Let’s Talk Through Diversity

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2019-02-06

Country: Canada
City: Victoria, B.C.
The Interfaith Chapel at University of Victoria hosted a full house (and then some!) on 6 February, 2019, for our “Let’s Talk Through Diversity” event, honouring World Interfaith Harmony Week. The program was much different from those of previous years, with many diverse and participatory activities, all set in the smaller and more intimate venue of the UVic Interfaith Chapel. The versatility of the setting was used to encourage meaningful dialogue between participants through activities such as small discussion groups, a sit-down meal, the ice-breaker Diversity Bingo game, and henna hand-painting. Students played a key part in the event, both in the planning and in the student panel and facilitation of discussion groups, as well as the hands-on work of set up, serving the meal, and a hundred other tasks that were swiftly and competently executed. Thank you to Steve Baileys for the beautiful photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/98971252@N06/sets/72157706802800934 And to Jim Flood for the video of the keynote speech: https://www.youtube.com/embed/pdEmu3N86Hc Thanks also to our co-collaborators in this event: University of Victoria’s Multifaith Services, its Department of Equity and Human Rights, and the Community Partnership Network of the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, who all contributed funds and human resources. The program included: • Keynote speaker Dr. John Borrows, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law in the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria and a global leader in Indigenous law. Dr. Borrows will speak on “What has the process of Reconciliation taught us about talking to one another & creating harmony?” • East Indian meal with small groups discussing what they’d learned. • Student Panel speaking on how their spiritual traditions help them see and appreciate diversity, with follow-up global café style discussion groups.