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Canadian Baha’is celebrate birth of Baha’u’llah

The Toronto Baha'i Centre, one of the places where people will celebrate the birth of Baha'u'llah.Toronto, Ontario, 11 November 2009 (CBNS) — The Baha’i Centre in Toronto will be one venue among a few hundred across Canada for a special program tomorrow marking the anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, which occurred on 12 November 1817 in Tehran, Iran.

Canada introduces resolution on Iran at the UN

Toronto, Ontario, 30 October 2009 (CBNS) — Canada tabled a resolution at the UN last Thursday condemning Iran’s human rights record and will introduce it this coming week. It is the sixth resolution which Canada has tabled at the U.N. since 2003. The resolution has been passed each year by a vote of the membership of the U.N.General Assembly, attracting many co-sponsors, including the EU.

Baha’i community of Canada contributes to Interfaith G8/G20 initiative and statement

Steering Committee for the “World Religion Summit 2010 Interfaith Leaders in the G8/G20 Nations” and four Tony Blair Faith Acts Fellows.
(Photo courtesy of Richard C. Choe ©)Toronto, Ontario, 23 October 2009 (CBNS) — The 2010 Partnership, representing 25 faith-based organizations in Canada and the 22 denominations of the Canadian Council of Churches, released a statement on 14 October that will form the basis of discussions by religious leaders at the 6th Annual Interfaith Leader’s Summit to be held parallel to the G8/G20 political leaders meeting in Canada in June 2010. The statement will also be used as the basis of a public engagement campaign which faith communities will pursue over the coming months.

Baha’is across Canada celebrate the birth of the Bab

Toronto, Ontario, 19 October 2009 (CBNS) — In Saskatoon, the Baha’i community is holding separate neighbourhood celebrations. In the community of Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, the Baha’is are gathering at a private home. The Squamish Baha’is have rented the Woman’s Centre, invited their friends, and will be telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company. The Baha’is in Quebec City are preparing one large event at the local Baha’i Centre, to which they’ve invited various musicians and performers to add to the spirit and joy of the occasion.

Ecological principles incorporated in Ottawa children's camp

Ottawa, Ontario, 15 October 2009 (CBNS) — During the first weekend of September, children in Ottawa’s Vanier neighbourhood attended the last in a series of half-day children’s camps where they learned how to apply the teachings of the Baha'i Faith in developing environmentally sustainable behaviour.

United Nations’ International Day of Peace

Stratford, Ontario, 29 September 2009 (CBNS) — United Nations’ International Day of Peace was celebrated at Stratford City Hall on September 21 with live music and two speakers, Dr. Alistair Edgar and Dr. Gerald Filson. International Day of Peace was proposed to the UN in 1981 by Costa Rica with the intention that it would be a day of global ceasefire.

News from the Association for Baha’i Studies Conference in Washington, D.C.

Don Otto Rogers delivering the 2009 Balyuzi lecture.
(All photos by Evan Wilder.)Washington, D.C., 31 August 2009 (CBNS) — Close to one thousand participants attended this year’s 33rd Annual Conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies, held in Washington, D.C., August 13 to 16. The conference was organized by the Association, for the first time in collaboration with an outside agency, the International Environment Forum. There were two plenary presentations by guest speakers, Geographer Peter Brown of Canada’s McGill University and Professor Soli Shahvar of the University of Haifa, and an outstanding Balyuzi lecture from former International Counsellor and well known Canadian artist, Donald Otto Rogers.

Trial of seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders postponed

Geneva, 17 August 2009 (BWNS) — The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran has been postponed until 18 October, the Baha'i International Community learned today.

According to Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva, following a request for postponement of the trial from Mr. Hadi Esmaielzadeh and Ms. Mahnaz Parakand – attorneys from the Defenders of Human Rights Center who are representing the seven Baha'is – the court has decided to delay the hearing for two months.

Due process ignored as trial date is set for Iranian Baha'i prisoners

From Baha’i World News Service.

Geneva — In yet another example of the denial to Baha’is in Iran of their rights to justice, including due process, judicial officials have reportedly set next Tuesday as the trial date for seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders – despite the fact that the lead lawyers registered with the court to represent them are either in prison or outside the country.

Summer schools held across Canada foster spiritual learning

Toronto, Ontario, 22 July 2009 (CBNS) — Every summer, Canadian Baha’is from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island host regional “schools” open to the public. With programs designed for children, youth and adults, regional schools provide a range of opportunities to explore spiritual topics in a relaxed and fun environment, with ample time for socializing, recreation and study.