Members of several faith communities gathered in Calgary, Alberta, on May 17, 2026, for an interfaith discussion focused on dialogue. Hosted by the Calgary Alberta Nose Hill Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in collaboration with the Calgary Jewish Federation (CJF), the event featured young Middle East “change makers” working with Sharaka, a non-profit organization that promotes people-to-people engagement in the Middle East following the Abraham Accords.
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Attendees from Jewish, Latter-day Saint and other faith communities filled the chapel to hear personal reflections from young leaders who have participated in international exchanges and educational programs. Speakers shared personal stories of change following visits to Israel, including participation in educational programs and exchanges designed to foster dialogue across religious and cultural lines.
Brandon Hearty, secretary for the Calgary Council of Christians and Jews and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, advised the Calgary Alberta Nose Hill Stake presidency of the CJF’s need for a venue. When stake leaders learned of the request, they recognized an opportunity to support and foster dialogue across faith traditions. Stake President Kevin Zemp contacted organizers to explore how Latter-day Saints could assist and co-ordinate the local event.
“We were excited to have the opportunity to work with Sharaka when we learned that they would be in Calgary,” said President Zemp. “With so much distrust and suspicion in the world, we were happy to contribute in a small way to the increased understanding and dialogue that has arisen out of the Abraham Accords.”
Sharaka, which means “partnership” in Arabic, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded by young leaders from Bahrain, Israel, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates following the signing of the 2020 Abraham Accords. These accords are intended to normalize relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority states.
The name of the accords was given in reference to the biblical Hebrew patriarch Abraham, whom both Jews and Arabs consider as their common ancestor, as an expression of their brotherhood. By bringing together Arab and Israeli young adults, the organization seeks to address historical stereotypes, build trust and foster co-operation across the Middle East.
Rachel Brynien, Sharaka U.S. affairs manager, explained the purpose behind the visit: “We have seen rising levels of hate in Canada and wanted to bring a new voice to help address this challenge. We typically conduct six to seven speaking tours each year. This was actually our first time bringing a delegation to Canada.”
“The individuals who participate in our speaking tours are alumni of our programs,” Brynien added. “We select participants who are strong public speakers and who have a high level of English proficiency. The process for selecting individuals to participate in our Middle East programs is more extensive, involving a rigorous vetting and application process. We rely on our local teams to find those who are relevant.”
Speakers in Calgary included Noam Meirov of Israel, Youssef Elazhari of Morocco, Hayvi Bouzo of Syria and Fatema Al Harbi of Bahrain. Each shared personal insights shaped by their participation in cross-cultural programs and exchanges.
Looking back on the event, President Zemp said, “The impact of the event was overwhelmingly positive. The messages from the participants were powerful — the message that understanding and goodwill can overcome generations of mistrust and hatred is one that needs to be heard and appreciated by all. Those in attendance left with increased hope and appreciation for the power of dialogue. While dialogue cannot solve all problems immediately, it is a critical first step.”
The Calgary Alberta Nose Hill Stake was created in the fall of 2025 and has identified outreach to governments, interfaith organizations and local communities as one of its priorities for 2026. This event reflected an ongoing effort to foster understanding and build relationships through respectful engagement.