Richmond, B.C. – KPU Richmond is hosting its first Multimedia Festival in celebration of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.
A partnership between KPU’s Multi-Faith Centre and the Kwantlen Student Association, the event on Feb. 5 is a showcase of creative expression, with everything from music, visual art, creative writing and games to structures that promote harmony while celebrating the common good between secular and faith groups.
“This event is a timely opportunity for us in our local and global communities to engage in discourse about the importance of collective well-being,” says Jessica Lar-Son, president of the Kwantlen Student Association. “The idea of harmony ties in to our devotion to inclusive practices and the promotion of equality, and what better way to create discourse than through a creative, collaborative multimedia event that brings people together despite their belief systems.”
Multi-Faith Centre Humanist chaplain Dr. Martin Shoemaker couldn’t agree more: “The key to a peaceful future rests with young people. This is a way to bring them together and celebrate our differences, our similarities, and our shared hopes.”
KPU’s Multi-Faith Centre, which is based in Richmond, is a coalition of diverse faith communities offering students, faculty and staff the opportunity to explore and respect the diversity of religious and secular world views.
A partnership with KPU’s Student Life and Development department, the Multi-Faith Centre maintains sacred spaces on campus in the form of meditation and prayer rooms on the Richmond and Surrey campuses; there are currently four Christian and two Humanist chaplains.
UN World Interfaith Harmony Week was proclaimed by UN resolution in 2010. It is an annual event in the first week of February that aims to promote harmony between all people, regardless of their faith.
The festival and opening ceremony at KPU Richmond, 8771 Lansdowne Rd., will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the campus atrium. Works will also be displayed Feb. 2 to 5.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 124 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
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