Representing Islam

Mr. Naseem Mahdi

Mr. Mahdi is the National President and Missionary Incharge of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Canada. Graduate from Jamia Ahmadiyya (Islamic Univ.), Pakistan. Former President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Communities in Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Recipient of Gov. General's Award for Community service. Chair of Ahmadiyya Gazette. President and CEO of Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA), Canada. Planned and oversaw the construction of Bai'tul Islam, the largest Mosque in North America.

Representing Hinduism

Swami Kripamayananda

Swami Kripamayananda, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India , is minister and head of the Vedanta Society of Toronto. He joined the Order in 1976 and received final monastic vows in 1986, after rigorous training in monastic life at the headquarters of the Order at Belur Math (near Calcutta ) and at other centers of the Order. After joining the Order, he served in the Ramakrishna MissionVidyapith, Purulia, West Bengal as a teacher and House Master and, later, as an Assistant Head Master and Superintendent of Hostels in this famous residential school of Bengal. Just before coming to Canada , he was the Head Master of the High School run by the Ramakrishna Mission at Asansol, West Bengal for more than twelve years. He came to Canada as an Assistant Minister of Vedanta Society of Toronto in July, 2003 and was later appointed its Head. In this short span of time, the Swami has traveled, on invitation, to many cities in Canada and has conducted spiritual retreats and given talks on subjects related to religion and spirituality

Representing Buddhism

Mr. Tony Meers

General Director of Soka Gakkai International Association of Canada (SGI Canada).

A native of southern Ontario, Tony Meers began practicing Nichiren Buddhism in 1972 as a member of the fledgling organization that is now SGI Canada. He became a fulltime staff member in December 1998 after a 20-year career as a freelance illustrator, and was appointed general director in October 2000. He is married with four children. SGI Canada has nearly 6,000 members across the country with centres in eight cities. Soka Gakkai International has 12 million members in 188 countries and territories.

Representing Aboriginal Spirituality

Mr. Dan Smoke-Asayenes

A member of the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

He is married to Mary Lou, father to Shayne and grandfather to Ryan, 3 yrs. old. Dan began his award winning broadcast career in l990 after the summer of Oka. He produces and co-hosts a radio newsmagazine, Smoke Signals, along with his wife, Mary Lou. They are storytellers in radio, print and TV production. Dan's involvement in his community in London also includes carrying the Eagle Staff for the N'Amerind Friendship Center community. He is a traditional teacher learning from indigenous knowledge carriers. His Quote: "I believe that healthy individuals form healthy communities. I promote healing through the use of the media, to ensure that Aboriginal peoples have a voice in the community.".

Representing Sikhism

Dr. Onkar Singh

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Onkar’s interest in Naturopathic Medicine stems from his dream of becoming a doctor, a passion to serve humanity and a tremendous belief in the innate healing powers of the body. Born and raised in Brantford, Onkar graduated from McMaster University in 1997 with an Honours B.Sc. in Biochemistry. Thereafter, he pursued the four-year Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine diploma at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Onkar is very much a holistic practitioner who utilizes all the modalities of Naturopathic Medicine and has keen interests in the areas of stress management, depression and anxiety disorders. In that regard, Onkar has conducted lectures and workshops on various health matters including stress management. He is also a distinguished and professional musician.

Representing Judaism

Mr. Bob Chodos

An active member of the Temple Shalom, Kitchener-Waterloo. Scholar of Judaism. Reform Jewish congregation, for nineteen years. In 2001 he helped found Across Boundaries Multifaith Institute, a Canada-wide educational organization, and he is managing editor of its flagship publication, "Voice Across Boundaries". He has also been a member of Interfaith Grand River since its inception in 2001.

Representing Christianity

Mr. Vic Cowie

Vic Cowie was born in Montreal Que. and has lived most of his adult life in Southwestern Ontario. He is a father, husband and grandfather. He is a retired businessman and retired elder of Lincoln Road Chapel in Waterloo Ont. He has been a student of the Bible for over thirty five years and is a lay-preacher/teacher with experience in various Christian denominations.

Representing Atheism

Dr. David R. Koepsell

Dr. Koepsell is the executive Director of the Council of Secular Humanism, Amherst, New York, U.S.A. Graduate from the State University of New York with specialization in Philosophy and Law. Presently a professor at the SUNY Buffalo. Past Ontologist, Senior Research Fellow, Legal Researcher and Writer. Author of numerous books and articles. Famous books are "The Ontology of Cyberspace", "Reboot World" and " Searle on the Institutions of Social Reality". Edited "Special Issue on the Social Philosophy of John Searle, in "The American Journal of Economics and Sociology" and a Special Issue on Applied Ontology, in "The American Journal of Economics and Sociology". Participated in numerous conference, seminars and radio shows presenting the atheist point of view, including "’Under God" in the Pledge" Radio interview, The Chuck Cason Show, 990 AM, Dallas, TX., March 15, 2004 and "Mormon/Humanist Dialogue", Center for Inquiry, Amherst, NY. "Reinach’s Moral Apriorism," Center for Inquiry, Summer Institute.