21st World Religions Conference Prince George

Speakers

Baha’i Perspective
Dr. Lara Malks-Jjumba

Lara Malks-Jjumba was born in Iceland, grew up in the lower mainland, and has lived in Prince
George with her husband and three children for the last 12 years. She is a consultant
pediatrician and fills her work days with various pediatric consultancy clinics, on-call at the
hospital, and coordinating and teaching medical students and residents. When she is not at
work she is serving her community and family in various ways including helping with spiritual
education and empowerment groups for children, youth and their families; helping with
community service projects; serving on Baha’i administrative institutions; watching and taking
pictures for her kids’ various sports teams; and staying active with walks, hikes, kayaking and
skiing with her dog and family.

Christianity Perspective
Mrs. Rose Tohme

Rose Tohme is a Christian ministry leader, mentor, and community advocate who believes that
faith in Jesus Christ is best expressed through love, compassion, service, and can build bridges
between people and communities. Through her Oasis ministry, based at Westwood Church,
Rose and her team show the love of Jesus to newcomers to Canada and to anyone who is in
need locally. At this interfaith gathering, Rose is honoured to represent the Christian faith and
to participate in respectful conversations that promote mutual understanding while remaining
rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Islam Perspective
Maulana Daniel Khalid Khan

Danial Khalid Khan is a missionary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He received his degree in
Islamic theology and comparative religions in 2021.
He also has experience in Refugee settlement helping people who were displaced from their
home country because of their faith. He has served as a Missionary in Toronto And now
currently serving as a missionary in Vancouver. Daniel has represented the community in
interfaith events and also written articles on variety of different religious topics such as Atheism
and Islam's stand on theory of Evolution.

Hindu Faith Perspective
Pandit Bhava Dasa

Bhava Dasa is a direct disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
founderacharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a branch of
the BrahmaMadhvaGaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya, one of the four original Vaishnava lineages
whose teachings trace back thousands of years.
He has written extensively on ancient Hindu texts, Vedic culture, cosmology, God
consciousness, transcendence, reincarnation, and related subjects. His work reflects a lifelong
commitment to presenting timeless spiritual knowledge in a clear, thoughtful, and accessible
way.
Bhava Dasa regularly participates in public forums, interfaith gatherings, and community
discussions where the shared aim is the spiritual upliftment of society through loving devotion
to the Supreme Lord. His presentations emphasize universal spiritual principles, compassionate
dialogue, and the practical application of bhakti in everyday life.

Sikh Perspective
Dr. Tadbir Singh Sandhu

Dr. Tadbir Singh Sandhu  Prince George-based professional, community advocate, and one of
the Director of the Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Society PG. Formally educated as a dentist with a
successful history of managing multi-site clinical operations, He blend his professional
background with a deep commitment to the Sikh principles of Seva (selfless service) and
community welfare. As a passionate grassroots advocate, Tadbir have successfully championed
the introduction of Punjabi language programs in local school District 57. He look forward to
bringing a unique, well-rounded perspective to the interfaith dialogue, highlighting how faith-
driven leadership and professional care can foster cross-cultural unity and collective well-being.

Buddhism Perspective
Ms. Ren Stelmaschuk

Ren was born and raised in Prince George, BC, on the traditional lands of the Lheidli T’enneh. She holds
a BSc and BEd from UNBC and a Master of Education from Thompson Rivers University.
She serves as Wellness Promotion Coordinator at the College of New Caledonia and is also a certified
yoga teacher. Ren’s spiritual journey led her to Mahayana Buddhism and the Bodhisattva path, centered
on compassion, mindfulness, and service.
She is honored to participate in the World Religions Conference and share reflections on mindfulness,
spirituality, and community wellbeing. May all beings be happy, healthy, safe, and at peace.
Om Mani Padme Hum

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