A conference about social issues is returning to Yellowknife this weekend, with 2025’s theme described as “Healing the Home: Strengthening Cultural Ties.”
Mozaffar Ahmad, an imam with Ontario-based Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada, said while this will be his second time organizing Voices for Peace, the national initiative has organized similar gatherings in the territorial capital for more than a decade.
Ahmad said the intent is to hear different perspectives on challenging topics that affect the community and identify possible solutions. The format of the discussion is not a debate but an open dialogue for those in attendance.
“Regardless of our cultural backgrounds or religious backgrounds, that is something that affects us all, it’s something that we can all kind-of relate to, and we all have a part in trying to fix [it],” he told Cabin Radio of this year’s theme. “That is why we try to have these dialogues.”
The free event is scheduled for Sunday, September 21 at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and will run from 2-4pm.
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Mayor of Yellowknife Ben Hendriksen, deputy mayor Garett Cochrane, Shutoatine former broadcaster and chief Paul Andrew, social advocate Lydia Bardak and Catechist Whitney DeWare are the guest speakers.
Ahmad described the 2024 event as “eye-opening,” especially since he was new to the city and had the chance to meet locals who, despite coming from different faiths and backgrounds, shared common experiences. Mental health was the primary topic at last year’s conference.
He said much of the discussion revolved around external factors that affect mental well-being, such as drug and alcohol abuse, and ways to help people dealing with sobriety issues. According to him, the conversation was “non-judgmental” and speakers shared viewpoints while respecting one another’s backgrounds and faiths.
“Every single person had a different perspective technically, but the things that they shared were very similar to one another,” he said.
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“They are our neighbours. They are strangers because we haven’t met them before, but we are so open and we are so ready to try to make a change in our community – it was really amazing to see.”
Now a Yellowknife resident, Ahmad said he hopes to engage with more community members and show them that these events provide a safe space.
“This isn’t an event that is by our organization. Rather, I want people – when they come to this event – to feel like this is a Yellowknife community event,” he said.
“When they feel safe, they feel relaxed … they feel like it is something that helps them in their daily lives, and that they have the opportunity to help other people if they have the chance to.”
