CATCHING UP WITH CANADA
WFWP Canada may be an independent organization, but our goals, fervor, and ideals align! Our neighbors to the north shared about some of the wonderful efforts and events they’ve recently hosted that we would like to share with our readers.
KAIROS-CRIC-WFWP Blanket Exercise
Kairos Canada (a joint venture ecumenical program), the Capital Region Interfaith Council, and the Women’s Federation for World Peace sponsored a Blanket Exercise for faith leaders of the National Capital Region on June 10, 2018.
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE) is a tool developed in 1997 in response to the 1996 Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in which participants learn about European colonization of Turtle Island (North America), the accompanying dispossession of Indigenous peoples (reflected by the steady removal of blankets upon which participants stand) and Indigenous resistance and efforts to reclaim land and rights.
Approximately 40 faith leaders from First Nations, Anglican, Baha’i, Catholic, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jewish, Sikh, Sri Chinroy Ottawa Centre, Unificationists, and Unitarian Universalist gathered on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to share in a journey of discovery, learning, and understanding. Katy Quinn and Denise-Anne Boissoneau led the exercise that was followed by a sharing circle. During the sharing, many participants indicated that this was an experience like no other, that the information was new to them and questioned why this history is not taught in school. At the end of the sharing, Denise-Anne introduced aboriginal healing and the starblanket experience. The formal event concluded with Denise-Anne’s inspiring prayer.
Everyone was then invited to share the potluck feast gathered at the west side of the room and mingle and chat.
2018 Good Samaritan Interfaith Food Drive
WFWP Canada is also serving the local community with a mother's heart. The Muslim Association of Ottawa, the Capital Region Interfaith Council, the Women’s Federation for World Peace and Dymon Storage sponsored the second annual Good Samaritans Interfaith Food Drive from Friday, May 11 to Sunday, May 13. Participating faith communities collected food from their respective congregations and delivered their contribution to the central collection point in the parking lot of the Ottawa Mosque on Mother’s Day weekend. Four thousand pounds of food were collected and delivered to the Ottawa Food Bank.
The event was launched on May 9 at City Hall with the Mayor of Ottawa (second from the left) who expressed his support for this important initiative and under the guidance of the Leadership Mosaic: Elder Albert Dumont, Imam Z. Delic, Rabbi R. Bulka, Rev. Dr. A. Bailey, Fr. J. Kabangu, Ms. M Stark, Sr. N. Tareen, Rev. J. Wilker-Blakley, Rev. J. Lam, with Blandine & Daniel Stringer as coordinators.
