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IGR Community News
Announcements, Newsletters & Activities
IGR members are connected to many different religious, spiritual, ethnic, and cultural groups, and love to share what’s happening in their communities. Check out our new Community News section to see events and activities shared by IGR members!
Please note that while all events and activities posted on the Community Events blog are submitted by Interfaith Grand River members, they are not necessarily endorsed, supported by, or vetted by Interfaith Grand River as an organization.
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Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival
The Immigration Partnership organizes the Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival (WRMFF) annually to facilitate greater discussion around migration and relocation. This is achieved by creating spaces for respectful interaction and dialogue. Storytelling is the oldest way to share and have impactful conversations around social issues. WRMFF serves as an educational tool that can influence perceptions and attitudes toward migrants by bringing attention to matters that affect b
Sep 2
CMW 10th Annual Radiant Ladies Night
October 3, 2026 5pm - 11pm The Gardens Event Centre 480 Hespeler Rd Unit 16b, Cambridge, ON Enjoy a buffet multicultural dinner, inspiring speakers, entertainment, a silent auction, and a lively dance floor - all in celebration of women’s strength, resilience, and leadership. Funds raised will support CMW's core services - Housing, Anti-Hate, and Gender-Based Violence services. All which provide innovative and culturally responsive programs for members of racialized communiti
Sep 2
Third Age Learning: Eras of Turmoil: 1960s and Now
A lecture series to explore the transformative social, political, and cultural movements of the 1960s and their lasting impact on democracy, identity, equality, conflict, and social change. The lectures will be in person at RIM Park in Waterloo, on eight consecutive Tuesdays, starting on October 13 and running through December 1, 2026. Registration is open and the early-bird deadline is Oct. 5, 2026.
Sep 2
Interfaith Grand River 25th Anniversary Meeting
Interfaith Grand River is marking our 25th anniversary, and we would love to gather with those who helped shape our story - including you. Please join us on Thursday, September 10 at 9:30 AM for a morning of connection, cake, and shared memories. We’ll be inviting attendees to tell short stories about IGR - moments that inspired you, made you laugh, or shaped you - something in your heart. However long you've been connected to IGR, whether from the first meeting back in 2001,
Aug 27
Reflection: Further Exploration of Divine Remedies for Our Age
by John McLaughlin At our July meeting, IGR members responded to the following question: Which teachings (conceptual or practical) of your religion would you prescribe as remedies for the illnesses, whether spiritual, social or political, that are afflicting humanity? Despite criticisms of religion, renowned historians Arnold Toynbee and Will and Ariel Durant identified religion as the most potent driving force of civilization, making this inquiry essential. By the mid-1800s,
Aug 27
Reflection: Rest & Regeneration in Your Tradition
by John McLaughlin At our August meeting, IGR members shared contributions on the theme: “Rest and regeneration in your faith tradition”, an interesting theme considering how many of us struggle to balance response to the daily demands of life with the need to maintain our spiritual and physical health as we strive to meet these demands. Contributions were many and varied, with most contributors sharing calendar-based times for stepping back from work, such as a weekly day
Aug 27
Centre for Mutual Wellbeing (CMW) Impact Report 2025
CMW's 2025 Impact Report is out now. You can read it here: https://files.constantcontact.com/3c6b5ce6901/d81586db-4cb7-4edc-b67b-14c61f6fdb7b.pdf
Aug 27
Together Across Generations (TAG) Initiative
HelpAge Canada is partnering with GrandPals to strengthen intergenerational belonging in communities across Canada. Through the Together Across Generations (TAG) initiative, ten communities across the country will receive the support they need to bring older adults and students together through high-quality programming centred on shared experiences, friendship and storytelling. If your organization is interested in participating, you can apply to be one of the communities sel
Aug 27
Resources for Gatherings and Discussions on Climate (Sojourners)
You might be interested in this Climate Communication Guide Climate Comm from Sojourners, the faith-based publication, for more effective gatherings and discussions on climate.
Aug 27
Canadian Interfaith Conversation Statements on Antisemitism & Islamophobia
Interfaith Grand River endorses the statements of our colleagues at the national interfaith organization Canadian Interfaith Conversation about Antisemitism and Islamophobia. This follows our recent Steering Committee meeting where we discussed Antisemitism.
Aug 27
Hearts Open for Everyone (HOPE) Seeking Cultural Ambassadors
We are reaching out to ask for your support in helping us recruit Cultural Ambassadors for the Cultures United: A Global Journey of Food, Stories, and Connections, taking place during the 4th Annual Multicultural Festival of Elmira on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Our Cultural Ambassadors are at the heart of this event, creating an immersive and interactive cultural experience for attendees of all ages. They help festival-goers experience the richness of cultures from around
Aug 27
Encyclical Reading Group on Magnifica Humanitas
This fall, The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) invites you to join a small-group reading experience of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity). This encyclical explores a vital question for our time: What does it mean to safeguard the human person in the age of Artificial Intelligence? As AI technologies become increasingly embedded in our daily lives, Pope Leo XIV offers this reflection as a gift to the world, calling us to deepen our underst
Aug 12
Reflections from the July IGR Meeting
by Jay Moore "Which teaching(s) (conceptual or practical) of your religion would you prescribe as remedies for the illnesses, whether spiritual, social or political, that are afflicting humanity?" In the Unitarian tradition, there are many points of view and no one revered source of truth is promoted. Consequently, there are many opinions among Unitarians about the remedies to the ills of humanity. However, there are guides for our individual searches and for the functions of
Jul 28
Special Meeting of the Steering Committee about Antisemitism
by Jay Moore In early July, the Steering Committee held a special meeting and I thought it important that members of IGR know what we did and why. A few weeks earlier, John McLaughlin and Judith Oudejans, both members of the Baha’i faith, sent a letter to the Steering Committee asking us to address a concern that they decided to raise with us. There has been more reporting in recent times about the rise of antisemitism in Canada, particularly since the war in Gaza has proceed
Jul 28
Model Youth Justice Retreat & Leadership Program
A non-denominational peace and justice program/camp is offering a youth retreat and leadership program August 7-9 this summer. Here's a link with quite a bit of information: https://kairoscanada.org/support-youth-in-their-quest-for-peace-and-justice The program is called Model Youth Justice and is aimed at youth 15-30 years old.
Jul 28
Learning to be Brave with Speaker Bishop Mariann Budde
Hosted by Sojourners President Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, this free webinar will feature Bishop Budde, author of We Can Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, for a timely conversation about courage, faith, and the moments that call us to speak and act. This is not only a conversation for clergy or public leaders. It is for anyone trying to live faithfully in this moment. It is for those who are asking: How do I speak truth without losing compassion? How do I remain gro
Jul 28
Nature as a teacher
Which teachings (conceptual or practical) of your religion would you prescribe as remedies for the illnesses, whether spiritual, social or political, that are afflicting humanity?
Jul 3
June 2026 Newsletter
If you missed our June 2026 newsletter, you can check it out at the link below:
Jun 24
World Religions Conference Call for Speakers
Call for Speakers 44th World Religions Conference Peace and Greetings, Continuing a proud Canadian tradition spanning 44 years, we are pleased to announce that the 44th World Religions Conference will be held on: Sunday, November 22, 2026 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (tentative) Venue Lazaridis Hall Auditorium Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Conference Theme From Battlegrounds to Common Ground Resolving the Conflicts Before the End This year's theme calls upon f
Jun 23
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