Working Groups

  • Communications (E-Mail, Website, Social Media & YouTube)
    Kala Singh, Shirly Berelowitz, Jeff Marceil, Sherry Marceil

    • Members of the Council who wish to participate in preparing a press release or some other article, may join this committee as required for specific projects. The maintenance and upkeep of the website, social media page (Facebook), and YouTube Channel also fall under the jurisdiction of this committee.

  • Constitution & Nominating Committee
    Sherry Marceil, Kala Singh

    • This committee exists, as required, to ensure that the Council’s constitution and bylaws reflect amendments by both the BC Societies Act and the Council. Past Chairs head the nominating committee.

  • Education
    Harold Rosen, Sheelagh Brothers, Sheila Flood, Chohre Rassekh, David Thomas, susie Virk, Sharon Welsh

    • The Committee’s main task centres on enhancing and promoting the Sharing Light: A Multifaith Resource Manual for BC Educators in order to support social studies teachers in public and independent schools in the use and application of the manual, to provide related information to school administrators, university teacher trainers and faith communities, and to foster deeper understanding of religious and spiritual communities in BC. We will take every opportunity to work with the Ministry of Education to help reduce any misinformation, hatred or intolerance aimed at people of faith in society. We will address any education issues that we believe hinder Religious Studies at higher educational institutions across Canada.

  • Environment
    Shrinath Dwivedi, Sherry Marceil, Ashfaq Ahmad, Flossie Baker, Greg Duly, Sameer Merchant

    • We are not environmental experts, but rather people of faith and spirituality, who collectively agree that all humankind are stewards over the earth and should gratefully use what has been divinely given, avoid wasting life and resources and use the bounty of the earth to care for the poor and the needy. We support and encourage the government to be aggressive in its environmental plan to tackle the problem of the Climate Crisis and to work in the spirit of collaboration with those who know the science and other interested people of goodwill, who desire to contribute in a positive and healthy way to help strategize and act on the Climate Emergency. We desire to mobilize people of faith across the province on this issue.

  • Health & Spiritual Care
    Doug Longstaffe, Arun Chatterjee, Kala Singh, Alberto De Feo

    • The Health Committee of MFSC is responsible for bringing matters before the Council that are relevant to the Health and Welfare of British Columbians. The committee reflects upon identified issues and offers its considered opinion as to potential advocacy or other actions that might be taken by the Council according to the common shared values of the member faith bodies. This committee is in the process of expanding to accommodate advisory opportunities in the community.

  • Legislative review
    Shirly Berelowtiz, Alberto De Feo, Richard Bullock

    • This committee works with those in the legal profession to review upcoming legislation to determine whether we should speak to it or advice on it as a Council. The focus is currently provincial legislation, but may also include matters that impact people of faith across Canada.

  • Outreach
    Sherry Marceil, AShok Agarwal, richard Chau, Susan Kerr

    • The representation on the Multi-faith Summit Council of BC comes from a diverse cross-section of faith and spiritual traditions. The council is happy to expand their membership by adding representation from any faith or spiritual tradition who would like to work together for the common good. The mandate of this committee has been expanded to include establishing relationships with Government Representatives.

    • A subcommittee was formed with the members of the Education Committee, Harold Rosen and Chohre Rassekh, to organize and launch two outreach events: an All-Party Interfaith Caucus to promote dialogue between Members of the BC Legislature and representatives and members of British Columbia’s religious communities on matters of shared interest and concern; and an Annual Community Prayer Breakfast where a diverse cross-section of the faith communities and other interested community members can come together to dialogue through mall group discussion on specific themed topics with government and other community leaders.

  • Social Justice Committee

    • Currently on pause.