Social Justice

Peace and Justice for Palestine and Israel

Three Religions Forum in Solidarity with Palestinians Under Occupation

A Three Religions Forum in Solidarity with Palestinians Under Occupation was held May 14, 2024. Please see the video which contains the Introduction to the event and the presentations made by the three guest speakers: Rabbi David Mivasair, The Rev. Dr. Michelle Voss, and Iman Taha Ghayyur.  The speakers explored and debunked myths of their own faiths that have allowed or encouraged division and hostility among them with tragic results. This event was sponsored by the Social and Ecological Justice Commission and by the Palestine Network (PalNet), both of Shining Waters Regional Council, as well as by Kairos Toronto West, the Ontario Federation of Labour and the UNIFOR Social Justice Fund.

Raising Our Voices

Download and print the poster for your community of faith: The Five Stages Poster (PDF – sized for 11 x 17 paper)

Please see our Raising Our Voices page for a full indepth look at divestment and other pertinent resources for your community of faith.

International Women’s Day – March 8

March 8 is International Women’s Day. The first International Women’s Day was recognized in Denmark in 1911 and labour movements for women’s equal participation were also taking place in North America. In 1975, the United Nations recognized the first International Women’s Day in recognition and celebration of women’s and girls’ social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. Every year March 8 continues to amplify gender equality, advocacy, and the work remaining to be done. 

Get to know more Canadian women and self-identifying women who make the world more bias-free and equitable. Have a Happy International Women’s Day! See here for videos and more resources.

Paid Sick Days

Despite evidence and advice from physicians and epidemiologists, as well as the overwhelming calls from constituents across the province, the Ontario Government has failed to institute sick pay for Ontario workers. Many of these employees have been working in essential jobs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — jobs that often necessitate being onsite, among colleagues and/or the general public.  Although those who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to remain home and self-isolate, many cannot afford the loss of wages and so return to work, potentially infecting co-workers and the general public.

As adherents and members of the United Church of Canada, we come from a tradition where loving God is inextricably tied to loving our neighbour. There are countless examples in sacred scripture of Jesus and the prophets needing time to rest and heal so that they might be well enough to carry on with the work at hand. In this case, loving our neighbour means providing for the time needed to rest and recover, so that our communities may remain safe from growing numbers of infection.

For more information see our Paid Sick Days page.

P.I.E. Day Resources

A small group of friends of Horseshoe Falls and Shining Waters Regional Councils came together to talk about the ways Scripture has been used – and misused – to cause harm to 2SLGBTQIA+ people. We talked about ways the United Church perpetuated that harm. We talked about how far we have come as a denomination – and how far we have left to go. We celebrated the progress that has been made and we wondered what we might offer to help communities of faith engage in an important conversation on a day that has been set apart for acknowledging our call to be Public Intentional and Explicit in inclusion of 2SLGBTQIA+ kin.

The result of our conversation is this resource – reflections on lectionary readings for March 13th , 2022 (the Sunday before PIE Day), a litany of persistence and resistance, and even a story for children’s time. We pray this offering will generate meaningful dialogue and creativity about the ways we embrace the wonderful diversity of all God’s people.

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See our P.I.E. Day Resource Page for more info.

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