By the grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at British Columbia held the 15th World Religions Conference (WRC) on Sunday, 27 September, at Central Okanagan United Church in Kelowna. Representatives of eight faith traditions came together to speak on this year’s theme, “Love Thy Neighbour”, each presenting the teachings of their own tradition.
The Jama‘at has organized the World Religions Conference in the Okanagan Valley since the mid-2000s. After being held in Vernon for several years, the conference returned to Kelowna this year. The event was free and open to all, and the program ran from 4:30 to 6:45 pm.
Eight Faiths, One Theme
The program began with Tilāwat (recitation) of the Holy Qur’ān. The conference was moderated by Jen Zielinski of Black Press Media, publisher of the Kelowna Capital News, and the respected Regional Amir of British Columbia gave introductory remarks.
Murabbi Farhan Iqbal Sahib presented the perspective of Islām Ahmadiyyat with great clarity and eloquence, and his address was well received by the audience.
He was joined on the panel by Rev. Corinne Crockett of the Centre for Spiritual Living; Rev. Phil Wagler, who presented a Christian perspective; Amarjit Singh Lalli, representing the Sikh faith; Dr Alberto De Feo of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Steven Finkleman, representing the Jewish faith; Rev. Naoki Hirano, who presented Buddhism; and Fariba Sabet-Sharghi, representing the Bahá’í Faith. After the presentations, the speakers answered questions from the audience.
Reaching the Wider Community
Among the distinguished guests was Councillor Mohini Singh of the City of Kelowna.
About 325 people attended, including 50 who joined online through Zoom. They included faith leaders, academics, students and members of the local community, reflecting strong interest in interfaith dialogue and co-operation.
The conference received wide coverage in print, on social media and on 1150 AM radio, helping to carry its message of interfaith understanding to the wider community.
In the weeks before the conference, local media, including Castanet and the Kelowna Capital News, reported on the event and invited residents to attend.
Caring for Our Neighbours
In keeping with the theme, attendees were invited to bring non-perishable food, and some $600 worth of donations was collected for the local food bank. The evening closed with a complimentary dinner served by the Jama‘at.
The conference fostered understanding, mutual respect and meaningful connections among the region’s diverse faith communities, further strengthening the spirit of peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony.
After receiving the report of the conference, the respected Amir Jama‘at Canada, Lal Khan Malik Sahib, thanked Rizwan Peerzada and prayed that Allah bless him and his team for their services and reward them abundantly. Ameen.