2022 Multifaith Calendar now available for purchase!

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2022 Multifaith Calendar now available for purchase!

The 2022 MFC marks the 36th year of publication and features the theme: Resilience. In this 2022 Multifaith Calendar, we celebrate RESILIENCE and the hope that keeps us afloat, even during the most difficult times. 


Here are just some of the benefits and uses of Multifaith Calendars:

  • A source of accurate dates and descriptions of approx 430 events, including observances from 14 world religions.
  • An excellent fundraising vehicle for all organizations, including non-profit/charitable groups.
  • Bulk order discounts and wholesale opportunities available.
  • Valuable tool for human resource professionals in diverse workplaces to keep themselves aware of holiday observances of staff from different faith communities.
  • Makes an attractive gift for clients and for staff—a gift that reinforces your company’s commitment to diversity.

Order the 2022 Multifaith Calendar today!

Visit: http://mcos.ca/multifaith-calendar/

National Highway to Harmonious Canada Video

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National Highway to Harmonious Canada Video

Multi-Faith Saskatchewan and Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan collaborated in the production of this 45-minute video to mark the 150th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The project was supported by the Community Fund of Southern Saskatchewan as well as numerous cultural organizations, faith communities and volunteers. Access Communications donated its services in producing the video.
The main features of the video are the hopes and wishes by children of different faiths and cultural groups for a peaceful and harmonious Canada, silent prayers, cultural performances and the national anthem by all participants.
For more information about Multi-Faith Saskatchewan visit http://www.multifaithsask.org/. You can view the video embedded below and share it with your networks.


 

2018 AGM and Member Consultation

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Saturday, June 23, 2018 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
La Troupe do Jour , 914 20th Street West, Saskatoon, SK
This year’s MCoS AGM will focus on reconciliation, BRIDGES, and member consultation regarding a new strategic plan. It is a deeper learning opportunity for everyone. We will provide our members how to showcase cultural activities through deeper learning with an interactive series of presentations.
Click here for: Full details and registration

Board Nominations

The MCoS Board has the following positions open for nominations: (1) President, (1) Vice-President, (1) Treasurer, (1) Secretary, and (4) Directors at Large.
Remember: In order for an applicant’s nomination to be promoted to the membership it must be received by Wednesday, May 23, 2018.
Click here for: Full details and nominations

We look forward to celebrating our successes with you. We welcome your input and involvement.

MCoS Perception Survey 2018

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MCoS Perception Survey 2018

Tell us what you think!

We’d love to find out your perceptions about MCoS!

Greetings to our valued members, partners, funders and friends!
MCoS is taking on an ambitious project to develop a positioning statement to set our future direction. This is where you come in: we need you to tell us what we are doing well and what we could do better.
So, don’t be shy! Tell us how we are doing.
Create your own user feedback survey

Islamic History Month: Mohamed and Fatima Hattum

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Islamic History Month – Profile 2: Mohamed and Fatima Hattum

Fatima and Mohamed Hattum have been living and farming near the Swift Current area in Saskatchewan all their lives. Mohamed lives at the same farm he was born at, while Fatima immigrated

Courtesy swiftcurrentonline.com

Courtesy swiftcurrentonline.com


to Saskatchewan from Lebanon to marry him in November 1978. “When I arrived we were the only Muslims in the area. Now there are around 20 Muslim families and we are supporting two Syrian refugee families who arrived this year,” explains Fatima. “We have become their family here in Canada just like the community of Swift Current became mine when I first arrived.” Fatima and Mohamed raised three children, two girls and one boy, who also live and work in Saskatchewan. The Hattums have welcomed two grandchildren into their family.
Mohamed is part of six generations of the Hattum family, who all inherited the farm from their grandfather who arrived in the area in 1916. Initially, the Hattums found a rented space to gather and use as an Islamic Centre. In 1982, through Canada-wide fundraising, they bought the current mosque as their permanent facility to run a Sunday school and offer regular prayers. It also serves as a communal place for funerals and various other community needs.
Fatima is the one who kept the Arabic language alive in the family. “I spoke the language and also taught Mohamed’s family Arabic. I started a school in the mosque’s basement for children who wanted to learn. Families used to drive three-and-a-half hours to get to the mosque just to socialize with other Muslim kids and to take Arabic lessons,” recalls Fatima. “We used to have potlucks every Friday and invited our neighbours and the larger community to it. People are still in awe when they learn about Islam and what it means to be a Muslim; I just sit there and cry because it warms my heart.”
When they are not farming, you will find the Hattums heavily invested in their local community. This includes having garage sales to renovate the mosque, renovating and cleaning the mosque and planning social gatherings where they invite everyone to the mosque. They also enjoy encouraging and educating people to learn about Islam. As Fatima wittingly puts it, “We are here and we are here to stay.”
Learn about Islamic History Month Canada

Related Links

Profile 1: Dr. Ali Rajput
Islamic History Month Canada

Islamic History Month: Dr. Ali Rajput

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Islamic History Month – Profile: Dr. Ali Rajput

Islamic, Muslim, Islam, Islamic History Month Canada, MCoS, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, Diversity, Racism, Islamphobia, Anti-Racism, Multiculturalism

Dr. Ali Rajput circa 2014.


Ali Rajput grew up in Pakistan. He completed a neurology residency and obtained Master’s in Neurology at the University of Michigan. He joined the University of Saskatchewan Medical Faculty in 1967 and served as Professor and Head of Neurology
When Dr. Rajput arrived in Saskatchewan in 1967, there were very few Muslims in Saskatoon. He recalls, “The day I arrived, two other Muslims also arrived, but they left within couple of years. My guess is that there were close to dozen of us.”Dr. Rajput explains that the Islamic Association was formed by others including Dr. Ahmed El-Serafi in early 1970s who was an early member. “We used to hold Friday prayers at the University. The concept of a mosque was floated around the Islamic Association of Saskatoon but the cost was ten times more than we had in our account. The association had decided that we will not take mortgage for interest consideration. By the mid-1970s, I was convinced that we should have a mosque regardless of what sort of building. With fundraising and connections with the local community, we were able to secure a space by the late 1970s.”
Dr. Rajput notes that he has not held any executive position on the mosque’s board since early 1990’s to allow newcomer Muslims a position on it. He remains a mentor to the younger generation who come and start to settle in Saskatoon and seek both education and spiritual advice from him.
In 1968, Dr. Rajput started the Saskatchewan Movement Disorders Program, which is now widely known as the best program of this type in the world. He founded the Saskatchewan Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Movement Disorder Group of Canada, and played major role in founding the annual Telemiracle Saskatchewan. He has also served on several national and international committees, including Parkinson’s Disease Working Group of the World Health Organization.
Islamic, Muslim, Islam, Islamic History Month Canada, MCoS, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, Diversity, Racism, Islamphobia, Anti-Racism, Multiculturalism

Dr. Ali Rajput. Photo: March 1983, Saskatchewan Archives.


Over the years, Dr. Rajput has received many major awards including the 2001 Morton Schulman Award from the Parkinson Society Canada for “…humanity and caring for his patients”, Spirit of the Royal University Hospital Award, Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Officer of the Order of Canada, and Best Researcher Award University of Saskatchewan. In 2005 his work was chosen by the Saskatchewan Medical Association as one of the four most significant advances in Medicine in the 100-year history of this Province. He was chosen Physician of the Year and Citizen of the Year.
To this day, Dr. Ali Rajput remains an outstanding research professor and a contributing Muslim to Saskatchewan.
Learn about Islamic History Month in Canada

Related Links

Islamic History Month Canada
Profile 2: The Hattums

2013 MCoS Multicultural Honours a great success!

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MCoS Multicultural Honours

MCoS Board President, Bruno Kossmann, 2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership award winner, Julianne Beaudin-Herney, Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield, 2013 Betty Szuchewycz award winner, Renu Kapoor, MCoS Executive Director, Rhonda Rosenberg and Minister Kevin Doherty.

MCoS Multicultural Honours

A Celebration in Honour of Multicultural Contributions

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, S.O.M., S.V.M., Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan joined the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan to recognize all those who have made significant contributions to the multicultural community. The event took place in the elegant setting of Government House in Regina and kicked-off Saskatchewan Multicultural Week. The event consisted of a ceremony complete with a slideshow, speeches and awards, followed by a reception featuring cultural treats. About 70 people braved the inclement weather to attend the event.
Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Schofield, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty,  Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission Community Engagement Consultant, Heather Monus, and MCoS Board President Bruno Kossmann also spoke at the event. All spoke about how multiculturalism enriches Saskatchewan’s economy and social fabric pointing out that often diversity provides creativity and innovation, while connecting us to the world. They all took time to recognize the recent typhoon disaster in the Philippines and its impact on members of the Saskatchewan Filipino community. Finally, it was recognized that all the award nominees are leaders in the community and should be commended for their efforts.

MCoS Multicultural Honours

Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield presents the 2013 Betty Szuchewycz award to Renu Kapoor.

Awards:

Each year, the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan presents the Betty Szuchewycz Award for outstanding contributions to multiculturalism in the province.
2013 Betty Szuchewycz Award nominees:

  • Renu Kapoor, India Canada Association of Saskatchewan, Regina
  • Julene Summerfield, Regina Multicultural Council, Regina

2013 Betty Szuchewycz Award winner: Renu Kapoor.
Renu Kapoor has been contributing to community life in since her arrival in Regina over 45 years ago. She has been an active member of the Indian community and has been positively influencing not only the India Canada Association (ICA) but the entire community. She has become a positive role model for many through her active involvement in multicultural events in the province.  She has demonstrated an awareness of succession planning as she has recognized and nurtured young leaders.  Due to her tireless efforts, India Canada Supper Night has become a signature annual event that celebrates the culture and cuisine of India and at the same time makes valuable contributions to local charities of Regina. Renu has demonstrated a strong commitment and involvement in the multicultural communities at the provincial and national levels as a volunteer with SaskCulture (MIF committee and now a board member), Regina Public Library, United Way of Regina, Osteoporosis of Canada (Regina Chapter), and the EMCY diversity awards.
The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission presented the first Multicultural Youth Leadership Award to an individual who is 29 years of age and under and has made significant contributions to multiculturalism.

MCoS Multicultural Honours

Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield presents the 2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership award to Julianne Beaudin-Herney.

2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award nominees:

  • Priya Bilkhu, India Canada Association of Saskatchewan, Regina
  • Julianne Beaudin-Herney, Sakewewak First Nations Artist Collective, Regina

The 2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award winner: Julianne Beaudin-Herney.
Julianne Beaudin-Herney has been a young leader and advocate for aboriginal non-aboriginal relationships in both academic institutions and in arts. She is working with Sakewewak to revitalize and re-establish a visual presence and bring youth into the organization. Julianne is an activist for positive change and relationship building.  As a 20-year-old student, Julianne lead a petition, because she saw a brighter future for all the communities if Indigenous history was mandatory to take for University of Regina undergraduates.  Julianne envisions a place where both newcomers and long-time non-native families have a chance to see the history and understand the land and people that belong to Saskatchewan.  Her efforts through her art, her involvement with Sakewewak and her activism express her goals and work to make them reality.

Media Coverage:

We were pleased to have Global Regina and CTV Regina cover the event. You can view the coverage below:
Global Regina link: Coverage of MCoS Multicultural Honours starts at 6:39 Evening News: Nov 16 http://globalnews.ca/video/971929/evening-news-nov-16-2
CTV Regina link: Coverage of MCoS Multicultural Honours starts at 5:17. News at Six for Saturday November 16 http://regina.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1045180&binId=1.1165857&playlistPageNum=1

Photos of event for public download:

We have created a photo album on the MCoS Facebook page. This account is open to the public and you do not need a Facebook account to view and save the photos.
To view and save photos, click here: MCoS Multicultural Honours Photo Album

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452 Albert Street N.

Regina, SK. S4R 3C1

Open Monday to Friday

9:00am – 4:30pm

P: 306.721.6267
E: mcos@mcos.ca

Land Acknowledgement

MCoS’ work and support reaches lands covered by Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 10 traditional lands of the Nehiyaw/Nehithaw/Nehinaw/Cree, Nahkawe/Saulteaux, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and Dene peoples and Homeland of the Métis/Michif.