Initiatives of Change - Toward a Community of Communities: From Solitudes to Partnerships

A Canada-wide Project initiated for 2006 -2008 and beyond

Initiatives of Change (IofC) Canada is part of an internationally recognised network of individuals of different cultures, ethnicities and faiths, whose mission is to help build trust across the world’s divides. One of the ways members of IofC Canada carry out this mission is by seeking to heal the wounds of history where cultures and civilizations meet. We observe that Canadian society is suffering from internal divisions which have led communities to be isolated from one another. Such a situation calls for an organised response; one that requires building strong partnerships between organizations with shared values and interests.

The theme of this IofC Canada outreach initiative is Toward a Community of Communities: From Solitudes to Partnerships”. The program focuses on dialogue and trust-building between First Nations, Francophones, Anglophones and the many other communities who have chosen to make Canada their home. Through this program individuals and groups are encouraged to take initiatives locally, thereby contributing to a countrywide citizens’ movement, free of any partisan agenda, which could bring about greater recognition, understanding and appreciation of each others’ identities and cultures.

In order to help foster partnerships with like-minded groups, IofC-Canada has engaged in building relationships between Canada’s different communities. By engaging representatives from these communities in a process of healing and reconciliation, and building community for the future, IofC Canada hopes that a renewed sense of trust and respect will help Canada as a whole realize its full potential as a diverse yet harmonious society whose example can benefit the rest of the world.

Many individuals and organizations are already engaged in this process of mutual understanding, in their own towns and cities, each via their chosen approaches. We strongly believes that in order to affect real change, each one has to start in his / her own life, taking the steps that will help them become the change they wish to see around them.

As part of this broad initiative there are plans for a collective encounter in Quebec City in 2008, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the first permanent French settlement in North America. At this very special event IofC Canada and its partners plan to share lessons learned and success stories achieved between now and then. This event will be an important milestone in an ongoing process to transform Canada into a community of communities.

At this very special event IofC Canada and its partners plan to share lessons learned and success stories achieved between now and then. This event will be an important milestone in an ongoing process to transform Canada into a community of communities.