Parliament of the World’s Religions Opening Ceremony to take place November 1, 2018
TORONTO, Ont. (October 31, 2018) – On November 1, 2018, The Parliament of the World’s Religions Opening Ceremony will kick off the week-long interfaith gathering in Toronto.
The world’s largest interfaith gathering, Parliament takes place November 1-7, 2018 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event will welcome thousands of delegates to Toronto from 80 countries, representing nearly 200 religious, spiritual and Indigenous traditions.
WHAT:
The Opening Ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. in Olympic Park at 222 Bremner Blvd., featuring an Indigenous Opening Ceremony. At 6 p.m. the gathering will move inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to welcome attendees and special guests to Parliament.
WHO:
- The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- The Honourable Ahmed D. Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
- Chief Ava Hill, Chief of the 56th Elected Council of the Six Nations of the Grand River
- Chief Stacey Laforme, Chief of the Mississaguas of the New Credit First Nation
- Toronto Councillor Joe Mihevc
- The Honourable Bob Rae, Former Premier of Ontario
- Zul Kassamali, Parliament 2018 Co-Chair
- Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, Parliament 2018 Co-Chair
The Opening Plenary will take place immediately after the Opening Ceremony at 7 p.m., level 300 exhibition hall ABC, where the following speakers will be available for interviews:
- Wande Abimbola, President and Founder of the Ifa Heritage Institute
- Rev. Jim Wallis, Christian best-selling author
- Parisa Khosravi, Iranian-American Zoroastrian speaker
- Swami Tyagananda, Monk of the Ramakrishna Order
- Dr. Simran Jeet Singh, Religion scholar, activist and educator
- Lobsang Nyandak, President, Tibet Fund
- Ven. Dharma Master Hsin Tao, Buddist luminary
WHEN:
Thursday, November 1, 2018,
Indigenous Opening Ceremony 3 – 5p.m.
Official Parliament of the World’s Religions Opening Ceremony 6 – 9 p.m.
WHERE:
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
North Building
Exhibit Hall ABC
