Category: Upcoming Events

EXPLORING FAITH SERIES: Denominations of Islam – Oct 25, 2017

You are cordially invited to attend our Exploring Faith Series on

The Denominations of Islam

Exploring Faith is a program where IDI aims to provide insights about the diverse faith traditions present in Canada. These series of event aims to increase religious literacy, break down the myths about religious traditions, create a positive engaging learning environment with the participation of adherents from faith or no-faith background.

At this program, we will explore the Denominations of Islam and diversity of practices of Muslims in Canada and around the world.

Opening Remarks:
Dr. Nevin Reda
Assistant Professor of Muslim Studies, Emmanuel College

Moderator:
Muneeb Nasir
President, Olive Tree Foundation

Speakers:
Dr. Katherine Bullock
President, Tessellate Institute

Dr. Liyakat Takim
Sharjah Chair in Global Islam, McMaster University

Lunch will be served.

Date:
October 25, 2017
12pm – 2pm

Venue:
Multi-Faith Centre, Main Activity Hall
569 Spadina Avenue Toronto, ON

Exploring Faith Series: Denominations of Islam

York Centre Multi-faith Thanksgiving Celebration – Oct 10, 2017

Intercultural Dialogue Institute, Beth Emeth Synagogue, Revivaltime Tabernacle Ministries and The Office of Ecumenical & Interfaith Affairs of the Roman Catholic Church cordially invites you to attend to

York Centre Multi-faith Thanksgiving Celebration

Honouring Canada’s 150th Anniversary with Participation from the three Abrahamic Traditions

The event will combine prayer, music and greetings, as well as a panel discussion.

Program:

Greetings & Welcome
Musical Selection – The Revival Time Tabernacle Choir
Scripture Readings with Homiletic Interpretations
Prayers of Thanksgiving – with Community Participation
Clergy Panel – Why our being present tonight is significant!
Closing Prayers

Date and Time:

October 10, 2017, 7.30 pm

Venue:

Revivaltime Tabernacle World Ministries
4340 Dufferin St., Toronto, ON

Light refreshments will be served.

Parking is available.

Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace – Oct 5, 2017

Intercultural Dialogue Institute GTA, the Muslim-Catholic Student/Young Adult Dialogue and the Capuchin Friars invite you to an evening of interfaith prayer and reflection for Peace with Bishop Robert Kasun, CSB, Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and other city-wide religious leaders celebrating Faith in Canada 150.

Name(s) and Definition(s) of God in various faith traditions will be shared.

Building Peace:
Past – St. Francis of Assisi and the Sultan
Recent Past – St. Pope John Paul II called religious leaders from all over the world to come together to pray for peace
Present – Faith communities coming together in dialogue, prayer and work towards the common good of our society today

Refreshments will be served following the service.

2nd Annual Creative Minds Contest Viamonde I Deadline: Dec 15, 2017

Creative Minds York Catholic District School Board I Deadline: March 26, 2018

Faithful Living: Celebrating Commonality in Our Diversity- Feb 4

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On February 4th, 2017, IDI held a small gathering for youth as part of the World Interfaith Harmony Week with the theme: Reach Out. The purpose of the event was for youth to come together and discuss their commonalities of their experience with faith in a meaningful way. Herbie Kuhn, voice of the Toronto Raptors, gave a passionate introduction to the event about the importance faith in his life. He explained that he grew up in a faithful family but in a way where he didn’t truly feel the faith that he was living. It wasn’t until he was an adult that he found a faithful church community that showed him what it meant to live a truly faithful life.

Tim Hackborn, of the Metropolitan United Church, performed a smudging for the event in the Indigenous tradition. He gave a brief history of the region and spoke to the historical land rights of the Mississaugas of New Credit and explained that a smudging was meant to clear one’s mind before something so that one can be fully present in the moment.

The discussion was quite interesting and focused on what faith meant to each person and how it differed from where they had lived previously. The discussion also touched on the need for young people to be taught to understand faith better even if they themselves are not living in a faithful way, especially when living in a secular society.

Faithful Living: Celebrating commonality in our diversity

A World Interfaith Harmony Week and Canada 150 Event for Students(high school and up)

This event exists with the purpose of getting youth engaged in interfaith dialogue with each other, while also exploring how it all fits in with Canadian society. The theme of this year’s World Interfaith Harmony Week is Reach Out and we believe that youth communities reaching out to each other is a great way to encompass this theme.

Date and Time:

Sat, 4 February 2017

10:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Venue:

CRC Regent Park Community Food Centre

40 Oak Street, Toronto, ON

Keynote Speech:
Herbie Kuhn, Celebrating Diversity in Our Commonality, Intercultural Dialogue Institute
Herbie Kuhn, Public Address Announcer for the Toronto Raptors

Workshop:

Students will work in groups to answer one or two questions and then create a video, which IDI will collect and assemble into a longer piece to get an idea of how this group addresses interfaith and commonality in Canadian society. Some questions include: How do you see faith being observed in Canada? In the future, what does your faith look like in Canada? How do we share the joys and overcome the challenges that arise from the influences and interactions between culture and religion? How do we continue to live out our faiths to the fullest, be ourselves, and grow as persons of faith?

Lunch will be served.

Herbie Kuhn, Celebrating Diversity in Our Commonality, Intercultural Dialogue Institute, Canada 150, World Interfaith Harmony Week

Religion and Politics: Convergence or Divergence in the Age of Conflict – Jan 25

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On January 25th, 2017, IDI hosted its first public forum of the year at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. The focus was religion and politics, and how these two forces can interact in harmony and dissonance to shape public life and societies, as well as the need to acknowledge that interfaith dialogues, in the area of politics, do not always happen on equal footing within sometimes racialized contexts.

The speakers for the day were:

Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Anne and Max Tanenbaum Senior Rabbi at the Beth Tzedec Congregation, who spoke of the responsibility for human dignity in the intersection of religion and politics. He expanded on the idea of religion as an alternative voice to the government’s and cited Isaiah Berlin’s warning of a single defining idea of society.

Azeezah Kanji, Director of Programming at the Noor Cultural Centre, spoke on the trend of being suspicious of Muslims, regardless of party affiliations. She noted that religion to advance identity politics reduces religion to a sort of political party. Ms. Kanji explained that religion can exist as a source of justice in politics. For example, in the realm of animal rights, the Qur’an provides a basis for animals to have spiritual personhood which could provide a basis for stronger animal abuse laws. Within the context of environmental objectives, Islam doesn’t have the same capitalist view of nature as a resource and would be a force for more concerted environmental efforts.

Joe Mihevc, Councillor for the City of Toronto, spoke about the separation between religions and government, explaining that it was possible for things to be justified in a twisted way when this happened. However, he said, it is important to figure out how to come together, like in the instance where five hundred leaders of diverse faiths came together to oppose the construction of a casino in downtown Toronto. He explained that faith communities have had both success and failure in terms of political involvement.

Mark G. Toulouse, Principal at Emmanuel College, spoke about the different ways in which politicians can approach religion. He cited Sharon Johnson’s message to former US President Barack Obama about the two wolves battling within ourselves and the necessity for us to set the tone. Whereas Trump’s pastor chose a very different tone when he said that God had chosen him for something (Robert Jeffries). Professor Toulouse explained that religion and politics will always mix, but the question is how to mix them well. He also described the difference between civil religion (in the US), which served the nation and not god with overt nationalistic tones. When compared to Canada, this strong civil religion is not really found in the public institutions. This strong aversion to religion though, has an impact on newcomers who are used to more overt religious practices and community foundations.

Luncheon and Panel Discussion

You are cordially invited to attend a panel discussion on

Religion and Politics: Convergence or Divergence in the Age of Conflict

As we all see with an increasing intensity, religion and politics converge, clash, and shape public life. These intersections happen everywhere, from our homes to our courts, from the businesses to the schools. In this regard, we would like to present a broader perspective on these interactions, especially in the light of the recent developments.

Date and Time:

Wed, 25 January 2017

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Venue:

St. Michael’s College, Charbonnel Hall

81 St. Mary Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1J4

Moderator:

Reid Locklin, Assoc. Professor, University of Toronto

Speakers:

Azeezah Kanji, Director of Programming, Noor Cultural Centre

Joe Mihevc, Councillor, City of Toronto

Mark G. Toulouse, Principal, Emmanuel College

Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Anne and Max Tanenbaum Senior Rabbi, Beth Tzedec Congregation

Program

12:00 pm – Introductions and Lunch

12:30 pm – Panel Discussion and Q&A

02:00 pm – Closing

Tickets($15) sold at: Eventbrite

Luncheon: RELIGION and POLITICS: Convergence or Divergence in the Age of Conflict

Culture and Religion Intertwined: How do We Stay True to Ourselves?- Feb 7

How do we stay true to ourselves in a multicultural context? That was the question posed to a series of panels at the University of Toronto this past week. The event took place a week after the massacre of six Muslims at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec, and was seen as another expression of the solidarity that exists between various religious traditions in Canada.

The event opened with a moment of silent prayer of remembrance for the victims and their families.

The first panel was made up of Rabbi Ed Elkin, spiritual leader of the First Narayever Congregation in Toronto, John Dadosky, a Catholic professor of theology and philosophy at Regis College, and Muneed Nasir, a prominent local Muslim leader, President of the Olive Tree Foundation and Executive Director of the Cordoba Centre for Civic Engagement and Leadership (See S+L photo below).

The panelists shared their respective communities’ experience of inculturation and some of the challenges facing modern pluralist societies like Canada in the 21st century. All three panelists argued that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are “inculturable” respectively, meaning they do adapt to the culture they find themselves in. All pointed out the wide variety of expressions of the three religions in different parts of the world.

A major point of emphasis in the discussion was the positive and unique pluralist reality that exists in Canada. Because of its size relative to its tiny population, its history of complementarity between French and English cultures, its openness to immigrants, and its geographic location, Nasir called it “one of the last outposts of real multiculturalism in the world.”

Hashim—representing Islam, Lo—representing Catholicism, and Shore—representing Judaism, took the floor next (see photo above). From a young adult perspective, they shared their experiences of living faith in Canada in the 21st century, in Toronto—one of the most diverse cities in the world. Shore reflected on the public image of her Jewish community as “exclusivist” and noted that despite Judaisms healthy ability to inculturate, she and other young practicing Jews are now challenged to see the Jewish Covenant “not as a pass for an exclusive club, but as a gift of responsibility” for humanity.

Lo examined the contemporary challenges posed to religious practice by the prevailing secular culture. He outlined three challenges facing the Catholic community: 1) a popular culture that pushes individualism, 2) a lack of tools to share the faith effectively, and 3) a lack of real, authentic community experiences.

Hashim emphasized the importance of knowing Islamic history, pointing to the fact that Islam boasts an established history in North America, thanks in large part to the faith and struggle of Muslim-Africans brought to the new world as slaves. These old, established Muslim communities have inculturated as effectively and efficiently as any other religion, thanks to the religion’s cultural flexibility.

All three young adults spoke of the generational evolution in their faith communities. Many second-generation Muslim-Canadians, for example, are now entering adulthood and are developing their own distinct Muslim-Canadian culture from their parents who originally immigrated.

An atmosphere of respect and comfort was evident at the event. So was a great love for Canada and its unique ability to find space for different cultures and religions to be themselves. The horrific massacre in Quebec loomed over the discussion, but it was heartening to sit back and realize that this event had been planned long before the attack. Indeed hundreds of such events are happening all over the country at any given time. It made me realize that the incredible displays of solidarity from Canadians after the shooting did not come from a theoretic and hollow idealism, but were grounded in genuine relationship. Canadians know each other, thanks to events like this. Let the dialogue continue!

Special thanks to the Muslim-Catholic Student/Young Adult Dialogue and the Intercultural Dialogue Institute, together with the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Canadian Council of Imams for organizing the event.

The article was taken from Salt+Light Media.

Panel Discussion

Culture and Religion Intertwined: How do We Stay True to Ourselves?

An Interfaith Harmony Week Event for Students and Young Adults

The Muslim-Catholic Student/Young Adult Dialogue and the Intercultural Dialogue Institute (IDI) invite students and young adults (aged 18-39ish) to an evening of learning and dialogue about “culture and religion.”

Come and explore how we can live out our faith fully in the cultures we are living in today.

Date and Time:

Tue, 7 February 2017

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Venue:

University College, Croft Chapter House

15 King’s College Circle, University of Toronto

Toronto, ON M5S 3H7

1. Experts Panel:

How do Culture and Religion influence and interact with each other (with respect to the Jewish, Catholic and Islamic faith tradtions)?

Moderator:

Andrea Nemtin (President and CEO, Inspirit Foundation)

Expert Panelists:

Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich (Senior Rabbi, Beth Sholom Synagogue) – Jewish

Dr. John Dadosky (Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Regis College) – Roman Catholic

Muneeb Nasir (President, Olive Tree Foundation) – Islam

2. Students/Young Adults Panel:

How do we share the joys and overcome the challenges that arise from the influences and interactions between culture and religion? How do we continue to live out our faiths to the fullest, be ourselves, and grow as persons of faith?

Moderator:

Ammar Baig (Muslim-Catholic Student/Young Adult Dialogue)

Student/Young Adult Panelists:

Naomi Shore (Student Board Member, Hillel Ryerson) – Jewish

Kevin Lo (Intern Architectural Technologist, Muslim-Catholic Student/Young Adult Dialogue Alumni) – Roman Catholic

Dalia Hashim (President, Muslim Student Association at the University of Toronto) – Islam

3. Group Discussions and Sharing (with respect to real life experiences)

Light Refreshments will be served.

For more information, please contact Vivian at vkwok@archtoronto.org or (416) 934-3400 ext. 527.

Religion and Culture

Book Club – Invisible North by Alexandra Shimo / Jan 26, 2017

IDI invites you to its new book club. Let’s share ideas over a cup of coffee and cake.
(January 26, 2017, 6pm, Toronto Public Library Fairview Branch / 35 Fairview Mall Dr.)

Our first book is one of the best sellers of the 2016: “Invisible North” by Alexandra Shimo.

You can find more information about the book below.

Author spent time in Iqaluit and she offers an informed perspective on the difficulties facing First Nations
Author spent four months living on impoverished First Nation reserve to give in-depth, portrait of people living in third world conditions
Author offers first person account of PTSD gained while working as a journalist in Kashechewan
Exploration of 2005 international water story and how impoverished reserve fooled the Canadian public, including many details obtained by ATIP, that have never been made public
Analysis of difference between Canadian and U.S. reserve systems and why Canadian Natives are poorer and have world’s highest suicide rates
Brings a detailed understanding and first person account of how the issues currently dominating the news, including the inter-generational impact of the residential schools and the TRC, Bill C-33, affect people on the reserves
Alexandra Shimo’s previous book Up Ghost River was published by Knopf Canada in August 2014; a national bestseller, it won the 2015 CBC Bookie Award for non-fiction and the Donald Grant Creighton Award; it was also a finalist for the Trillium English language award and the Governor General’s Literary Award

Documentary Screening: “Things Arab Men Say” – November 30

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Public screening of a new NFB documentary Things Arab Men Say was hosted by Intercultural Dialogue Institute GTA on November 30, 2016. The event featured a post-screening conversation with Raja Khouri, President of the Canadian Arab Institute. It was a full-house with over 50 people in attendance.

Worldwide, Arab men are depicted by the mainstream media as terrorists, suicide bombers, or at best, extremists. In Things Arab Men Say, Egyptian-born filmmaker Nisreen Baker paints a very different picture.

Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, this engaging documentary introduces us to Jay, Ghassan, Faisal, Adnan, Falah, Bashar and Ramey as they spend an afternoon at Jamal’s Eden Barber Shop discussing work, family, politics, and religion while getting a haircut and a shave. Through their conversation, we begin to understand the challenges these men face and the delicate balance between integrating into Canadian life and preserving one’s identity and culture.

Although located in St. Albert, an Edmonton suburb, Jamal’s Barber Shop could be anywhere, with this small group serving as a microcosm of the Arab community. As they each await their turn in the chair, the men continue to debate the issues, revealing differing personalities and often-surprising views. And once you hear what they have to say, you’ll never succumb to the mainstream message again.

Raja Khouri is president of the Canadian Arab Institute, a policy think tank he co-founded in 2011. Raja is co-founder of the Canadian Arab/Jewish Leadership Dialogue Group, and an international consultant in organizational development and capacity building.
Raja formerly served on several government and civil society bodies, such as Ontario’s Hate Crimes Community Working Group (for the Attorney General and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services), the Minister of Education’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy Roundtable, the Pride Toronto Community Advisory Panel, the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs, and as advocacy co-chair of Human Rights Watch Canada. He served as president of the Canadian Arab Federation in the period following the events of 9/11.
Raja’s earlier career included a senior management position at CIBC and management consulting tenures in Europe and the Middle East. He has designed and chaired conferences, given and moderated lectures, numerous media interviews, and published commentaries in journals and major Canadian dailies. He’s the author of Arabs in Canada: Post 9/11.

Extreme Weather and Emergency Management: Canada’s DART- Nov 28

Extreme Weather and Emergency Management: Canada’s DART

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On November 28th, 2016, IDI hosted DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) with Lieutenant-Colonel Ed Izatt, Commanding Officer and Chief Engineer at the 1st Canadian Division, serving as speaker.

r. Izatt explained that DART doesn’t technically exist as it is not a standing unit and cobbles people together with different skill sets who are ready to deploy in 4–48 hours. This is because DART exists as a quick response unit for addressing areas that have been deemed to have gaps when there is a large scale disaster. DART does not operate alongside local governments and NGOs do. They are second responders who arrive three days after the disaster has occurred, to step in, analyze the situation, and set up logistics and coordinate of resources. They generally leave after 30 to 70 days of operation in the disaster area.

Mr. Izatt explained DART’s role as analysis in the first 11 days and used the bridge exampled. They need to find the bridge, assess what is need to fix the bridge, and find a workaround before they even start to fix the bridge as it takes quite a while. One of the secondary roles is giving confidence to the people in the affected area with the presence of official uniforms, which helps to mobilize the local population and push against the effects of shock.

DART comprises 200–500 personnel from medics and engineers, to soldiers and aviators. Lawyers are even included for things such as property laws that people operating in other areas of specialty would not necessarily consider. Mr. Izatt explained the importance of this as DART is part of the Canadian military and is not a neutral organization nor are they operationally independent.

DART’s future role is becoming more complicated, Mr. Izatt explained, with the reality of complex disasters and humanitarian needs that extend beyond things like earthquakes with the rise of extreme climate change disasters. Humanitarian relief in a war zone is also a tricky thing to navigate since DART needs to be invited into a country, and they work with and for ambassadors and local governments, since they come with the full weight of the Canadian military. They operate in overwhelming disaster conditions where the military needs to be called in as a last resort.

Extreme Weather and Emergency Management-Disaster Assistance Response Team(DART)

Event Description:

Extreme weather includes unexpectable, unusual, unpredictable severe or unseasonal weather; weather at the extremes of the historical distribution—the range that has been seen in the past. In recent years some extreme weather events have been attributed to human-induced global warming,with studies indicating an increasing threat from extreme weather in the future. Extreme weather conditions cause significant loss of life, a large number of injuries, as well as destruction of property, leaving thousands of people requiring humanitarian support.

The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is a multidisciplinary organization composed of military members and civilians from Global Affairs Canada, designed to deploy on short notice anywhere in the world in response to situations ranging from natural disasters to complex humanitarian emergencies. It is one component of the Government of Canada’s toolkit to respond to natural disasters abroad. Lieutenant – Colonel Ed Izatt, the Commanding Officer of the DART, will provide insights about extreme weather and examples of the diverse capabilities the CAF possesses, and the importance of continued humanitarian support efforts around the globe.

About the speaker:

Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Izatt is the designated Commanding Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). A Canadian Military Engineer by trade, his service since 1984 has been diverse.

His engineer duties, with a mixture of domestic and international operations, cover the complete military range from unit tactical command at 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (Edmonton) to strategic Chief Engineer – Current Operations, NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE -Belgium).

As a general staff and liaison officer he has been employed by alliance and coalition organizations in Europe, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. His Canadian Army institutional posts include Section Chief for Army Professional Development; chief personnel management and policies – Army Western Area (J1); and Dean of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College. He is currently the chief engineer at the 1st Canadian Division, Kingston.

Exploring Faith Series: Hinduism- Oct 27

Exploring Faith Series- Hinduism

A Day in the Life of a Hare Krishna

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On October 27th, IDI hosted a presentation on the Hare Krishna branch of Hinduism as part of our Exploring Faiths series. Kevala-Bhakti Dasa was the guide for the event and he explained the Hare Krishna faith to those in attendance. He began by telling the guests that in addition to learning about Hare Krishna from his parents, he was attending a Catholic school and it is with this upbringing that he saw the commonalities of all religions.

With Hinduism, Kevala explained, it is not as clear cut as with the Abrahamic faiths and focuses more on living a faithful life than following specific teachings. Hare Krishna is defined as a monotheistic branch, worshipping God—Hare Krishna meaning “most beautiful” or “God”. He explains that for the Hare Krishna branch, Allah, God, Jehovah, and other names and faith traditions are simply different relationships with the same God. The other gods in the Hindu pantheon represent empowered beings to help God according to the Hare Krishna branch.

Five hundred years ago, Kevala said, there was a religious renaissance in India. An avatar broke down the walls of social segregation and popularized Bhakti yoga, which is described as an active devotion of everything one does. He explained that with Hinduism’s long history it is difficult to pin down one figure, like Jesus or Moses, as civilization upon civilization has left its mark on Hinduism.

The Hare Krishna movement began in the 1960s, during which time a 70 year old Swami brought it over to New York. The beliefs they hold consist of a focus on the soul, with the body acting as its housing and making everyone equal as ,the soul is the most important aspect. The three fundamentals of the soul are truth, quality, and bliss. They lead a holistic lifestyle, where everything that one does and engages in constitutes a meditation; every act can be an offering to the divine, Kevala explained. The soul, he said, controls the mind which in turn channels the senses. There are four regulative principles, but they do not necessarily disqualify someone from practicing: no meat, fish, eggs; no intoxication (includes coffee); no outside marital affairs; no gambling.

Made famous in the 1960s and 70s, the Hare Krishna tradition is a religious movement which is officially known as International Society of Khrishna Consciousness (ISKCON). ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava branch, a monotheistic tradition within the Vedic and Hindu cultural traditions that dated back thousand years. ISKCON follows the teachings of God, Lord Sri Krishna, as revealed in the sacred Vedas, including Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

This interactive discussion and dialogue covered the essential practices in the daily life of Hare Krishna practitioners, highlighting several processes of devotional service which brings lasting happiness and peace in the society by reviving our loving relationships with God and spirit.

Speaker

Kevala-Bhakti Dasa was raised in a household infused with the teachings and practice of the Vaisnava line of Hinduism. He has been a lifelong practitioner of the Hare Krishna faith which espouses the practice of bhakti-yoga – the yoga of devotional love to God. For the past 10 years, he has served as Chairperson for the annual Festival of India, an annual two-day festival in Toronto which presents the ancient, spiritual culture of India in a contemporary, family-friendly fashion. Kevala-Bhakti also serves as one of the leaders of Toronto’s vibrant Hare Khrishna community, conducts regular outreach to Toronto’s vast yoga scene, and teaches classes on the ancient teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita.

Exploring Faith Series- Hinduism

1st Annual Advisory Board Retreat- Sept 24-25

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On September 24th, IDI had its 1st Annual Advisory Board Retreat in Kingston, Ontario.

For every organization, it is crucial to develop an evidence-based strategic plan, set goals, evaluate the progress, address the challenges and cultivate an organizational culture. Although internal evaluation is essential, a thorough assessment requires a broad base evaluation which includes all stakeholders. In this regard, IDI believes that the input from its advisors and friends is crucial.

With these in mind, we had a long but fruitful day of discussions to examine IDI’s strengths and areas that need to be improved upon. During the first two sessions, there were presentations on Hizmet movement and on the activities of IDI followed by a Q&A session. During the 3^rd and 4^th sessions, there were discussions such as future vision of the Institute, its current and future activities, increasing effectiveness, diversifying funding sources, and how to measure the success of the current and future programming. The day was filled with interesting contrasts of different chapters and presentations of their best practices. The consensus being that IDI brings people together very well and it is an activity that we are committed to continuing.

We hope these deliberations at our first retreat will result in an enhanced vision, improved strategies and better programming. We thank our advisory board members and volunteers for their continuous support and dedication.

To learn more about IDI’s work, please click the following link: Annual Report

Noah’s Pudding Event at Newman Centre- Sept 22

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Intercultural Dialogue Institute in collaboration with Muslim-Catholic Student Dialogue organized a Noah’s Pudding Event at Newman Centre at University of Toronto. The event was supported by Office of Ecumenical & Interfaith Affairs at Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and Canadian Council of Imams.

Students had a chance to have some multi-cultural interfaith conversation while walking in the campus. They reflected on stories in Christianity and Islam about Noah, and on how these stories can inspire social action today.

We dream a ship. On this ship, people of the globe live in harmony with one another, respecting different cultures and faith traditions, while preserving their own identities. On this ship, world citizens come together based on common values and global spirituality. Instead of education for war, there is education for peace. This is our ship. This is Noah’s Ark. This is our hope.

WORKSHOP: 7Cs Compass for Dealing With Harassment in Workplace- Sept 22

Workshop: “7Cs Compass for Preventing Harassment in the Workplace and Dealing With Toxic Environment”

presented by Intercultural Dialogue Institute GTA and Conciliators Without Borders Services Inc.

Do you dread or look forward to coming to work? Are you dealing with harassment and a toxic work environment? Let us face it. Harassment in the workplace does happen and just can’t be wished away. However, in your capacity as leaders, human resources specialists, managers and employees you CAN do something about it. This half day comprehensive and high impact interactive workshop will provide practical tools to prevent unhealthy work environment and practices which breeds harassment.

You will learn how to recognize harassment and nip potential harassing behaviour before it is too late. You will share your insights and experiences and provide input through facilitated interaction. The 7Cs Compass workshop can bring immense measurable value to your organization and will provide practical tools that can be used to avoid enormous costs in productivity, dollars, health and above all work satisfaction and relationships.

Facilitator: Shahid Akhtar, President and CEO, Conciliators Without Borders Services Inc.
Read more about Shahid

Lunch, refreshments, certificate of participation and workshop materials will be provided.

Registration: $149.00(After IDI Discount $99.00, please provide the code you received in the email at the registration)

Venue: Intercultural Dialogue Institute

481 University Ave. Suite 711

Toronto, ON, M5G 2E9

AGENDA:

12:00 pm-Arrival, Registration, Lunch and Networking

1:00 pm- Welcome by organizers

1:10 pm- Explanation of the Methods; Introductions of Participants; Interactive Exercises

2:30 pm- Coffee Break

2:45 pm-History and Application of 7Cs Compass to Prevent Harassment and Dealing with Toxic Environment in the Workplace

3.30 pm- Q&A

4:00 pm- Distribution of Certificates

4:10 pm- Coffee Break and More Networking

4:30 pm- Adjournment

In Response to Military Intervention in Turkey

Turkish citizens wave a huge national flag as they protest against the military coup outside Turkey's parliament near the Turkish military headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Forces loyal to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan quashed a coup attempt in a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead Saturday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

On July 15, Friday, Turkey witnessed a coup attempt by sections of the military, which has left dozens dead and injured. The attempt has been successfully put down and the government is back in control of the country.

At theIntercultural Dialogue Institute, we condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey and reiterate that there is no place for military interventions in democracy. We believe in democratic process and we support the preservation of Turkish democracy, and condemn any attempt to subvert Turkey’s democratic institutions by force of arms.

Turkey has long suffered from the anti-democratic reflex of the military. The achievement of free and fair elections where governments are accountable to the public and power changes hands through the ballot box has been Turkey’s most valuable achievement, which should be protected and cherished at all time.

While admitting the scarcity of information at the early hours of the night, President Erdogan and figures close to him were quick to lay blame on the Hizmet movement. This is a predictable pattern, as Erdogan blames almost all oppositional development in Turkey on Hizmet as a pretext to purge state and civil society. Gulen issued a statement early in the night condemning this coup in the strongest terms, adding “[a]s someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations.” Leading Hizmet NGOs in Turkey and abroad also issued condemnatory statements last night. Hizmet participants have consistently demonstrated categorical condemnation of such anti-democratic practices and showed strong commitment to the rule of law and functioning democracy. Both Fethullah Gülen’s teachings and the Hizmet participants’ works around the world on dialogue, democratic engagement, active citizenship and social cohesion is the embodiment of this commitment.

We hope those accused with trying to overthrow the government will be tried in courts of law and this incident becomes a source of motivation for strengthening Turkey’s democracy. We are particularly concerned that Turkey’s domestic troubles are used as a source of polarisation of the Turkish-speaking communities overseas.

We sincerely hope that the issue gets resolved quickly and in the best interest of Turkey and its citizens at home and abroad.

Fethullah Gulen issued the following statement on July 15th on the attempted coup d’etat:

“I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey. Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force. I pray to God for Turkey, for Turkish citizens, and for all those currently in Turkey that this situation is resolved peacefully and quickly.

As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations.”

Fethullah Gulen’s OPED on NYT: I Condemn All Threats to Turkey’s Democracy

Fethullah Gulen’s OPED on Le Monde: Fethullah Gülen: ‘I call for an international investigation into the failed putsch in Turkey’

Gulen’s Interview with Fareed Zakaria on “GPS”

“Who is Fethullah Gulen?” by Ra’fat Aldajani, Drew Christiansen

CNN:CNN on Gulen Full interview with Gulen on the Coup D’etat

Parts of the interview done with Fethullah Gulen:

Gulen calls for an international probe into Turkey coup allegations, says he will accept its findings: Watch here
Q: Do you know why president Erdogan needed to bring your name up in this [coup attempt]?
Watch here

International Media on the Coup Attempt

Fethullah Gulen’s OPED on NYT: I Condemn All Threats to Turkey’s Democracy
“Turkey’s Coup That Wasn’t”: The New York Times
“Muslim cleric Gulen denies any link to failed Turkish coup attempt”: Haaretz
“Coup d’etat attempt: Turkey’s Reichstag fire?”: OpenDemocracy
“A coup was launched from here? Intrigue in rural Pennsylvania” The Globe and Mail
“Turkey’s Coup That Wasn’t”: The New York Times
“Coup d’etat attempt: Turkey’s Reichstag fire?”: OpenDemocracy
“Turkey was already undergoing a slow-motion coup-by Erdogan, not the army”: The Guardian
“Was the Turkish Coup an Erdogan Hoax?”: Daily Stormer
“Why is Turkey blaming Gulen and followers for coup attempt?”: The Current

Interfaith Iftar Dinner at Sayeda Khadija Centre- June 23, 2016

[Show as slideshow]

Ramadan Interfaith Dinner

June 23th, 2016, 7:30-10:00pm

Sayeda Khadija Centre

7150 Edwards Blvd, Mississauga, ON L5S 1Z1

Theme:

Passing on Faith to the Next Generation: A Multifaith Perspective

Master of Ceremonies:

Urz Heer, Host, RogersTV

Speakers:

Fr. Damian MacPherson, Director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs, Archdiocese of Toronto

Dr. Hamid Slimi, Founder and President, Faith of Life Network

Rabbi Michael Satz, Associate Rabbi, Holy Blossom Temple

Tim Hackborn, Metropolitan United Church

Iftar Dinner with Faith of Life Network

Every year, the Intercultural Dialogue Institute GTA hosts a series of community Iftar (fast-breaking) dinners during the month of Ramadan. Iftar dinners bring together people of various faith and ethno-cultural backgrounds and serve as a means of fostering dialogue and cross-cultural awareness. They address various topics related to common teachings and values in different faith traditions and cultures. A centre piece of the event is the keynote address provided by a distinguished speaker who has relevant expertise with regards to a pressing/relevant matter of discourse.

For more information on IDI GTA Ramadan dinners, please visit:

http://toronto.interculturaldialog.com/activities/ramadan-iftar-dinners

http://ramadandinners.ca

Register for Meet Your Neighbour 2016 – Enjoy a Ramadan dinner at a Muslim family

Intercultural Ramadan Friendship Dinners 2016

Register for our meet your neighbour program…