December 21, 2021 is the Winter Solstice, which in the Northern Hemisphere is the shortest day and longest night of the year, and the point after which the days start growing longer again. This day, the time of greatest darkness and the symbolic rebirth of the sun, has long been celebrated by many cultures, religions and spiritual traditions, including the Druidic Alban Arthan, the Chinese Dongzhi, the Wiccan Yule, and the Scandinavian Feast of Juul.
On Monday, December 13th at noon, Lewis Cardinal gave a talk about “Creating and Reclaiming Indigenous Space in an Urban Centre.” He is the Project Manager of kihciy askiy (sacred earth), a development project being created in the river valley close to Fort Edmonton Park.
The EIC held its annual Open House over Zoom, on Wednesday, December 8th beginning at 7 PM. We heard about what the EICEA has been up to the past year, and found out about some of the holy days our members are celebrating. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi joined us to bring greetings from the City of Edmonton.
On Monday, November 15 at noon, our guest speaker was Kate Quinn, Executive Director at CEASE: Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation.
On October 27, 2021, Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement:
“Worldwide, the right to practise, choose and change one’s religion or belief is increasingly under attack. With a surge in religiously motivated crimes and persecution, International Religious Freedom Day, gives us an opportunity to reaffirm this universal human right.
Continue reading “Statement on International Religious Freedom Day”On October 25th, 2021 at noon, Radomir Bilash gave a Zoom talk about the 130 year history of Ukrainians in Canada.
We celebrated the UN Day of Peace on Sept. 21 at Government House and were once again blessed with a beautiful blue sky. Speakers were our board members (president) Guy Blood, Rev. Audrey Brooks & Rebecca Wright and Vivian Giang, president of the United Nations Association in Canada, Edmonton chapter. Paula Kirman and the Raging Grannies sang and it was an inspiring event. Please take a look at our Facebook page.
The Edmonton Interfaith Centre has released its latest annual report, regarding the challenges and celebrations of the past year. The report can be downloaded with the link below.
Members of all faiths and ethnic groups were invited to participate in the 13th Annual Genocide Memorial Service, on Zoom at 10:30 Sunday, July 11, 2021, sponsored by the Unitarian Church of Edmonton, The Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action, and the Westwood Unitarian Congregation.
The Genocide Memorial Service began with Treaty Six acknowledgement. Representatives from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, First Nations and other faiths are invited to tell us how genocide affected their people. Prayers, songs and readings are interspersed throughout the program. Inscribed memorial stones along with their stories were presented to the audience. Later, they were placed in a memorial garden at 9916-154 Street, where they can be viewed. The stones witness, honor and name those who died violent deaths because of wars, racism, gender identity, greed, slavery, ethnic cleansing and appropriation of Indigenous lands.
Continue reading “13th Annual Genocide Memorial Service”
In 2008 we began a monthly “Lunch & Learn” program with a presentation of local interest followed by a lively discussion. It is continuing on Zoom, we’ll offer the learning part and you bring your lunch. On Tuesday May 25 at noon, we continued the program with a talk by Mike Van Boom, Edmonton’s first housing ambassador.
Continue reading “Lunch & Learn: Mike Van Boom”