Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action
113, 11148 - 84th Avenue NW T6G 0V8 Edmonton, AB, Canada

The following speakers will be participating in our virtual panel discussion on Love, Justice, and Family Violence, on November 25th from 1 to 3 PM: http://www.edminterfaithcentre.ca/love-justice-and-family-/ Rabbi Gila Caine is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Ora, Edmonton, a rape crisis centre volunteer and one of the founders of the rabbinic women’s group B'not Dinah which created female and feminist rabbinic traditions for healing after sexual trauma. Jodi Calahoo-...Stonehouse is Cree and Mohawk from Michel First Nation. She holds a BA from the Faculty of Native Studies and is completing an MSc with the Faculty of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology at the University of Alberta, is a founder/co-owner of a film production company and producer/broadcaster of an award-winning Indigenous radio program. Pandit Pankaj Dixit is the spiritual leader of the Bharitya Cultural Society of Alberta (Hindu). Salima Versi (she/her) is a is a psychotherapist and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. She has her own practice, Rahma Counselling & Consulting, where she specializes in working with Muslim women, women of colour, and queer folx. In addition, Salima is a PhD Candidate & Instructor in the University of Alberta's Religious Studies Program, where she focuses on contemporary Islam and Ismailism. Within the Ismaili Muslim community, she is an Alwaeza, which is a scholar, preacher, and spiritual care giver. Added to these professional qualifications is a commitment social justice and community service. She has been a board member for several interfaith, Muslim, and feminist organizations and speaks on and participates in a variety of projects and discussions related to Islam, religion, feminism, social justice, and mental health. She is also the co-founder of the Muslim Feminist Collective of Edmonton and a mom of two very active kids. Jeff Wilks is the Client Safety Consultant for A Safe Place Women’s Shelter in Sherwood Park. He was with the Edmonton Police Service from 1981-2006, his tenure included such areas as Crime Prevention Unit, Criminal Investigation Section, Spousal Violence Section, General Patrol, and the School Resource Officer Unit. Jeff was a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee for the Alberta Roundtable on Family Violence and Bullying in 2004. Following his retirement from EPS, Jeff worked for the RCMP as the Victim Safety Specialist with Project ARTAMI (Alberta Relationship Threat Assessment and Management Initiative, now known as I-TRAC) for 15 months. He was been with A Safe Place since September 2008, where he continues to assist victims of domestic violence with safety plans and strategies and advocacy. For full details of this event, please see the main event post at http://www.edminterfaithcentre.ca/love-justice-and-family-/ Photo credit: A. Miskovsky

Family/Gender-Based/Domestic Violence is a problem affecting people from all traditions. Often, faith leaders are among the first to hear about it as their congregants seek assistance. Justification for violence can come from misunderstanding or misinterpreting religious texts. Is abuse of the innocent ever allowed? What messages in religious doctrine might be used to excuse it? How do faith leaders deal with that in helping their communities understand and avoid gender-based violence? What specific actions can they advise to help reduce it?

Netta Phillet, Karen Farkas, and Paula Kirman took part in the Shaama Centre for Seniors and Women's 20th Annual Interfaith Multicultural Celebration on October 17th, via video. They spoke/sang from a Jewish perspective. Here is their video contribution. https://youtu.be/22ZZPTFSG0g

This event (which is online this year) features a variety of speakers, including former Interfaith Centre board members Karen Farkas (who will be speaking) and Paula Kirman (who will be singing). https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/20th-annual-interfaith-multicul

We had a small but meaningful ceremony to mark the UN International Day of Peace on September 21. Here are The Raging Grannies leading us in a couple of songs. https://youtu.be/heDlc5RMtsM