I recently had the chance to talk about life and service work with our newest staff member—Peace Program Coordinator, Mel Burns. The topics ranged from light reading and podcasts to seeing the Light in people we disagree with or find challenging. Matt: What has it been like joining the CFSC staff? Mel: I’ve been delighted…
As a small child I had night terrors. One recurring fear was about prison: I was petrified that I might accidentally commit some harm and be put behind bars. Reflecting on my childhood anxiety, I notice that, while I might have had a shaky grasp on Canada’s legal system, I absolutely grasped the heart of…
Canadian Friends Service Committee’s vital work supporting Indigenous peoples’ human rights is rooted in building respectful relationships. As a Quaker peace and social justice organization, CFSC endeavours to ensure that its decisions and actions are grounded in Spirit. Many of our Indigenous partners are similarly guided by Spirit. Article 25 of the United Nations Declaration…
Latest actions on situation in Israel/Palestine CFSC joined many civil society groups calling on Canada to implement an arms embargo on Israel in keeping with the United Nations Human Rights Council’s urging all countries to immediately “cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions, and other military equipment to Israel.” https://QuakerService.ca/ArmsEmbargo We joined a…
In may our government relations representative Sandra Wiens attended Western Half Yearly Meeting in Sorrento, British Columbia. She delivered a talk—Weaving Change: Engaging Friends with CFSC Advocacy—about her work in Ottawa. Jennifer Preston, Jeremy Vander Hoek, and Rachel Singleton-Polster were in Geneva, Switzerland in July for the in-person session of the United Nations Expert Mechanism…