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Ontario Multifaith Council 2001 Annual Meeting and Celebration
November 6, 2001
The serene simplicity of the Japanese Cultural centre located on Garamond Drive was the site of the 2001 Ontario Multifaith Council's Annual Meeting and Celebration. Over 100 people attended to mark the 29th year of OMC service.
The Council works in partnership with the government of Ontario to ensure that government funded and operated facilities and programs provide effective and Faith Group sensitive spiritual and religious care that is appropriate and sufficient to meet the needs of those in care.
The Council has 33 member Faith Groups whose combined membership represents ninety percent of the population of Ontario.
Examples of the Council's contribution were made vividly clear through the presentations by Nancy Guppy (Chief Dietition for the Ministry of Correctional Services) on the provision of religious diets in the Ontario Correctional System and by the Rev. Bruce Schenk, Provincial Coordinator of the Re-integration Project.
Nancy gave a detailed power-point presentation on how the Ministry of Correctional Services provides appropriate, Kosher, Halal and Vegetarian diets for the increasingly diverse population in the correctional system in keeping with Human and Religious Rights and Ministry policy. The OMC was instrumental in ensuring appropriate religious diets and continues to consult with the ministry in this area as well as other Ministries such as Health.
Liz Chappel, OMC Executive Director reported on the, just completed, Operational Review report and the OMC plan to implement recommendations of the report. Representatives of the Regional Multifaith Committee Chair's, who had met prior to the AGM, made their report. One of their main concerns was support for chaplains. Chaplains are experiencing increased responsibility and stress and feel unsupported by Faith Groups, the OMC and Chaplaincy Services Ontario. The OMC and its RMC are considering ways to address this concern.
The Re-integration Project, which receives funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services to help reduce the high rate of homelessness among offenders returning to the community, has experienced striking success. Through the deployment of Community Chaplains throughout Ontario, the Project attempts to holistically address the needs of ex-offenders returning to the community (returnees). This past year nearly 900 returnees were placed in permanent housing. No small accomplishment in a community where the vacancy rate is one percent or less. It is conservatively estimated that the Project provided savings of seven to one. In other words seven dollars is saved for every dollar spent. The Re-integration Project receives up one million dollars per year so savings could be as high as seven million dollars.
The celebration dinner program was graced with diverse readings from several faith traditions followed by a moving tribute to volunteers and volunteerism by The Rev. Paul Chidwick, Editor of OMNI.
Paul reflected on his many years working with volunteers and commended not only their dedication but also their incredible honesty. He thanked the OMC for the opportunity he has had in volunteering as editor of OMNI.
The Honorable John Fleming, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Community and Social Services brought greetings from the government. He expressed appreciation for the multifaith celebration which he said demonstrated the many common threads Faith Groups share. He also expressed the government's appreciation for the work of the Faith Groups through the OMCSRC. This partnership with the government is effective in meeting peoples needs.
Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner of he Ontario Human Rights Commission, was the keynote speaker. He thanked the Council for the work they do for the people of Ontario spiritually and in other ways. Mr. Norton affirmed the Muslim community and drew a sharp distinction between our Muslim colleagues and friends and those who committed the Sept. 11 atrocities. He told us how difficult it was to prepare remarks for this occasion. Then he decided to simply speak from the heart as a lay member of the community. This Mr. Norton did with eloquent simplicity. He documented several powerful incidents of bigotry like Fred Phelps who marches across America preaching that "God hates fags" and "thank God for aids", in the name of Christianity. He alluded to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Arian Nation whose racist views distort the faith. He raised the compelling question "where are the moderates"? It is his opinion that simple tolerance is not enough. We must understand and respect each other's beliefs and customs. Mr. Norton noted that humans are much more alike than different. He said, "99.9% of all human genetic material is the same. Less than 1/18 of one percent accounts for all human differences". He concluded with the appeal that people of faith must do something to relieve the suffering of places like Afghanistan. We simply cannot stand idly by.
These presentations were followed by a wonderful Japanese buffet dinner.
Posted by editor on September 30, 2003 10:25 AM