Quebec City, June 11, 2015-- After several months of ground work with five partner organizations, Beyond Forgiving, the IofC film made in South Africa, was screened to an audience of 56 diversified and enthusiastic participants in the spirit of the evening’s theme: “To come out of our solitudes - Dare to build together.”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) held several closing events here between May 31 and June 3 to mark the release of its final report on Indian residential schools.

Home to the largest population of South Sudanese in Canada, Calgary could potentially be a powder keg of tribal tension that could flare up into violence at any given moment. But instead, dialogue, discussions, the city’s first-ever South Sudanese ethnic gala and peaceful demonstrations in support of human rights have marked community life for the diaspora in this city.

At the FCJ Conference Centre by the Elbow River in Calgary about 40 people gathered over the weekend of June 5th to 7th. Ranging in age from almost three to the 80’s the theme of the weekend was transition.

“Seven years ago when I joined the David Suzuki Foundation, if someone had told me I’d be sitting on a panel with Preston Manning, the President of Regent College (Jeffrey Greenman) and a Christian climate scientist (Katharine Hayhoe) I likely would have laughed! … But in that picture is a glimpse of the way forward - that is the connection that Katharine refers to as the ‘convergence of values'" says David Suzuki Foundation CEO - Peter Robinson.

Holy Ground: Answering God’s Call to Creation Care, was a three-day conference that Initiatives of Change - Farmers' Dialogue supported as Foundational Sponsors. It featured over 10 speakers, several field trips and a number of hands-on workshops. Topics ranged from “Earthing the Gospel”, to “Stories of Hope” and “Creation’s Care and Us: An Indigenous Perspective”.

Initiatives of Change (IofC) is a world-wide movement of people of diverse cultures, who are committed to the transformation of society through changes in human motives and behavior, starting in their own lives. We are looking for volunteers who would dedicate their time and talent, and join our small and vibrant international team.

Peter Hayes from IofC Canada and his strong conection with IofC Cambodia

'We need to talk about hope as we talk about history,' stated the president of the University of Richmond, Dr Edward Ayers, at the opening plenary of Initiatives of Change’s (IofC) three-day Healing History: Memory, Legacy and Social Change conference.

It was an evening of sharing ideas on making positive changes in the world - changes such as those illustrated in IofC’s documentary Beyond Forgiving.