Community of Christ Peace Forum — Greater Toronto

Join us in the Greater Toronto Area for a unique Canadian expression of the international Peace Forum organized by Community of Christ. The Greater Toronto Peace Forum is a peace and justice event focused on environmental justice and climate action, bringing people together through a blend of in-person activities, including sessions specifically designed for young adults, and sessions livestreamed from other locations.

The keynote speaker, environmentalist Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, will join by livestream from the global gathering at the Temple in Independence, Missouri.

Community of Christ in Canada is also offering a Peace Forum site in Vancouver.

Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, 2026
Reaching Out Centre
125 Queen Street South, Mississauga ON L5M 1K9

📋 What to expect

There will be in-person presentations about:

💥 The ongoing suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and how Churches for Middle East Peace can help us learn about, connect, and support local NGOs working to help
☢️ The accelerating danger of nuclear weapons proliferation and how Community of Christ has teamed up with churches across Canada through Project Plowshares to address the crisis
🧡 Specific calls to churches from Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission and ways we can foster justice for peoples of the First Nations
🤝 Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict with Brian Carwana, Director of the Encounter World Religions Centre. How each side understands the historical background and current state of the conflict and the impact of racism, islamophobia, antisemitism.
🎨 Workshops, crafting peace and good will cards, spiritual practices, a game night and more!
🧩 Youth and intergenerational activities including a young peace-maker scavenger hunt and team puzzle-solving challenges.

👥 Cross-Canada discussion groups

Younger adults across Canada will connect via videoconference to answer the question “What should ‘being a peace church’ look like in the 21st century?” Plan to connect, even if you cannot make it to Vancouver or the GTA.

📅 Schedule

The Greater Toronto Peace Forum offers three tracks and participation is free of charge on Friday and Sunday:

🕊️ TRACK 1 — In person events
🌀 TRACK 2 — Events live streamed from the Independence Temple
🧩 TRACK 3 — Intergenerational activities: Come young, come old! Join us for hands-on all-ages activities including “In Pursuit of Peace” — a team scavenger hunt. All are welcome!
🆓 Friday and Sunday events are free of charge (donations are welcome)
💲 Saturday Registration fee is $25 per adult. This will help us offset costs of the food, material, and venues.

Friday, October 16

7:00–7:30 pm — TRACK 1 & 2
💬 Informal gathering time (snacks provided)

7:00–10:00 pm — TRACK 3
♟️Board Game Café Night: are you a seasoned board game veteran or are you new to board games and looking to get out of your comfort zone? All are welcome! (snacks provided)

7:30–8:00 pm — TRACK 1 & 2
🕊️ Greetings and Welcome to “Seeds of Peace” from John Hamer, Director of Outreach and Innovative Mission for Community of Christ in Canada.

8:00–9:30 pm — TRACK 1 & 2
🎖️ Livestreamed from the Temple: Opening Worship and 2026 Peace Awards Ceremony. Recipients will include environmentalist Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?

Saturday, October 17

8:00–9:00 am
✅ Arrival, registration, check-in

9:00–9:15 am
👋🏻 Welcome to the Greater Toronto Area Gathering of the 2026 Peace Forum sponsored by Community of Christ

9:15–10:00 am — TRACK 1 & 3
♣️ Card-making for peace: a hands-on arts and crafts workshop as we make our own original cards, to share messages of peace. There will be multiple opportunities to work on cards throughout the day.

9:15–10:00 am — TRACK 2
🌀 Opening worship service with Community of Christ President Stassi Cramm and other members of the World Church Leadership Council along with the introduction of distinguished guests. (Livestreamed from the Temple)

10:15–11:15 am — TRACK 1
☢️ In-Person Breakout Session: The ongoing wars in the Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine, and elsewhere have radically increased the potential for nuclear weapons proliferation and their use. Find out how Community of Christ and other Canadian churches have teamed up to respond through Project Ploughshares.

10:15–11:15 am — TRACK 2
🔥 Online Breakout Session: Environmentalist, author, and Peace Award recipient Bill McKibben will address the global climate emergency. (from the Temple)

10:15–11:15 am — TRACK 3
🪘 Intergenerational activity: Drum circle — a spiritual practice for all ages.

11:15 am–12:30 pm
🍕 LUNCH: Lunch is included with your registration fee, including a pizza party for the youth.

12:45–1:45 pm — TRACK 1
💥 In-Person Breakout Session: Suffering in Gaza and the West Bank continues as most of us feel powerless to respond. Guest speaker Destiny Magnet, Program Manager for Churches for Middle East Peace, will talk about how churches and individuals can connect with Palestinian churches and NGOs to make practical connections for offering help.

12:45–1:45 pm — TRACK 3
♣️ In-Person Workshop: Card-making for peace (second session). Whether you were in the first session and need more time, or are only joining now, you’re welcome to make your own original cards that share messages of peace.
😎 Intergenerational Activity

2:00–2:45 pm — TRACKS 1 & 2
☮️ Prayer for Peace: This spiritual service is the central sacred ritual performed at the Temple in Independence, Missouri, which is dedicated to peace. Livestreamed from the Temple.

2:00–2:45 pm — TRACK 3
😎 Intergenerational Activity

3:00–4:15 pm — TRACK 1
🧡 In-Person Breakout Session: Pursuing peace in Canada by seeking justice for First Nations peoples. Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission made concrete recommendations for how churches can respond to our country’s colonial legacy. How should Community of Christ and other churches of the Restoration act as the bicentennial of the Book of Mormon approaches?

3:00–4:15 pm — TRACK 2
🌱 Online Breakout Session: Rick Sarre of Community of Christ in Australia and a panel of activists and experts explore how the ways we grow, choose, and share food can support the health of both people and the planet. Let’s learn how responsible food choices can nourish ourselves, our communities, and the Earth.

3:00–4:15 pm — TRACK 3
😎 Intergenerational Activity

4:30–6:00 pm — TRACK 1
🤝 In-Person Breakout Session: Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict with Brian Carwana, Director of the Encounter World Religions Centre. This presentation will explore how each side understands the historical background and current state of the conflict, as well as the ways anti-Arab racism has led to the patronizing and ignoring of Palestinians, while antisemitism and a history of persecution impacts Jewish attachment to Israel.

4:30–6:00 pm — TRACK 2
🖥️ Online Breakout Session: Young Adults across Canada are invited to join in dialogue as we consider “What should a peace church look like in the 21st century?” The GTA gathering will link via Zoom with the Vancouver gathering and other remote locations for a conversation facilitated by Lanette Vawter, Director of Leadership Development for Community of Christ in Canada.

4:30–6:00 pm — TRACK 3
😎 Intergenerational Activity

6:00–7:30 pm DINNER (on your own) 🍴
Dinner is on your own at one of the many nearby restaurants in Streetsville.

7:30–9:00 pm — ALL TRACKS
🎤 Intergenerational Activity: Peace Karaoke Night — An evening of shared singing and as we belt out old and favorites.

Sunday, October 18

10:00–10:30 am
🧘‍♀️ Mindfulness meditation: We begin the day with a spiritual practice seeking to dedicate ourselves to peace.

10:30–11:15 am
👋🏻 Informal visiting: Share fellowship with old friends and connect with new, sharing coffee, refreshments, and snacks.

11:15–11:45 am
🎤 Beyond the Walls rehearsal: Participants in the Beyond the Walls service will rehearse to make sure everyone is confident about their parts and the technology.

12:00–1:00 pm
🌐 Beyond the Walls worship service: Our closing worship service will be livestreamed from the sanctuary of the Reaching Out Centre. You’re invited to join with disciples and seekers around the world as we explore our theme, “Turning Toward the Good.”

📧 Contact Us

More information will be available soon. For inquiries about the Community of Christ Forum at our Greater Toronto site contact John Hamer at peaceforum.toronto@communityofchrist.ca.

Find out more about the Community of Christ Peace Forum at the Temple in Independence, Missouri.