Author Archive

A Night of Connection and Understanding

Date: June 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: IDI Community Center

Intercultural Dialogue Institute (IDI) hosted a memorable Interfaith Dialogue Dinner at the IDI Community Center. The event brought together 12 families—6 from Laura Holck’s guests and 6 from the Hizmet Movement. The gathering fostered an atmosphere of warmth and openness, where participants had the chance to engage in meaningful conversation around shared values and experiences.

The evening was designed to promote mutual understanding between people of different faiths. As part of the program, each table was given thought-provoking prompts such as, “How do you know me as a Christian & Muslim?” This allowed guests to reflect on their perspectives and listen to others’ experiences in a respectful, open dialogue.

The attendees enjoyed a delicious meal, generously sponsored, which added to the sense of community and hospitality.

Laura Holck, the Social Justice Chair of the Parkland United Church, and Malik Muradov, a Muslim chaplain, delivered inspiring welcome speeches. Both emphasized the purpose of the evening—building bridges between communities, celebrating diversity, and fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

It was a truly enriching evening where new friendships were formed, and participants left with a deeper appreciation for one another’s beliefs and traditions. Events like these are a testament to the power of dialogue in bridging divides and creating a more harmonious society.

We know that Noah’s pudding is tastier when we share. We shared it with our friends in a mosque with Muslims, in a church with Christians and with our neighbours all around Calgary .Noah’s pudding symbolizes the mixture of people from different cultures, understanding and identities all bringing their own flavour to the atmosphere without losing their own characteristics. We would like to extend our thanks to the cook of this delicious dessert, Chef. Mahmut Elbasi, the owner of Anatolian Turkish Restaurant in Calgary.

IDI Participated in Cultural Night of Asian Heritage Month

Canada recognizes May as Asian Heritage Month. IDI members and volunteers gladly accepted a warm invitation from MSBCA President Jonathan Looi to attend their Cultural Night program, which is themed ” One Rhythm, One Nation.” The program was filled with outstanding traditional dance performances from the Malay—Chinese and Indian communities, live music, and great food!

On the occasion of Women’s Day, IDI organized an amazing event on March 16, 2019. The event featured speeches, Indigenous singing, and a special readers’ theatre project called Women Talking. The program was open to women, men, and youth alike.

Thanks to events like this, our sisterhood and passion for creating a meaningful, strong, and peaceful Calgary will continue to thrive. IDI had the pleasure of hosting a beautiful afternoon filled with inspiring Indigenous singing, informative speeches, live music, and a readers’ theatre portraying the lives of eight women with incredible stories. Thank you to everyone who contributed to organizing this event, and to all the guests who attended.