On February 3, 2024, the Baitur Rahman Mosque community invited guests to the 6th Annual Interfaith Dinner. The event garnered a full house as attendees embraced unity, peace, and bridge-building messages.
The significance of such gatherings was underscored by the United Nations General Assembly’s 2010 resolution designating the first week of February as World Interfaith Harmony Week. This week serves as a poignant reminder of the values of tolerance, reconciliation, forgiveness, and the imperative to construct bridges across diverse communities through constructive dialogue, fostering interfaith harmony, and promoting sustainable development. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and the Surrey Interfaith Council proudly sponsored this event.
The evening began with a recitation by Imam Muhammad Danial of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. Elder Kevin Barlow, a respected Indigenous leader and former CEO of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council, then led attendees in an Indigenous prayer, symbolizing the diverse spiritual tapestry present. Other esteemed faith leaders, including Mackenzie Ami Gospodin, representing Hindu and Buddhist traditions; Susan Mottahedah of the Baha’i community; Rishi Singh, representing the Sikh community; Imam Umran Bhatti, representing Islam; and Elder Greg Gordichuk from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), shared words of encouragement, hope, and peace, reflecting the ethos of interfaith understanding and cooperation.
The event also drew the participation of elected officials such as MLA Harry Bains, Hon. Jagrup Brar - Minister of State for Trade, and MLA Jinny Sims (Surrey-Panorama), who eloquently emphasized the importance of fostering connections and understanding between communities and people of faith. Additionally, Linda Annis and Mike Bose, Councillors from the City of Surrey, lent their support and addressed the gathering, affirming the commitment to inclusivity and mutual respect within the community.