Faith and civic leaders from across Saskatoon, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gathered March 29, 2026, to promote peace, solidarity and collective action against religious discrimination, demonstrating how interfaith co-operation can help build safer, more inclusive communities.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The event, titled “Combating Hate: An Interfaith Response,” was hosted by Multifaith Saskatoon at the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Hindu Society of Saskatchewan. The gathering brought together representatives from multiple faith traditions and community sectors to address rising concerns about religious discrimination in Canada and to reaffirm a shared commitment to peacemaking at the local level.
The program opened with a keynote address from Saskatoon Chief of Police Cameron McBride, who emphasized that preventing discrimination requires strong partnerships between law enforcement and community organizations.
When it comes to combating hate, we all have an equal role to play,” said McBride. “That’s why bringing faith communities together to build cohesion is so critical. I am truly thrilled to have been here and to witness the partnership among individuals of diverse faiths. I look forward to seeing where we can go together in the future.”
A panel discussion featured faith leaders representing various communities alongside civic and community leaders. Panellists shared teachings from their respective traditions on compassionate action, confronting prejudice and strengthening trust across differences. Their discussion emphasized the vital role of interfaith collaboration in cultivating peace in Canadian society.
Panellists included Audrey Ben, Knowledge Keeper and cultural advisor from Makwa Sahghaiehcan First Nation; Imam Saad Hayat, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque; Rabbi Claudio Jodorkovsky, Congregation Agudas Israel; Prathamesh Kale, president of the Hindu Society of Saskatchewan; Kevin Ledding, president of the Saskatoon Saskatchewan Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Reverend Len Rempel, executive minister of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan; and Mandeep Sethi, president of the Sikh Society of Saskatchewan.
President Ledding highlighted the power of shared faith values as a foundation for peacemaking and mutual respect. He said, “There is no better way to fight hatred, selfishness, prejudice and fear than by living our religions together. As brothers and sisters of faith, we have much more in common than what separates us. Each one of us is engaged in this work because of our love for our Creator and our fellow beings. Our collective faith gives us great hope for what is ahead, and I love every one of my dear friends here.”
The speakers consistently pointed to dialogue and co-operation as essential tools for building resilient, respectful communities in an increasingly diverse Canada. “By aligning our thoughts, speech and actions, we can work toward eliminating hatred and spreading a message of love, which is so important,” said Hayat. “It is about fostering love for all and hatred for none. Wherever we have the opportunity, we should strive to share that message and support one another.”
Community leaders echoed the urgency of standing together in response to intolerance.
Everyone has the right to worship freely in their own way, but we also need to show love and respect — something that can feel lacking, especially in our modern age,” said Captain Derek Kerr of the Salvation Army Saskatoon. “I am deeply encouraged and heartened to see people from different backgrounds and cultures coming together to say, ‘No, we will not let [religious discrimination] stand.’ Instead, we will stand united as brothers and sisters, as children of God.”
Rashid Ahmed, president of Multifaith Saskatoon, closed the gathering with a call to sustained, action-oriented peacemaking.
Today has reminded us that confronting religious-based hate requires courage, collaboration and compassion — values shared across all faiths,” said Ahmed. “Let us leave inspired to take meaningful action in our communities, workplaces, schools and homes, working together across faiths to promote understanding and lasting solidarity.”
The gathering concluded with a renewed commitment among participants to continue working collaboratively across faiths to counter discrimination, strengthen relationships, and foster a more peaceful and inclusive future for all.
>President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared a similar message when he recently invited all to “seek to be holy, like our Savior” and to “follow Him by forgoing contention and by using the language and methods of peacemakers” (“Alive in Christ,” April 2026 general conference).