Geraldine Guilfoyle presents Fr. Mark Bautista with the 2018 Multifaith Calendar

The 2017 Unity in Diversity Dinner took place Friday October 27th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. This was the first time that St. Joseph’s had hosted the event. A wonderful turnout and welcome from their congregation provided the opportunity to meet and forge new friendships. The food, as always was a sharing event with a variety of dishes being served by the Sikh Temple, St. Joseph’s, Baha’i Community and bannock made by Squamish Nation elder, Donna Billy.

This year instead of having a speaker, we showed a Ted talk about an initiative in Kenya to overcome the fear of terrorism through multifaith solidarity that culminated in painting houses of worship yellow. Following the viewing, each table was asked to discuss a series of questions around fear and ways of overcoming fear of the unknown and those they knew little about.

Recurring themes in what created fear included; fear of exclusion, being misunderstood, prejudice and lack of understanding of the other’s worldview. Ways of overcoming fear and creating environments of understanding included; creating spaces for people to come together and learn about each other such as the Multifaith dinner. More collaborative events and more education can create the desire to know one another and to understand and accept each other as humans. Choosing hope over fear was seen as a commitment to the the process.

The 2018 Multifaith calendar was on sale at the event and Fr. Mark was gifted one as a thank you for offering St. Joseph’s as a host for this year’s dinner.

 

The annual July 01 Multicultural Day at Totem Hall was marked this year by a ceremonial canoe pull up the Mamquam Blind Channel to the Stawamus Village site. The ocean going canoe was organized by Tsawaysia (Alice Guss). Paddlers included Squamish Nation members, district officials and volunteers. Mayor Patricia Heintzman and Councillor Susan Chapelle represented the district in what was a bracing effort against the wind and chop. A courtesy dinghy from Squamish Yacht Club escorted them during the passage.

The celebration was opened by elders Gwen Harry and Donna Billy with Mayor Heintzmein presenting a poem that spoke from the heart of broken relationships and the need for true reconciliation. Over 300 participants enjoyed the shared food and cultural presentations that followed. Feast was prepared by Squamish Nation, Sikh Community and Baha’i Community. Cultural presentations included Bhangra dancing, Filipino and World Folk Dancing as well as vendor tables and a children’s art project.

 

See below poem offered by Patricia Heinztman at opening ceremony.

Truth, Reconciliation.

Is more than an apology and deprecation

a prayer to remove a stain upon our nation,

a shame rooted in colonial aspiration.

 

This failure of Christianity,

of humanity,

our arrogance and vanity,

is Canada’s unfortunate profanity.

Our era without sanity.

 

With complete disregard and without

considerations,

deference and dignity, and with near surgical

abalations,

we systematically cut the First Nations,

demoralized generations,

destroyed languages and cultures to the quick’

realpolitick.

 

So it’s time to be introspective.

Not just to remember our history selective.

150 years we’ve been in denial

of this bias we must reconcile.

 

The art of the possible is what I choose,

It’s harmony that we should collectively infuse

to rectify this system of abuse.

A country’s consciousness to transfuse.

 

With prisms new and a sense of hope,

positive reflections viewed through a common

kaleidoscope,

evolving patterns, transparent, rotating perspectives

engender a uniquely Canadian antidote.

 

We’re birds of a feather,

in the same canoe pulling together.

After all, humanism is Canada’s shared endeavour,

everyone’s welfare our promotion, our devotion…

whatsoever

C’est notre raison d’etre, it’s in our DNA.

And it’s why we’re here to celebrate Canada Day

We all need to hear what our first peoples have to

say to usher in a bright new day.

 

O’siem

 

In the summer of 1993. a group of youth traveled across Canada on a bus called Peace Bus ’93. They came from diverse backgrounds and their mission was to foster friendship between the many different peoples that make up our great country. Squamish was a stop along the way where they were hosted by the Squamish Nation and spent one night bunking down at the old Totem Hall. Gwen Harry and Donna Billy put out a call to local church and religious groups to help with food and hospitality. The local Sikh and Baha’i Communities responded and something wonderful was set in motion. Everyone had such a good time, sharing food, stories and music. Friendships were forged and all decided that this coming together to share and celebrate each other’s diversity must continue. Multicultural Day at Totem Hall was born. What better day to celebrate this than Canada Day. Over the years other faith groups have joined in the celebrations allowing for a more diverse expression of faith and culture but one thing remains constant – a time to share and celebrate together.

Please join us this year on July 01, Canada 150 celebrations, at Totem Hall. Event starts at 1 p.m. with Community Feast served at 1:30 p.m.

Gather round Squamish Drummers and hear the beat of the nations.

Learn and participate in traditional folk dancing.

Catch the excitement of Bhangra dancers and enjoy the grace of Filipino Traditional Dance with St. Joseph’s Youth Group. There will children’s activities and much more.

The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. It has been held in Canada since 1812, when women first encouraged each other to engage in personal prayer and take leadership in communal prayer within their mission auxiliaries and associations.

The 2017 service was written by the World Day of Prayer Committee of The Phillipines. The theme is “Am I being unfair to you?” Participants will learn from women in the Philippines, a country on the front lines of climate change, foreign mining and resources, insurgency and social upheaval due to migration.

The organizing committee in Squamish have extended an invitation to other Faith groups to join them in this year’s service. It will take place  at St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1930 Diamond Road at 2 p.m.

A great way to come together in prayer with our Christian neighbours.

 

 

Location: St. John’s Anglican Church – 1930 Diamond Road (Behind London Drugs)

TIME : 7 P.M.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 05

Squamish United Church in partnership with Squamish Multifaith Association
will be holding a multi-faith peace vigil to support our Muslim brothers and sisters
after the tragic shooting in the Quebec Mosque on Sunday January 29th;
along with all the political turmoil and decisions being made throughout
our world at this time. We would like to provide an opportunity for
all people of faith or of no faith affiliation to come together
for a time of peaceful gathering.
Please contact Rev. Karen Millard for more details
minister@squamishunitedchurch.org

Squamish Multifaith Association held its 5th annual Unity in Diversity Dinner on October 22nd at St. John’s Anglican Church. This popular community event brings together a diverse group of people to explore topics of mutual concern and interest. The topic of ‘homelessness’ attracted a crowd of 50+ participants. Panelists Mayor Patti Hentzman, Maureen Mackell and Sherry Small provided an overview of the current situation in Squamish with thoughts on community engagement. The figures were alarming, with more than 100 adults categorized as homeless during the October count. High rents and limited low income housing options have exacerbated the situation. Helping Hands Society executive director, Maureen Markell described a population way more diverse than the mental health/addictions profile that fits the current stereotype. The society provides emergency shelter, a drop in centre and hot meals. There are several other  organizations who are also providing services for this in most need, including Howe Sound Women’s Centre and Sea to Sky Community Services. Mayor Heintzman outlined some strategies that the district are working on to alleviate the situation, including working with existing partners and the development of more rental units and transition housing. Sherry Small, a long time advocate for those marginalized, got to the heart of the matter as she emphasized the gifts brought by each individual regardless of their circumstance. Turning the topic on its head or perhaps we should say heart, she saw the challenge not so much as structural as human.  “Listen to understand,” she invited the participants so that in community we can help one another and work as one.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming in engaged, check out http://www.squamishhelpinghands.ca and this site for future updates.