Canadian Friends of Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam

Contact information:

PO Box 951

Crossfield AB

T0M 0S0

Canada

(403) 946 0244 or 946 0240

Email: canadian.friends

Board of Directors

President: Dr. Ronnie Joy Leah is a Faculty member at University of Calgary, Communication and Culture. She visited the Oasis of Peace in August 2005 while attending the Women in Black International Peace Gathering in Jerusalem. Ronnie Joy is a Jewish woman deeply committed to peace and social justice, and a founding member of Calgary Women in Black.

Vice President: Ms. Brenda Dushinski, RN. has travelled throughout Israel/Palestine teaching and providing humanitarian medical support, most recently in 2006. She participates in Calgary standing silently for peace with Women in Black and is the Muslim representative for Women in Spirituality.

Secretary/Treasurer: Ms. Jan Porter-Hirsche is a member of the Canadian Peace & Justice Committee with the Community of Christ. Jan was an organizer of the “Prayers for Peace” on September 10, 2006 which brought together leaders of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths. It was this event which led to the formation of the Canadian Friends of NSWAS in Calgary.

Sheikh Alaa Elsayed is spokesperson for the Imams Council of Calgary. He hosts Vision of Islam, a weekly television show. Sheikh Alaa is an active member of the Calgary Multi-Faith Committee and a member of the Muslim Christian Dialogue Committee.

Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman is spiritual leader of the Jewish Reform Congregation at Temple B’nai Tikvah. He is an active leader in interfaith peace and social justice initiatives in Calgary.

The Very Reverend Bill Phipps is International President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. He is Former Moderator of the United Church of Canada and Minister at Scarboro United Church in Calgary. Bill visited the Oasis of Peace in January of 2003 with his wife, peace activist and writer Carolyn Pogue.

Imam Reda Bedeir is a close associate of the new Board of Canadian Friends of Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam. He is the Imam of the Calgary Islamic Centre and is a member of the Multi-faith Chaplaincy at Mount Royal College in Calgary.

History

Reverend Alan Whitton of Ridgeway Ontario began the work of creating Canadian Friends of NSWAS in 1999. Unfortunately, after all of his years of organization and work in setting up Canadian Friends and enlisting nationwide supporters, Alan was taken ill and passed away last August. The current Board learned of Alan’s efforts through direct contact with Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam last fall during an interfaith “Prayers for Peace” event and fundraiser for Oasis of Peace. Alan’s widow, Elizabeth, has been a tremendous support to our attempts to pick up where Alan’s dream left off. We thank her for her gifts and encouragement.