2016wihw report 2 -...

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2016 REPORT-Part 2 of 2 Saturday February 6 2016 Noor Cultural Centre and Toronto Steering Committee An Evening of Interfaith Performing Arts This evening has become a major recurring event in Toronto. The evening featured music, poetry and dance by various groups and individuals and featured a memorable, all- inclusive finale that had audience members sing along to John Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance in their own language. The Ismaili Youth Choir and St Philips Lutheran Church house band, No Fixed Address perform. Also, during the evening, the Toronto Steering Committee was presented with an acknowledgement from Canadian Parliament for their efforts in promoting World Interfaith Harmony Week in Canada. World Premiere of "After All" The Evening of Interfaith Performing Arts also featured the world premiere of “After All”, a song that promotes interfaith harmony, performed by The St Philips Lutheran Church house band No Fixed Address and The Ismaili Youth Choir. Sunday February 7 2016 Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and the Japanese Cultural Centre Interfaith Eid Milad Un Nabi Conference Imam Syed Badiuddin Soharwardy, Founder of Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, came from Calgary Alberta to join other speakers and performers and an estimated 300 audience members for an interfaith celebration of the blessed birth of the Prophet Mohammed. Iman Syed Badiuddin Soharwardy addressing the audience; a picture of the audience; and the audience hears chanted verses from the Holy Qur’an.

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2016 REPORT-Part 2 of 2

Saturday February 6 2016

Noor Cultural Centre and Toronto Steering Committee

An Evening of Interfaith Performing Arts

This evening has become a major recurring event in Toronto. The evening featured music, poetry and dance by various

groups and individuals and featured a memorable, all- inclusive finale that had audience members sing along to John

Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance in their own language.

The Ismaili Youth Choir and St Philips Lutheran Church house band, No Fixed Address perform. Also, during the evening, the Toronto Steering Committee was

presented with an acknowledgement from Canadian Parliament for their efforts in promoting World Interfaith Harmony Week in Canada.

World Premiere of "After All"

The Evening of Interfaith Performing Arts also featured the world premiere of “After All”, a song that promotes

interfaith harmony, performed by The St Philips Lutheran Church house band No Fixed Address and The Ismaili Youth

Choir.

Sunday February 7 2016

Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and the Japanese Cultural Centre

Interfaith Eid Milad Un Nabi Conference

Imam Syed Badiuddin Soharwardy, Founder of Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, came from Calgary Alberta to join

other speakers and performers and an estimated 300 audience members for an interfaith celebration of the blessed

birth of the Prophet Mohammed.

Iman Syed Badiuddin Soharwardy addressing the audience; a picture of the audience; and the audience hears chanted verses from the Holy Qur’an.

Tuesday February 9 2016

Intercultural Dialogue Institute and Darchei Noam

The Canadian Interfaith Response to the Refugee Crisis

This was a great example of our successful pairing strategy as Intercultural Dialogue Institute and Darchei Noam

Synagogue welcomed an estimated 180 participants and panelists for a discussion of the Canadian interfaith response to

the refugee crisis. Panelists include award winning journalist and author Doug Sanders, Queen's University Professor

Naomi Alboim, Habeeb Alli, Community Development Manager of International Development and Relief Foundation,

and Martin Mark, Director, Office for Refugees, Toronto Archdiocese.

The audience looks on as the panel discusses how their respective faiths have responded to the Syrian refugee crisis

Getting Ready For 2017

Canada Wide Networking

The Toronto Steering Committee has initiated dialogue with organizers in Mississauga, Halifax, and Surrey British

Columbia. Our aim is to share experiences and best practices and grow the week into an important national week. In

addition, our Steering Committee has contacted or been contacted by representatives from London, Cornwall, Waterloo

and Hamilton, Ontario who want to learn from our success and our intent is to create a Canada wide network of people

and organizations who are committed to participating in World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Harnessing the Energy and Critical Mass

We felt a real energy this year. Every event was well organized and attended, and the “buzz” in the room was palpable

as we were approached by organizations, individuals and government officials who want to help or be part of our plans

for 2017.

We feel that coupled with recognition by Canadian Parliament in 2016 and the anticipated passage of a Bill declaring

Word Interfaith Harmony Week as an officially recognized week in Canada, that our efforts will inspire and engage all

Canadians to grow this initiative into an important vehicle to promote interfaith dialogue and collaboration as

envisioned by the United Nations declaration.

Yours very truly

John B Voorpostel CPA, CA

Chair, World Interfaith Harmony Week Toronto Steering Committee

Pastor Tuula van Gaasbeek | Yasmin Ratansi | Paul McKenna | Sid Ikeda | Reverend Michelle Singh

Pandit Suraj Persad | Khadijah Kanji | Daniel Schild

Mailing Address - 120 Meadowbank Rd, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, M9B 5E4

Email – [email protected] Phone – 416-695-4874

Website – www.interfaithtoronto.ca

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/worldinterfaithharmonyweektoronto?ref=hl