Finding the balance in a country built on diversity
Canada has been enriched by the contributions of citizens whose roots are in many lands. The diversity that they represent is not an impediment, but is in fact an integral part of the value that they bring. And yet, that very difference sometimes causes issues. We don’t always feel comfortable when confronted by behaviours or practices that are different from our own. How do we resolve these moments of conflict? If someone is “right” does that mean that the other person has to be “wrong’? That’s how a court or a tribunal might see it, but is there another way? Is it possible to build a country based on diversity, when diversity essentially means different?
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Shari Golberg has a PhD in Religion from the University of Toronto. Her academic work explores feminist approaches to Jewish and Islamic texts and contemporary text-based collaborations between Jewish and Muslim women. Her other research interests include Jewish and Islamic law, Canadian public policy and religious accommodation, diversity and conflict mediation, and interfaith activism. -
Prior to making British Columbia his home in 1970, Suresh Kurl was an established educator. His academic career led him from India to the UK (University of York), the US (University College of Wooster, Ohio and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and finally, to the University of British Columbia’s Department of Asian Studies. In 1974, with opportunities waiting for Suresh in his country of birth, he elected instead to put down roots in Canada. In 2008, Suresh retired as Member of the National Parole Board. In addition, he has worked all his life as a community builder and cross-cultural ambassador. -
Raja Khouri is president of the Canadian Arab Institute, a policy think tank he co-founded in 2011. Raja is co-founder of the Canadian Arab/Jewish Leadership Dialogue Group, and an international consultant in organizational development and capacity building.
Raja formerly served on several government and civil society bodies, such as Ontario’s Hate Crimes Community Working Group (for the Attorney General and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services), the Minister of Education’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy Roundtable, the Pride Toronto Community Advisory Panel, the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs, and as advocacy co-chair of Human Rights Watch Canada. He served as president of the Canadian Arab Federation in the period following the events of 9/11.
Raja’s earlier career included a senior management position at CIBC and management consulting tenures in Europe and the Middle East. He has designed and chaired conferences, given and moderated lectures, numerous media interviews, and published commentaries in journals and major Canadian dailies. He’s the author of Arabs in Canada: Post 9/11 -
Balpreet received his law degree from the University of Ottawa. After articling with a boutique disability and human rights law firm in Toronto, he became legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada in 2009.
His practice focuses on human rights law and religious accommodation. Balpreet Singh has helped resolve several key accommodation issues for Sikhs in Canada, including the accommodation of the kirpan in courthouses in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, on VIA Rail trains, as well as in Canadian embassies and consulates internationally.
He serves as spokesperson for the WSO and is regularly consulted on Sikh issues in Canada by national media outlets.
Balpreet Singh has worked with various public and private sector organizations to create resources and provide training on religious accommodation issues and best practices when interacting with persons of the Sikh faith.