The Public Discourse
The Public Discourse
Office of Public Affairs, Baha'i Community of Canada
We talk to people across Canada about the values and principles that inform the way they are thinking about society, and how we can create a better public discourse. Staff of the Office of Public Affairs bring together guests who are contributing to the national conversation, and explore with them how insights from religion, science, and practice can help to foster new approaches to challenges facing Canadian society.
The Public Discourse - S3.EP 6 - Beauty and the Human Spirit
We talk with Hossein Amanat, Siamak Hariri, and Prof. Brigitte Shim about how a building or a place can help to illuminate the inner life of a person, and what role architecture can play in the spiritual upliftment of society. Amanat, Hariri, and Prof. Shim are principals at their respective Canadian architecture firms.
May 16, 2022
42 min
The Public Discourse - S3.EP 5 - Education and Social Progress
We talk with Anne Snyder and Eric Farr about the nature of an educational process that can empower people to contribute to social progress. Snyder is Editor-in-Chief of Comment Magazine and Farr is a PhD student at the University of Toronto.
Feb 15, 2022
46 min
The Public Discourse - S3.EP 4 - Championing Justice
We talk with Shain Jackson and Dr. Roshan Danesh about the work of transforming society to reflect the principles of justice and oneness, with a focus on Indigenous peoples. Jackson is Coast Salish from the community of Sechelt, and President of Spirit Works Limited. Dr. Danesh is a lawyer, conflict resolution innovator, and educator.
Dec 23, 2021
40 min
The Public Discourse - S3.EP 3 - The Role of Religion in Eradicating Violence Against Women
This is an edited conversation among panelists who spoke about the role of religion in eradicating violence against women, hosted by the Bahá’í Community of Canada’s Office of Public Affairs in partnership with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, the Stop Violence Against Women coordinating committee of Perth County, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women.
Dec 13, 2021
45 min
The Public Discourse - S3.EP 2 - Confronting Hatred & Prejudice
We talk with Mohammed Hashim and Jelana Bighorn about how we can confront the problem of hatred and prejudice in our society and promote the oneness of humanity. Hashim is executive director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and Bighorn is an educator.
Nov 18, 2021
23 min
The Public Discourse - S3.EP 1 - Promoting Dialogue & Consultation
We talk with Sabreena Delhon, Michael Sabet, and Dr. Jennifer Wolowic about how we can strengthen processes of dialogue, deliberation, and consultation in our culture and society. Delhon is executive director of the Samara Centre for Democracy, Sabet is a PhD student at the University of Toronto, and Dr. Wolowic is program manager at the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue.
Oct 28, 2021
42 min
The Public Discourse - S2.EP 8 - Economic Choices
We talk with Jessey Njau and Erik Friedmann about the economic choices people are making during the pandemic, and how they can point us to new ways of thinking about our social and economic life. Friedmann is co-founder of OK! Kombucha, and Njau is a founding member of Zawadi Farm, an urban farm in Toronto.
Dec 21, 2020
34 min
The Public Discourse - S2.EP 7 - Environment & Human Civilization
We talk with Prof. Thomas Homer-Dixon and Paul Hanley about the civilizational change humanity needs to make in order to build a just and sustainable world. Prof. Homer-Dixon is Founder and Director of the Cascade Institute, and Hanley is an author and writer on environmental subjects.
Dec 4, 2020
34 min
The Public Discourse - S2.EP 6 - Faith as a Vehicle for Dialogue
This is an edited conversation among representatives of national religious communities, who gathered as part of the DemocracyXChange Festival to talk about how faith can be a vehicle for dialogue. It includes representatives of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Canadian Council of Churches, World Sikh Organization, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Baha’i Community of Canada.
Nov 19, 2020
45 min
The Public Discourse - S2.EP 5 - Youth & Social Transformation
We talk with Tanika McLeod and Ashraf Rushdy about how young people are adapting to the conditions created by this health crisis, and the ways in which they can help to lead processes of social transformation. McLeod is a young entrepreneur and Rushdy works with the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity.
Oct 9, 2020
30 min
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