In celebration of the 2019 U.N. World Interfaith Harmony Week, Calgary-area clergy, faith leaders and citizens of goodwill gathered at special events organized and sponsored by the Calgary Interfaith Council. “I Choose Civility” was the theme for this year’s celebrations. Events included the opening ceremony at Calgary City Hall, an Interfaith Breakfast hosted by Beth Tzedec Congregation, the student-led “My Story” faith discussion at Mount Royal University and the concluding dinner and celebration hosted by the Calgary Alberta Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Gigi Houle, Calgary Alberta Fish Creek Stake director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Rabbi Shaul Osadchey (centre) of Calgary’s Beth Tzedec Congregation enjoy a moment with Elder James E. Evanson and Church member Larry Spackman.
- Dalton Harding (left), a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Reverend Bob Mutlow, honorary associate of McDougall United Church, chat at the concluding interfaith dinner hosted by the Calgary Alberta Stake.
- Nancy Clayden, Calgary Alberta North Stake director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, chats with Theodoric Nowak, director of Social Justice and Outreach Ministries for the Catholic Pastoral Centre, during a 2019 World Interfaith Harmony Week event.
- Dalton Harding (left), a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Tony Snow, Indigenous Right Relations lead, at the Calgary 2019 World Interfaith Harmony Week opening ceremony at Calgary City Hall.
- Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi and members of several Calgary faith communities gathered together for the 2019 Interfaith breakfast hosted by Beth Tzedec Congregation.
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Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, keynote speaker at the interfaith breakfast on February 5, invited participants to choose civility by listening, caring and engaging kindly with each another in order to foster peaceful and thriving communities. Rabbi Shaul Osadchey, co-chair of the Calgary Interfaith Council, urged faith leaders to lead the way in encouraging Calgarians to sign “The Calgary Interfaith Council Civility Pledge.” The 10-point document calls for greater civility, respect and compassion among peoples of all faiths and backgrounds.
“The theme of ‘I Choose Civility’ is particularly applicable today,” said Elder James E. Evanson, Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, North America Central–Southern Alberta. “It was wonderful to have so many diverse faith leaders from around Calgary come to our building for the closing dinner and participate together. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit with other faith leaders and to discuss concerns, successes and some of our doctrine and practices. These types of experiences help all of us build on common beliefs, listen to each other and reach out in common efforts.”
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to defend religious freedom, respectfully share their beliefs and have meaningful and kind conversations with those of differing beliefs.