Multifaith Leadership Breakfast with Police Chief Devon Clunis

Multifaith Leadership Breakfast with Police Chief Devon Clunis

Thursday, 27 February 2014 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM (CST) Convocation Hall, University of Winnipeg 515 Portage Ave Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9 CanadaView Map Attend Event Share:

“For the sake of the city…”  Multifaith Leadership Breakfast with Police Chief Devon Clunis.  Winnipeg has come to know Police Chief Clunis as someone passionately concerned for the city, willing to listen and speak on its behalf.  Bringing together civic and faith leaders, along with youth who have a vision for the city, tickets for this Continental Breakfast are $25.  (After expenses are paid, we expect to be able to offer a charitable tax receipt of $15.) Share this event on Facebook and Twitter We hope you can make it! Dr James Christie, Ridd Institute Ray Harris, Manitoba Multifaith Council For more info:  harrisray@mts.net or 204-283-8186

Posted by Amanda

Refugee claims hit ‘historic low’ as Ottawa’s policy faces fresh criticism

From the Globe and Mail, written by Josh Wingrove (January 23, 2014)

The Conservatives in Ottawa are celebrating these developments, but refugee advocates say this is nothing to celebrate.  Here are two excerpts from the article.  You can read the whole article, by clicking here.

The number of people claiming refugee status in Canada reached what Ottawa calls a “historic low” in 2013 after it brought in changes to speed up the program by deterring applicants from safer countries.
The changes remain unpopular with refugee advocates who say valid claims are being brushed aside. Immigration Minister Chris Alexander has also lashed out at Ontario, one of many provinces continuing to provide health care for claimants who Ottawa says want to “game the system.”
...
“From our perspective, it’s a sad day when we say we’ve been receiving the smallest number of refugee claimants in decades. It means that fewer people have a chance at safety and security and a future,” said Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees. 

- Submitted by Gareth

A spotlight on the many ills that plague scientific pursuit in Canada

(From the CAUT Bulletin, December 2013)

Photo source:  CAUT Bulletin

Basic scientific research in Canada is under serious pressure, concludes a new report from CAUT.

CAUT’s “Federal Funding of Basic Research” report found that funding for basic research programs nation­wide has declined overall in recent years, as the Conservative government put in place new policy directions for science and technology. A re-direction characterized by increasingly targeting new funding to “projects that appear to offer the promise of immediate com­mer­cial value.”

Please read the entire article by clicking here.

- Submitted by Kathleen

Silence of the Labs, Fifth Estate

Cori drew a Fifth Estate documentary to our attention at the last meeting called Silence of the Labs.  It focuses on the underfunding and even suppression of science and scientific evidence by our current federal government.  As the result of her having raised this concern in the Just Living group, a sub-group (so far made up of Cori, Michele, Gareth, Kathleen) have agreed to find out more about the impact of these policies are having on the environment, and so much more.  If others, who could not attend the last meeting, are interested in joining this group inquiring into this issue, please let Cori know.

The documentary can by seen by clicking here.

Manitoba Indigenous Writers' Festival

This is very short notice, but it runs from Thursday evening until Saturday, so there may be an opportunity for some of us to participate in some of this.  Thank you, Mary L. for sending this to us.

The Festival runs from Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7  p.m. to Saturday, Jan. 18.
The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening portions of the Festival are at Neechi Commons, 865 Main St. from 7 - 10 p.m.

• Writers confirmed and appearing at Thursday night opening night show so far:
  Ko'ona Cochrane (drum song)
  Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair (host)
  Althea Guiboche
  Michael Hutchinson
  Warren Cariou
  Marie Annharte
  Duncan Mercredi
  Katherena Vermette
  Also, Renate Eigenbrod speaking and launching a new Indigenous writers anthology (which will be for sale)!

• for more info, please go to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/668686833183270/   or  (www.facebook.com/mbiwf)

Canadian School of Peacebuilding: Apply now!

Apply now to the 2014 Canadian School of Peacebuilding
Come this summer and take your choice of five-day courses for personal inspiration, professional development or for academic credit.  The sixth annual Canadian School of Peacebuilding (CSOP), a program of Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), will be held in Winnipeg, MB, June 16-20 and June 23-27, 2014. The CSOP is for anyone interested in learning more about peace and justice.  The CSOP community is made up of stay-at-home moms, pastors, business people, farmers, teachers, grandfathers, nurses, students, and many others, from here in Winnipeg and from around the world.  It's a great place to learn together with a wildly diverse community and to find knowledge, skills and inspiration for the work of peacebuilding. Here is what past participants have said about the School: “My week at CSOP has been an incredible opportunity to meet and make friends with people whose stories I will take with me always.  I have been inspired by the strength and trust amongst the community here, and have seen how quickly complete strangers can become a family.  Although we may be separated by continents or oceans in the future, CSOP is a great reminder of how connected we all are through humanity and hope.”     -Rosalind Crump “In my Reconciliation and Forgiveness course I learned skills that I can take back to my workplace, community and family.   I was provoked at an intellectual and emotional level to be a better person.  My understanding of conflict is increased by magnitudes.”     -Vincent Eagan If you are still wondering if the CSOP is for you, check our new video of reflections by 2013 CSOP participants and instructors on our Media, News and Resources page. You can also check out our complete list of courses  and full list of renowned local, national and international instructors. For more information, go to our website or e-mail csop@cmu.ca. Each 5-day course is $525 for personal or professional development or $725 for academic credit.  You can apply online or by using a PDF registration form which you can fax, post or scan and e-mail back to us. We hope you'll join us. Jarem Sawatsky and Valerie Smith Co-Directors, Canadian School of Peacebuilding	Peace Skills Practice Instructor: Natasha Mohammed The skills and habits of the peacebuilder can be learned.  Throughout this course participants will learn a variety of approaches to dealing with conflict in diverse situations such as: responding to one's own conflicts and learning to recognize the cultural elements of conflict resolution. The instructor, Natasha Mohammed is a community counsellor, mediator, group facilitator and Victim Impact Worker.  She has taught conflict resolution skills in government, community and university contexts including CMU's Menno Simons College, where she is a top student-ranked instructor. De-Colonial Theology: Thought and Practice Instructor: Terry LeBlanc Colonial imprints lie heavy on Indigenous "Christian" praxis and theology in North America.  These imprints are a result of theologies constructed within specific philosophical and biblical frameworks historic to European, Christian faith.  Terry LeBlanc will examine these philosophical and biblical foundations, asking whether a different Indigenous theology and praxis of faith might emerge if other foundations were to be set in place.  Terry is Mi'kmaq/Acadian and is the founding Chair and Director of the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies (NAIITS).  Terry also teaches a Geroge Fox University and Evangelical Seminary, and Tyndale University College and Seminary.

Find out more by clicking here.

 

- Submitted by Karla

Turning to One Another

By Margaret Wheatley

 

There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Ask: “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking.

Notice what you care about. Assume that many others share your dreams.

Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.

Talk to people you know. Talk to people you don’t know. Talk to people you never talk to.

Be intrigued by the differences you hear. Expect to be surprised. Treasure curiosity more than certainty.

Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.

Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.

Know that creative solutions come from new connections.

Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know.

Real listening always brings people closer together.

Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world.

Rely on human goodness.  Stay together.

- Read at most recent Just Living meeting

The sober side of Rob Ford

This is an excerpt of the second article to be discussed at the January 28 Just Living meeting.  Please read the entire article by clicking here.

The debacle involving Toronto's mayor was a reminder that democracy begins, not ends, with elections

By David Wilson (Editor, publisher of Observer)

Late last spring, I ventured to a community council meeting in west-end Toronto to defend a healthy 150-year-old oak tree that a homeowner on our street wanted to cut down. Evidently, my one-minute deputation rubbed the brother of Mayor Rob Ford the wrong way.

Councillor Doug Ford ripped into me non-stop for five minutes, accusing me of being behind an online petition (I wasn’t, but so what if I was?) and not respecting the rights of property owners (in whose ranks I count myself). What Ford actually said came through as a venomous blur, but it amounted to this: “You and everyone like you are going down after the next election.” I’m not sure what shook me more — the tirade or the applause it prompted from the public gallery. Another councillor later assured me this was politics as usual in the heart of Ford Nation.

The incident was never far from mind during the Rob Ford train wreck at Toronto City Hall last fall. I laughed along with everyone else as the American late-night TV hosts lampooned the mayor and his jaw-dropping antics. But my laughter was half-hearted, tempered by the sobering realities the spectacle revealed.

One of those realities is the cheapening of forgiveness. As Rev. Christopher Levan points out in an essay this month ("A sorry spectacle"), Rob Ford seemed to think that the more he apologized, the more he was entitled to instant absolution. The fact that his core support seemed prepared to grant him exactly that suggested either a slackening of civic morality or social divisions so deep and raw that sins don’t matter as long as they’re committed by the right guy.

I think the episode also shone a light on the fragility of electoral democracy. The Fords championed the sanctity of elections, yet revealed a breathtaking disregard for the integrity of elected office. ...

- Recommended by Christine

A Sorry Spectacle

During our Just Living meeting this past Sunday, Christine drew our attention to two articles in the January issue of the United Church Observer.   We agreed that we would read the two articles before our next meeting on Tuesday, January 28, with the intention that we will discuss them at that time.

Here is an excerpt of one of the articles.  Please read the entire article by clicking here.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford asked us to forgive and forget. Regrettably, forgiveness doesn’t come that easily. 

Photo source:  Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

By Christopher Levan

...   The whole world watched as the mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, unravelled in public. It was a pitiful and painful sight: the tongue-tied mayor confessing that he had lied to the city (and to himself) and that he betrayed the public trust. On a personal level, I felt some compassion for the man. Who hasn’t been caught in a lie? Who hasn’t been humiliated at some point? We can get inside shame like Ford’s and feel his helplessness.

Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to let emotional sympathy fog up our ethical reasoning. In office, the mayor has been a vicious political operator. If you disagreed with him, he dismissed you as part of a conspiracy of left-wing fanatics. He might even seek revenge, as a councillor who didn’t vote with him on a transit issue discovered when Ford initiated a robocall campaign to systematically ridicule him. The mayor used his weekly radio show to malign his enemies, especially the “maggot” journalists who, it turned out, had been telling the truth about him all along. And he was not just a little hypocritical. When a city employee was caught resting his head on his desk, Ford publicly called for his summary dismissal — this from a mayor whose own work habits were questionable, to say the least. Outwardly, he portrayed himself as a tough-on-crime common man, and privately he hung out with shady characters well known to the police. ...

- recommended by Christine