Peace Conference

Inspiring and informing through general sessions, interactive workshops, drama, art and conversations with messengers of peace. 

Key Speakers

Sara Melgarejo is a Project Coordinator serving with MCC’s program in Colombia, where she was born and raised. Since joining MCC over 5 years ago, she has been able to accompany partners in developing plans for education, agriculture, and humanitarian assistance, all with a peacebuilding approach. Part of her role is to work with partners in developing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Durga Sunchiuri has worked for MCC Nepal since January 2015 as program coordinator. However, he has been involved in development work through different NGOs for the last 17 years. Durga is passionate about creation care and raising awareness on climate change issues at different levels and wants to be part of addressing them. Durga aims to be a model development leader in his country by promoting sustainable development approaches in a participatory way considering care for creation and by engaging the church and faith circles in this work.

Amber Nakogee (she/her) is from Fort Albany First Nation. She is the Food Security Manager at Mushkegowuk Council, a tribal council that serves and represents eight First Nation communities within Treaty 9 territory. Her educational back includes social work and psychology, but her passion is food security. Amber has hunted as long as she can remember and is passionate about living off the land and preserving the harvest for her family. 

Engaging Activities

• View The Landed Buggy, an artistic land acknowledgement that reflects a web of connections.
• Visit the Niska Artisans booth and purchase Indigenous creations made using traditional techniques and quality materials. 
• View the art exhibit and learn more about the healing and learning journeys of MCC program participants and staff. 
• Visit program displays, speak to MCC Ontario staff and partners and learn more.
• Sample and purchase delicious, gourmet soup from The Raw Carrot Soup Enterprise, which creates meaningful employment for talented individuals with disabilities.
• Participate in forum theatre with Theatre of the Beat as we unpack and address our responses to issues that are being explored throughout the day.

Workshops

Conversations about Climate Change: In this interactive workshop, participants will rehearse for the reality of having peaceful conversations about climate change with community members, family and friends and gain practical tools for responding when folks are resistant to the topic. Presented by the Theatre of the Beat (TOTB), a Canadian touring theatre company working to catalyze conversations on social justice and its intersection with the beliefs of the communities in which we find ourselves.

Migration and Resettlement: According to the United Nations, Climate change contributes to increased conflict, which often happens along indirect pathways. It makes the most vulnerable even more vulnerable. We see that there is no group more vulnerable than those who have had to flee their country due to conflict and are now feeling the effects of a hostile climate. We are also seeing that people who have been displaced by a combination of both conflict and the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation are extremely unlikely to be able to return home. Attend this workshop and learn how through MCC’s private sponsorship program, some of those vulnerable find resettlement in Canada.

Just Ask!: MCC Ontario is governed by a Board of Directors made up of representatives across the Anabaptist denomination. This workshop will be held as an open forum to respond to topics and questions that are raised by you, a valued member of our constituency. Come curious as you meet MCC Ontario’s new executive director and members of the board, ask your questions and gain understanding.

Coffee and Inclusion - How simple, intentional conversations can transform: Circle of Friends volunteers share their experiences and learnings from creating connections with people who have lived through homelessness.

Growing Hope through Canada Foodgrains Bank: For 40 years, Canada Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) has been working in partnership with MCC and other Canadian churches and church-based agencies to end global hunger through emergency food and long-term solutions. Tom Neufeld, MCC’s CFGB Stewardship Associate will report on this important work, share stories of impact and how you can be involved.

The THINK project - let's talk about single-use plastic!: Come and spend some time THINKing about single-use plastic and its implications for future generations. Learn about Rockway's THINK project - a creative approach to raising awareness about this issue. Wrestle a little with your own plastic legacy and if you're brave, take the ZERO WASTE CHALLENGE. We'll also learn about some hopeful approaches organizations are taking around plastic, and experience first-hand how the arts can be a powerful tool for social change and peacemaking. Presented by students and staff from Rockway Mennonite Collegiate

Doing Good...Better: We want to do good and be part of positive change, but sometimes our intentions to do good haven't been felt in the ways we've intended. Through this experiential and small group discussion workshop, we'll get curious about what forms our assumptions and beliefs about change so we can grow a posture of coming alongside, especially when that change is with and by people across unjust systems. The goal of this workshop is to grow our curiosity to be able to ask better questions so we can build mutuality across differences in working for peace and justice for all. 

Practicing Food Sovereignty in a Changing Climate: Indigenous families in Canada are two times more likely to experience food insecurity than non-Indigenous families. In remote Northern Ontario communities, many spend more than half of their monthly income to meet basic nutritional needs. Climate change has led to increased food prices, as shorter winters limit winter road use, driving up the cost of transportation. Yet, First Nations across the north have rich traditions of self-sustaining food systems. MCC seeks to support First Nations' right to food sovereignty by working alongside First Nations and organizations in northern Ontario, exploring creative solutions to food insecurity. From farming to hunting and planting to gathering, join us as we talk with Indigenous partners about the impact of climate change on food security and what food sovereignty looks like to them.

Caring for Creation in Nepal: Learn how MCC is caring for creation in Nepal and engaging the local faith-based and other NGO partners with focus on climate resilient and sustainable agriculture work from MCC Nepal's program coordinator, Durga Sunchiuri.

Colombia - Stories of hope from the Anabaptist churches in the midst of conflict: Hear how MCC supports local peacebuilding activities including agriculture and education efforts through local anabaptist organizations and church communities with MCC Colombia's Sara Melgarejo and MCC Ontario's Darlene Bartha.

Faithfully Managing Finances at MCC Ontario: Revenue, expenses, good stewardship, effective use of scarce resources. This is all key to high-impact MCC programs. Join members of the Financial Services team and learn how it happens! Presented once.

Our Shared Future: How would you spend your climate action dollars if you were a small business? The federal government? A church youth group? Our Shared Future is an interactive group activity where you gain not only practical ideas but realize the power of partnership in working toward climate justice and peace!

Junior Peacebuilders

Create! Play! Learn!

Bring the kids along (ages 4-10) to become Junior Peacebuilders and learn about MCC and peacebuilding in Ontario and around the world. Spaces are limited and pre-registration is required. Price includes lunch and snacks.

$15.00 ea.

Register Today