41st World Religions Conference

Registration Form 2023

2023: Healing a Polarized World

Sunday, November 26, 2023 (12:30 pm ~ 5:45 pm)
Lazaridis Hall Auditorium at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Theme: Healing a Polarized World
Canada's Largest Multi Faith Event

The 41st World Religions Conference was successfully held on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at the Prestigious Lazaridis Hall Auditorium at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Scholars from various religions and philosophical traditions participated. Approximately 700 attendees belonging to different faiths attended the event.

Live Stream of the entire conference can be viewed here:

The conference explored the impact of polarization of this world and how to heal it. Our world is becoming polarized in many ways. May it be political, religious ideologies, economics or social status. This is causing a decrease in empathy and
tolerance and triggering conflict after conflict. How can we heal this polarized world? We invited organizations from the leading faith groups and philosophical traditions to tackle this daunting question in the theme of this year’s conference.

About World Religions Conference

The World Religions Conference (WRC) is a multi-faith event which brings together well-known scholars from the world’s major religions to speak on a common topic from the point of view of their respective religious traditions. For 41+ years, the WRC has served as an invaluable forum for different religious and ethnic communities to gather in the spirit of tolerance, peace, cooperation, and understanding. The WRC serves the noble purpose of educating members of the community regarding interesting and relevant topics by providing a platform where all major religions can pool their collective wisdom and teachings regarding the topic. Continually on the rise in terms of organizational standards, quality of content, and attendance, the WRC has become Canada's largest and longest running event of its kind!

The conference has a long tradition for bringing together renowned scholars for a deep and thought-provoking exchange of ideas. The event aims to explore the teachings and practices of different religious and philosophical traditions, with the hope that such mutual exploration will encourage better understanding and promote harmonious co-existence among the members of the society.

Participating Religions and Philosophical Traditions:

Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Indigenous Spirituality and Humanism (Atheism and Agnostics)

The conference has been organized in Canada since 1981. It has a long tradition for bringing together renowned scholars for a deep and thought-provoking exchange of ideas. The event aims to explore the teachings and practices of different religious and philosophical traditions, with the hope that such mutual exploration will encourage better understanding and promote harmonious co-existence among the members of the society.

Date of Event: Sunday, November 26, 2023 12:30pm to 5:00pm
Venue: Lazaridis Hall Auditorium Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

For more info call: 1-877-INFO-WRC

Message from Dignitaries (41st WRC)

Program (41st WRC)

Speaker Profiles (41st WRC)

Venue and Directions (41st WRC)

Prestigious
Lazaridis Auditorium
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

64 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C7

Venue of the 41st World Religions Conference

Lazaridis Auditorium Hall is the newest building on Wilfrid Laurier University's Waterloo Campus. The $103.7 million building is LEED Gold Certified and has earned numerous awards and international recognition. Thanks to the atrium’s tremendous glass dome roof, the interior spaces of Lazaridis Hall are filled with natural light that bounces off the beautiful wooden features to create a warm and inviting space.

The twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo are located less than one hour west of Toronto -- Canada's largest city -- and a couple of hours from the American cities of Detroit and Buffalo via highway 401.

World Religions Conference Complementary Parking Arrangement

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Parking Lot 32 is the most convenient parking lot, which will be free for conference attendees at Wilfrid Laurier University.

To attend the World Religions Conference on Sunday November 26, 2023 afternoon, there is free parking for any of the gold and white permit parking lots on campus. The most convenient ones would be lot 32 or Lot 37 that are behind Lazaridis Auditorium (off of Balsam St or Hickory St W).

You may also park anywhere on Laurier campus on any gold and white permit parking lots with the exception noted below.

Please note that Parking lots 4, 12, 20 & 33 on Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo not free are pay-and-display.

Parking at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church: You may also park at the St. Michael's Church parking that is adjacent to the Lazaridis Auditorium Parking. St. Michael's Church is located at 80 University Avenue.

About Lazaridis Auditorium, Wilfrid Laurier University:

Lazaridis Hall was the only Canadian building in 2018 to be recognized with the Civic Trust Award, an international recognition that aims to encourage the very best in architecture and environmental design; improve the built environment through design, sustainability, inclusiveness and accessibility; and reward projects that offer a positive cultural, social, economic or environmental benefit to their local communities.

Program (41st WRC)

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Lazaridis Auditorium, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo

THEME: Healing a Polarized World

OPENING SESSION

12:30p Doors Open
— Welcome and Registration
— Visit to World Religions Displays

12:40p Opening World Religions Multi Media Presentation

12:45p Welcome by the Presiding Chair
— Mike Morrice, MP for Kitchener-Centre

12:51p Opening Reading from a Holy Scripture

1:05p Opening Ceremony
— Introduction of Speakers and Dignitaries
— Unveiling of the World Religions Conference Plaque
— Singing of O'Canada - National Anthem of Canada - Grand Phil Harmonic Choir (Kitchener)

12:58p Introductory Remarks
— Lal Khan Malik, National President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Canada

1:01p Speaker’s Introductory Teaser Remarks

1:02p — Buddhism: Ven Kalubowila Ananda - Cambridge
1:05p — Islam: Imam Aizaz Khan - Vaughan
1:08p — Sikhism: Prof. Komal Kaur - Cambridge
1:11p — Judaism: Dr. Karen Mock - Toronto
1:14p — Christianity: Dr. John Milloy - Conestoga
1:17p — Hinduism: Chander Khanna - Toronto
1:20p — Indigenous: Prof. Malcolm Saulis - Ottawa
1:23p — Humanism: Katherine Dimou - Waterloo

1:26p Messages and Greetings from Guest Dignitaries — Local, Regional, Provincial and National Leaders

— Honourable Bardish Chagger, MP for Waterloo
— Mike Schreiner, MPP for Guelph
— Karen Redman, Chair, Region of Waterloo
— Dr Kristine Lund, Principal-Dean Martin Luther University College
— TBA

1:40 — Complimentary Refreshments

THEME SESSION - "Healing a Polarized World"

Speakers present his/her view of their respective faith on the theme (10 minutes each). Each presentation will be followed by a presentation of recitation from the Holy Scriptures (3 minutes).

2:05p Introduction to the Theme Session — Moderator

2:07p Buddhist Perspective — Ven Kalubowila Ananda - Cambridge
2:17p Buddhist Holy Scripture Recitation — Buddhist Community

2:20p Islamic Perspective — Imam Aizaz Khan - Vaughan
2:30p Islamic Holy Scripture Recitation — Muslim Community

2:33p Sikh Perspective — Prof. Komal Kaur - Cambridge
2:43p Sikh Holy Scripture Recitation — Sikh Community

2:46p Judaic Perspective — Dr. Karen Mock - Toronto
2:56p Jewish Holy Scripture Recitation — Jewish Community

2:59p Christian Perspective — Dr. John Milloy - Conestoga
3:09p Christian Holy Scripture Recitation — Christian Community

3:12p Hindu Perspective — Chander Khanna - Toronto
3:22p Hindu Holy Scripture Recitation — Hindu Community

3:25p Indigenous Perspective — Prof. Malcolm Saulis - Ottawa
3:35p Indigenous Holy Scripture Recitation — Indigenous Community

3:38p Humanist Perspective — Katherine Dimou - Waterloo
3:48p Secular Presentation — Humanist Community

3:51p Coffee Break — Complimentary Refreshments and Social

INTERACTIVE & CONCLUDING SESSION

4:15p Introduction to the Q/A Session — Moderator

4:18p Open Question & Answer Session — with all speakers of different faiths and philosophies

5:03p Vote of Thanks - Recognition of Speakers and Volunteers — Shahab Khokhar, President WRC Organizing Committee

5:06p Closing Remarks — Moderator & Chair

5:08p Silent Multi-Faith Prayer — All Faiths

5:09p Dinner and Social

(* The order of presentations was determined via random draw at the last World Religions Conference, held Oct 17, 2021)

Refreshments and Dinner Menu (41st WRC)

As traditional, the World Religions Conference food organizing committee has made arrangements for all guests of the conference to an attractive refreshments and dinner menu at the venue of the conference at the upcoming 41st World Religions Conference for November 26, 2023.