2021 Faith & Welcoming Communities Virtual Forum is a collaboration and knowledge exchange platform for faith leaders and newcomer service providers across Toronto. This year we will focus on Building Resilience and Adapting to Changing Times Through Collaboration.

The Forum is Led by Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) and organised in collaboration with the InterLIP, which includes TWLIP, TEQ LIP, TSLIP, and the Toronto Newcomer Office; as well as TNLIP key partners.

The Forum 2021 is a free event. Detailed information on how to join the Forum virtually will be sent to registered participants before the event.

Forum Agenda:

10:00 a.m.-10:10 a.m. Welcome

10:10 a.m.-10:35 a.m. Keynote Speech on Faith and Immigration

• Speaker: Dr. Wendy Cukier, Diversity Institute Founder, Ryerson University

10:35 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Performance: Spoken Word Poetry

10:45 a.m.-12: 30 p.m. Panel session: InterFaith and SPOs dialogue on addressing food security issue collaboratively during COVID-19 pandemic. The panelists include:

• Juneeja Varghese, Manager on Neighbourhoods Strategy, United Way Greater Toronto
• Sam Mo, Community Outreach Pastor, the East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church
• Dr. Abdul Hamid Hathiyani, Director of Programs , Ansaar Foundation
• Pandit Roopanuth Sharma, President, Hindu Federation

• Sarah Watson, Director of Community Engagement, North York Harvest Food Bank
• Izzy Waxman, Executive Director, Mazon Canada
• Kulvir Singh Gill, Seva Food Bank

12:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m. Audience Q & A

12:45 p.m.-12:55 p.m. Closing Speech

• Speaker: Pandit Roopanuth Sharma, President of Canadian Multifaith Federation

12:55 p.m.-13:00 p.m. Wrap up and evaluation

Please note: to help ensure a broad representation of different organizations/groups at the Forum, registration is limited to up to three representatives per organization.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact TNLIP Settlement Coordinator Isabella Yan at isabella@torontonorthlip.ca

We look forward to seeing you at the Forum!