Fostering Hope in a Divided World: Faith Communities Unite in Winnipeg

While world leaders gathered in Kananaskis, Alberta, to address global security and economic stability, faith leaders across Canada convened at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) in Winnipeg to explore a different kind of solution: hope. United under the 2025 theme “Fostering Hope in a Divided World,” the Our Whole Society (OWS) conference offered a transformative interfaith dialogue, with participation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other faith communities.

The three-day conference included the following plenary sessions: “Human Rights: Fostering Empathy in an Age of Rage,” “Ethics, Politics and Humanity,” “Canada and the World,” “Hope and Human Rights,” “Hope and the Environment,” “Educational Initiatives for Reconciliation,” “The Role of Media in Sharing Stories of Hope” and “Hope and Interfaith.”

Participants also enjoyed a musical presentation on the theme of hope by the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. Director Richard Gillis remarked that politicians could learn something from musicians about how to work and play together effectively. Musicians’ deep understanding of harmony and collaboration offers a model of co-operation for others to emulate.

OWS is the flagship national conference of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation (CIC). Now in its eighth iteration, OWS partnered with CMHR, the Manitoba Multifaith Council (MMC), the Canada Race Relations Foundation and others for the June 15–17, 2025, event. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been a sponsor of OWS conferences since 2014.

The Power of Hope

Conference chair Andrea Salguero, of the Baha'i faith, and CMHR vice president Matthew Cutler welcomed over 200 registrants to the opening session. In her introductory comments, Salguero said, “[Hope] is not a passive optimism. It’s not something that ignores the gravity of challenges before humanity, but hope is a motivating force that encourages and sustains constructive action towards a more positive future.”

Cutler, speaking of the CMHR, shared: “We host transformative experiences that when people leave here, they leave having experienced epistemic transformation, a change of how they see the world through another’s eyes and to return with new insight, humility and purpose.”

Canada’s last remaining religion reporter, John Longhurst of The Winnipeg Free Press, contributed to the media panel. John described his mission: “Through my reporting, I want to instill hope as I tell stories that interrupt the common negative narrative about religion. In this way, I hope to reduce the hate and polarization that permeate so much of the world today.”

Christine Baronins, communication director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and vice president of the MMC, said of Longhurst: “John has an inclusive approach to reporting that involves many perspectives, and his invitation to faith communities to participate in this collaboration has been fresh and exciting. The result is balanced, unbiased reporting that challenges preconceived notions of faith and the faithful.”

The Role of Empathy

Keynote speaker Payam Akhavan, an international human rights lawyer, said, “When we are withered with life’s disappointments, when cynicism weighs so [heavily], we do have the choice to turn wounds into wisdom to become better instead of bitter. In fact, we discover the power of our resilience only when confronting the depths of despair.” He continued, “We must consider what this faith in human rights requires of us. … It comes to us through empathy and authenticity. Feeling the pain of others and assuming responsibility for the world beyond our familiar and comfortable.”

Call to Action

Rocky Baronins, first counsellor in the Church’s Canada Winnipeg Mission and MMC community relations chair, participated on the “Hope and Interfaith” panel. He encouraged participants to serve in their local communities: “We can support those abroad, but really, if we want to heal, we need to come together to help the marginalized in our own communities. For me, that’s my mission — to help those that need help the most.”

Sandra Pallin, national communication director for the Church in Canada and CIC executive member, commented, “I leave the conference with renewed hope in the collective work of the interfaith and our partners. It’s a privilege to serve with so many faithful people of other denominations who believe in and have hope for each other. We hope participants return home with a renewed commitment to strengthening interfaith relationships and to fostering hope in their communities.”