Welcome to Our Whole Society 2025!
Our Whole Society conferences are organized by the Canadian Interfaith Conversation. The Charter Vision of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation is to advocate for religion in a pluralistic society and in Canadian public life. We want to promote harmony and religious insight among religions and religious communities in Canada, strengthen our society’s moral foundations, and work for greater realization of the fundamental freedom of conscience and religion for the sale of the common good and an engaged citizenship.
About this event
The world today faces numerous crises. Complex challenges related to climate change, violence, and increased political and economic instability, among other calamities, have led many to turn inward out of a sense of despair. The Our Whole Society conference, which explores insights from diverse faith traditions and secular perspectives, will be a forum for sharing the grassroots experiences of individuals and communities making positive contributions to Canadian society. The Our Whole Society (OWS) operates under the auspices of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation (CIC).
Now in its seventh iteration, the biennial conference will address such challenging questions as, what conceptions of hope encourage and sustain collective action? How do we recognize the gravity of challenges before humanity while working toward a more positive collective future? What understandings of hope can we draw upon to meet the most pressing demands of our time? These topics will be addressed within the framework of our 2025 theme, Fostering Hope in a Divided World.
The Conference, scheduled for June 15-17, 2025, at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, will bring together public figures, social activists, academics, religious leaders, and members of the general public to examine sources of hope in relation to major themes of importance to Canadian society such as reconciliation, climate change, polarization, human rights, and international affairs.
Speakers: The Our Whole Society conference will begin with an opening keynote presentation on hope and human rights by Payam Akhavan, Professor of International Law and Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto, and Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the evening of June 15. . On the conference’s following two days, Elin Kelsey, an academic, author, and co-creator of an international network of researchers and practitioners working on the emerging academic discipline of Climate Emotions, will speak to the subject of hope and climate change. Lloyd Axworthy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada, will speak to Canada’s role in international affairs. Two full days of panel discussions and interactive workshops on themes of importance to Canadian society including reconciliation, climate change, polarization, human rights, and international affairs will complement the headline speakers’ presentations. Wab Kinew, Prremier of Manitoba, and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham will also be part of the conference.
On the evening of June 15, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra will perform a special musical arrangement on the theme of hope to open the conference. Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra presentation is with the support of the Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice at St. Paul’s College with funding from the Blankstein Fund for Storytelling Dialogue.
Conference Partners: The Our Whole Society conference is hosted by the Canadian Interfaith Conversation in partnership with the Manitoba Multifaith Council, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice at St. Paul's College at the University of Manitoba, Martin Luther University College in Waterloo, Centre for Philosophy, Religion, and Social Ethics, Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto and The Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
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Past conferences were held at McGill University in Montreal (2013), University of British Columbia in Vancouver (2015), Saint Paul University in Ottawa (2017), University of Toronto (2019), Virtually (2021), and Wilfrid Laurier University (2023). We anticipate and welcome your participation.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: DEADLINE EXTENSION
We are pleased to announce that the deadline for the call for proposal submissions for the 2025 Our Whole Society Conference has been extended from April 15 to April 30, 2025. This extension provides additional time for prospective individuals or groups to submit proposals for workshops, panels, and presentations that engage with the intersection of hope, human rights, and social change. For submission guidelines and more details, please visit the page.
