F or many years CFSC has called on Canada to fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are absolutely thrilled that an important piece of legislation toward this end, Bill C-15, received Royal Assent on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is such a tremendous victory! We joined with…
Knowing that the Canada Pension Plan would someday be (and now is), a substantial part of my income, I have long been troubled that my pension may depend on investments I cannot in conscience support. I tried to learn more about CPP but found it very challenging to understand the language related to economics and…
What do you believe? can be a challenging question for an unprogrammed Quaker like me, but the minutes of our business meetings contain collective wisdom, innovation, Spirit, and Light that might provide some answers. Reading one of those minutes nearly a decade ago helped lead me to membership in the Religious Society of Friends: Minute…
CFSC staff Nancy Russell facilitated a presentation for Hamilton Monthly Meeting on lived experience in prison during COVID-19 and alternatives to punitive approaches. The session featured guest speakers. Northern Spirit Radio, based out of Wisconsin, hosted CFSC staff Matthew Legge for a wide-ranging conversation on spreading peace. Matt also presented at Atlantic Friends Gathering, to…
Our favourite Indigenous films We’re often asked a question along the lines of, “Which Indigenous films does CFSC recommend I watch if I want to learn about Indigenous cultures?” To help answer this, we decided to create an easy-to-share one-page handout with our top picks. Get to Know Thee, Friend On the last Thursday…
2021 marks 90 years since Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC) was founded. In preparation for our 90th anniversary, I have spent much of the last six months searching out and speaking with some of the Friends that have made CFSC’s work possible. Hearing these stories of triumph, persistence, and heartbreak has reaffirmed what I already…
None of us have gone anywhere during the pandemic, but we’ve covered great virtual distances in our witness for justice and peace. Jennifer Preston presented on Indigenous peoples’ human rights to Global Affairs Canada in a briefing session for officials going on international placements. She presented to graduate students at New York University on how…
In the entire area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, the Israeli regime implements laws, practices and state violence designed to cement the supremacy of one group—Jews—over another—Palestinians.” So says B’Tselem, the premier Israeli human rights organization.1 The International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid defines apartheid as…
In June, it will be six years since the formal closing events commemorating the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the release of the 94 Calls to Action. Many thousands of people at the closing event heard the words of TRC Chief Commissioner Murray Sinclair: “If you thought the truth was hard, reconciliation…
Supporting Bill C-15 CFSC has been very active promoting Bill C-15, The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Together with our partners we’re helping to counter alarmist, misleading, and outright false statements that some are making about this Bill. This has taken the form of educational events, a piece in The…