for television, stage, and newspapers. 

Program

  • 6.25 PM Announcement
  • 6:30 PM Recitation of the Holy Qur’an& Translation
  • 6:35 PM Welcome remarks by Dignitaries
  •  Message from Mayor by Councilor Dave Sandu
  • 6:45 PM Introductory Remarks By Rizwan Peerzada, Regional President BC
  • 6:52 PM Introduction to moderator

Speakers Panel (Time Allocated 10 minutes)

  • 6:55 PM Baha’I Mr. Matt Murdoch
  • 7:05 PM Christianity Fr. James Hwang
  • 7:15 PM Islam Maulana Umran ul Haq Bhatti
  • 7:25 PM Sikh Faith Bhupinder Singh
  • 7:35 PM Christianity Mr. Paul Hardy
  • 7:50 PM Buddhist Faith Myoshin Kate McCandless
  • 8:05 PM Hindu Faith Dr. Rajnish Dhawan
  • 8:15 PM Question & Answer Session
  • 8:30 PM Concluding Remarks by moderator
  • 8:35 PM Vote of Thanks by President AMJ Abbotsford Fahim Channa
  • 8:40 PM Dinner

Map

Registration

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