Toronto Mayor David Miller recently played host to over 190 faith leaders from the Toronto Area Interfaith Council that is dedicated to affirming the importance ethics, spirituality and faith in daily life and to the promotion of understanding, harmony, respect and acceptance among the faith communities of the Toronto area.
Pandit Roopnauth Sharma, Imam Hamid Slimi, leaders of the Jain community -- Ramesh Jain and Prakash Mody, Archbishop Thomas Collins and Rev Lois Wilson were among those invited to the breakfast meeting at the University of Toronto on March 20.
In his keynote address, Miller said, "I am very proud to have the opportunity to be here and to support the Interfaith Council. It is something that Toronto can contribute to the world like no other can. Interfaith dialogue and shared activities build bridges and promote mutual understanding, good community relations, tolerance and acceptance."
"To me, the breakfast meeting crosses all divides and allows us to discover the connections that are common between all people and their fundamental right to practice their religion with dignity and respect," he said.
Mody, who has been a member of TAIC since its very inception in September 2004, told media persons that the invitees were not allowed to speak at the breakfast meeting.
"Only Mayor Miller, a city councillor and two from TAIC spoke with a Native Spiritual leader, who conducted the cleansing environment ceremony. We sat across the tables and talked amongst ourselves and on a sheet of paper each one was to leave their comments and suggestions," he said.
"He believes that TAIC was necessary as sometimes minority religions like Jains are ignored in the city's bigger picture. I see great potential for this group to bring harmony within the city's multicultural mosaic in the big organisation like the City of Toronto," Mody added
Rev Leslie Gabriel Mezei, acting secretary of TAIC, said the idea was to take the interfaith movement in Toronto away from the fringe and give it a more central identity.
The council's goals are broad. Rev Mezei said as an example TAIC could possibly intervene and support when a Muslim group wants to build a mosque when neighbours of the proposed location are opposed to it.
The council could also make a strong statement against hate crimes. "This council can come to the defence of any group that is attacked," Rev Mezei said.
Mayor Miller presented TAIC with a plaque that said, 'places of worship are God's spiritual arm and the thread that holds the society and the family together. Today more than ever we are with the revival of religion in the lives of many who seek guidance and strength, the solace and comfort that come from their faith.'
The plaque added, 'interfaith dialogue and shared activities build bridges and promote understanding, good community relations, tolerance and acceptance and this breakfast crosses all divides and allows us to discover the connections that are common between all people and their fundamental right to practice religion with dignity and respect.'
"Though nothing concrete proposal or decision was taken at the breakfast meeting, ground work has been established and now the work can start. TAIC can deal with local issues like finding a suitable place for immersing of ashes within the city or declaring of Ahimsa Day in the city," Mody said.