TORONTO
AREA INTERFAITH COUNCIL (TAIC)
Mayor David Miller
meets with the Toronto Area Interfaith Council
"Building
Relationships in Unity and Diversity"
Mayor David Miller
met with faith community leaders from the Toronto Area
Interfaith Council (TAIC) on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 8:00 am
at the University of Toronto Conference Centre, 89 Chestnut
Street.
The aim of this
first breakfast meeting was to initiate a dialogue among leaders
of city government and of faith communities to create a
foundation for understanding, co-operation and partnership
between the City of Toronto and the Faith Communities in the
Toronto area. Mayor Miller welcomed this initiative and, with
the TAIC, sees this dialogue as the first step of many we can
take together.
Over 190
representatives from more than 40 faith communities and 15
interfaith organizations attended. In addition to Mayor Miller,
some Councillors and city staff dealing with outreach and
diversity were present. Among those attending the meeting was:
Archbishop Thomas Collins, Bishop Colin R. Johnson, Archbishop
Sotirios, Very Rev. Lois Wilson, Imam Hamid Slimi, Pandit
Roopnauth Sharma and Ven. Man Yee Fa Shi.
The event was opened
by Fr. Damian MacPherson,
Director for Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs, Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Toronto. Fr. MacPherson has been a
part of the TAIC planning committee since its inception. In his
address he called the event, “An historic occasion.” And he
noted that, “The interfaith co-operation and activity in the
Toronto area has taken another leap forward.”
The history of the
Toronto Area Interfaith Council was detailed by Liz Chappel,
chairperson of the B’ahai Faith in Toronto. Liz stated, "It is
the aim of the Toronto Interfaith Council to be intentional in
its service to community and to further our common aspiration to
promote peace, understanding, harmony and respect for all.
In late 2004, the
founding members of the Toronto Area Interfaith Council
recognized that faith communities could assist the city in
building bridges to overcome prejudice and discrimination and to
promote mutual understanding and respect. The group established
a vision statement and set mutually agreeable goals over the
next two years, ranging from initiating and facilitating
interfaith celebratory and commemorative observances, to
providing information about religious practices, and finding
ways and means to connect the commonalities of diverse faiths.
Its members now look forward to working with the City of Toronto
to ensure that our diverse city remains a leader in the world in
harmonious collaboration of its diverse citizens and
organizations.
Mayor Miller
addressed the group with a message of support for their
collective efforts in establishing this interfaith council. He
also applauded them for the work they have done separately and
collectively for the city of Toronto on an ongoing basis. Mayor
Miller confirmed the vision of the Toronto Area Interfaith
Council by saying, “I am very proud to have the opportunity to
be here and to support the Interfaith Council. It is something
that Toronto can contribute to the world like no other can…
Interfaith dialogue and shared
activities build bridges and promote mutual understanding, good
community relations, tolerance and acceptance. This breakfast
crosses all divides and allows us to discover the connections
that are common between all people and their fundamental right
to practice their religion with dignity and respect.”
He looked forward to positive impact the co-operative effort of
all faith groups could have on the social issues and needs of
the people of Toronto.
The Mayor unveiled a
plaque with the TAIC Mission Statement:
“The
Toronto Area Interfaith Council is dedicated to affirming the
importance of ethics, spirituality and faith in daily life and
to the promotion of understanding, harmony, respect and
acceptance among the faith communities of the Toronto area.”
Mayor Miller was
also presented with the popular Golden Rule Poster which was
designed in Toronto. The poster with its universal statement of
moral conduct from 13 faith traditions can be found around the
world. It fits well with Toronto’s motto:
“Diversity – Our Strength”.
Mayor Miller also
presented the The Toronto Area Interfaith Council with a plaque
bearing the following words:
It is my pleasure to extend greetings and a warm welcome to
everyone attending this special Toronto Area Interfaith
Council breakfast.
Places of worship are God’s spiritual arm and the thread
that holds the fabric of society and of the family together.
Today more than ever we are witnessing the revival of
religion in the lives of many who seek guidance and strength
in the solace and comfort that come from their faith.
Interfaith dialogue and shared activities build bridges and
promote mutual understanding, good community relations,
tolerance and acceptance. This breakfast crosses all divides
and allows us to discover the connections that are common
between all people and their fundamental right to practice
their religion with dignity and respect.
On behalf of Toronto City Council, thank you for sharing
your ecumenical spirit and fellowship. Best wishes for an
uplifting and inspiring morning.
Mayor David Miller
March 20, 2007”
Councillor Joe
Mihevc spoke to the audience concerning City of Toronto
Initiatives. He noted that the collective voice of the faith
communities could be a major factor in assisting in the
resolution of social needs. He went on to say: "Big cities
is where diversity can and does happen, but on this scale
and this depth, never before. And it happened in
Toronto....We know that beyond the historical and current
conflicts, there is something very deep within us that
yearns to know the other....What I'd like to propose is a
way to do interfaith work that is also city-building work."
The event
concluded with a sharing time between participants. During
this period they collectively assembled their own person
visions and comments concerning the new Toronto Area
Interfaith Council. These were recorded at each table and
the results were submitted to the Council.
For further information, contact:
Rev. Leslie Gabriel Mezei Secretary, TAIC
Phone: 416-226-2869 Cell: 416-689-9872 leslie@barberry.ca
Fr. Damian MacPherson Convenor, TAIC
Phone: 416-934-3400 E344
dmacpherson@archtoronto.org
