Multiculturalism Minister Harry Bloy praised the members of the Inter-Faith Bridging project committee for their enthusiasm in bringing people from different religions and cultures in the area together.
“Multiculturalism should be celebrated every day in B.C.,” he told the committee members during a visit to the office of the Vernon and District Immigrant Services Society, sponsor of the project, where he signed a copy of a book called B.C. People: Portraits of Diversity in B.C., which he presented by VDISS.
Inter-Faith project member Nola Dibski told the minister about some of the project’s activities.
“We have an exceptional steering committee with 15 people representing seven different faiths. We had 120 people out for the Inter-Faith Café and a lot of interest in the art workshops. We feel really positive about the difference the Inter-Faith project is making in the community,” she said.
Margaret Sanford, representing the Baha’i faith, said, “I think this project is going to foster friendship and understanding among members of different faiths for a long time to come.”
The Feb. 18 workshops are: Bhangra/Latin Dance (part 2); Drumming for the Earth (part 2); Faith Art History with Heidi Maddess and Maya Philpotts; Music with Lindsay Lundquist; Mizuhiki (Japanese art form) with Arnie Hayashi; and woodcarving with Wayne Lariviere and Mollie Bono.
The Inter-Faith Bridging project activities also include the Sacred Spaces Tour, learning about and visiting four local places of worship on Saturday; the Diversity Health Fair with Dr. Art Hister, booths, food demos and entertainment, March 16; and the Potluck Gala March 17.
For more information or to pre-register (recommended) for workshops or the tour, contact Maytée at 250-542-4177 or email ndibski@telus.net. Free childcare is available but children must be pre-registered. The workshops take place at Trinity United Church from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 18.
The Inter-Faith Bridging project is sponsored by Vernon and District Immigrant Services and funded by EmbraceBC.
