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Intercultural Dialogue Institute GTA is a non-profit organization which aims to promote dialogue and cooperation

amongst individuals and communities to advance social cohesion. It brings together people of diverse cultural

and faith backgrounds to establish enduring relations based on mutual understanding and respect. The institute

aims to eliminate false stereotypes and prejudices through direct human communication. It stresses the need for

creating a culture of understanding and peace based on universal human values. To accomplish its mission, IDI

GTA carries out a wide range of projects and activities, e.g. conferences, discussion panels, interfaith gatherings,

dialogue dinners, youth contests and intercultural study trips. Through these activities, IDI GTA offers its modest

contribution to enhancing civil society and advancing multiculturalism in Canada.

Intercultural Dialogue Institute GTA

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In congruence with its mission, IDI GTA organizes Annual Dialogue & Friendship Dinners by bringing together

the distinguished members of the GTA community around the message of peace, harmony and understanding.

Since 2005, Dialogue and Friendship dinners have been attended by many prominent people from different

walks of life, including government representatives, ministers, MPs, MPPs, mayors, diplomats, bureaucrats,

business people, representatives of media and academia, as well as religious and community leaders. Each

Dialogue and Friendship dinner is dedicated to a particular theme and features a distinguished speaker. Some

of the past speakers include:

Fr. Damien MacPherson, Director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs, Archdiocese of Toronto

Dr. Brian Desbiens, Chair, Board of Directors, Education Quality and Accountability Office

Dr. Sheldon Levy, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ryerson University

Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario

Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice-Chancellor, York University

Dr. Usha George, Dean, Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University

Phillip Crawley, CEO and Publisher, The Globe and Mail

Janice O’Born, Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian Centre for Diversity

John Ralson Saul, International President of PEN International

At each Dialogue and Friendship dinner, IDI GTA also recognizes different individuals and organizations for their

commitment to community service by presenting its “Excellence in Community Service Award”. The recipients

of this award are selected by the Hosting Committee of each year’s dinner. Some of the awardees in the

past include Matt Galloway (CBC Radio), Toronto Community Foundation, Ken Shaw (CTV News) and Maytree

Foundation. In recent years, many dedicated members of the GTA community have given their support to the

Dialogue and Friendship dinners by serving on the Hosting Committees of these events. These people hold

leadership roles in their respective organizations and represent different regions of the GTA. The committee

members advise IDI GTA on various matters related to the dinner, thereby making their valuable contributions

to these events. We express our special thanks to the past and present members of this committee for their

support and leadership.

Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinners

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10th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

“Partnership for Community Building and Innovation”

Recipients of “Excellence in Community Service Award”

Professor Meric Gertler is one of the world’s foremost urban theorists and policy practitioners. He is widely known as an expert on innovation, creativity and culture as drivers of the economic dynamism of city-regions. He has served as an advisor to local, regional and national governments in Canada, the United States and Europe, as well as to international agencies such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (Paris) and the European Union. He was the founding co-director of the Program on Globalization and Regional Innovation Systems (PROGRIS) at the Munk School of Global Affairs, served as director of the Department of Geography’s Program in Planning, and holds the Goldring Chair in Canadian Studies. His research has attracted $8.4 million in external funding and he has published seven books including Manufacturing Culture: the Institutional Geography of Industrial Practice, and Innovation and Social Learning, the latter co-edited with Professor David Wolfe. Professor Gertler’s more than 80 journal articles and

book chapters have had significant impact in his field and have led him to be one of Canada’s most highly cited geographers. He is co-editor of the widely used Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography and winner of Choice Magazine’s “Outstanding Academic Book” award. On November 1, 2013, Professor Gertler began his term as the 16th President of the University of Toronto.

Keynote speaker: Dr. Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto

Keynote title: “Universities and City-Regions: A Partnership for Innovation and Opportunity”

The Honourable David C. Onley28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

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Recipients of “Emerging Young Leaders Award”10Mustafa AhmedDanny Richmond

Alok Mukherjee, Chair, Toronto Police Services BoardArmand La Barge, Board of Governors, York UniversityDaniele Zanotti, CEO, United Way York RegionDave Ryan, Mayor, City of PickeringDr. Hamid Slimi, President, Canadian Centre for Deen StudiesDr. Harvey Schipper, President, the Holy Blossom TempleHon. Judith Sgro, MP, York WestJennifer Evans, Chief, Peel Regional PoliceKenn Richard, Director, Native Child and Family Services of TorontoTony Pontes, Director of Education, Peel District School Board

Sponsor: SAYGI Academics Association Charitable Sponsor: SickKids Foundation

Date: January 22nd, 2015Place: Imperial Room, Royal York Fairmont Hotel

Hosting Committee:

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9th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

“Responsible Citizenship & Social Cohesion”

Recipients of Excellence in Community Service Award

John Ralston Saul is the International President of PEN International. He is an essayist, novelist and long-time champion of freedom of expression. His works have been translated into 23 languages in 30 countries, are widely taught in universities and central to the debate over contemporary society in many countries. They include the philosophical trilogy: Voltaire’s Bastards and the Dictatorship of Reason in the West, The Doubter’s Companion, The Unconscious Civilization, and its conclusion, On Equilibrium. In The Collapse of Globalism (2005) he predicted today’s economic crisis. In the autumn of 2012, he published his first novel in 15 years, Dark Diversions: A Traveller’s Tale, a picaresque novel about the life of modern nouveaux riches.His awards include South Korea’s Manhae Grand Prize for Literature, the Pablo Neruda Medal, Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the inaugural Gutenberg Galaxy Award for Literature, Italy’s Premio Letterario Internazionale. He is a Companion in the Order of Canada and a Chevalier in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France. He is the recipient of 17 honorary degrees. In the autumn of 2013, Saul was appointed Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ryerson University’s Faculty of Arts in Toronto.

Keynote speaker: John Ralston Saul, International President of PEN International

Dr. Charles Pascal, OISE, University of Toronto

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Armand La Barge, Member of the Board of Governors, York UniversityBill Fisch, Chairman and CEO, York RegionBob Dechert, MP, Mississauga-ErindaleDavid Rivard, Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Aid Society of TorontoDavid Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Peel Deep Saini, Vice President, University of Toronto, Principal of UTMEric Joliffe, Chief of York Regional PoliceMamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice Chancellor, York UniversityMartyn Beckett, Director of Education, Durham District School Board Mike Sullivan, MP, York South-WestonMohamad Lachemi, Provost and Vice President Academic, Ryerson UniversityPatrick Lake, Executive Director, York Region Children’s Aid SocietyRahul Bhardwaj, President and CEO, Toronto Community FoundationShafiq Qaadri, MPP, Etobicoke NorthTim McTiernan, President and Vice Chancellor, University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyTim Penner, Chair of the Board of Directors, YMCA of Greater Toronto

Host: Jeff McGuire, Chief, Niagara Regional Police Service

Sponsor: SAYGI Academics Association Charitable Sponsor: United Way Toronto

Date: January 9th, 2014Place: Imperial Room, Royal York Fairmont Hotel

9Hosting Committee:

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9th Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

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8th Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

“The Role of Media in a Multicultural Public Sphere”

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Opening remarks: Janice O’Born, Chair, Board of Directors, The Canadian Centre for Diversity

Keynote speaker: Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO, The Globe and Mail

Hosting Committee:Armand LaBarge, Member of Board of Governors, York UniversityBrian Desbiens, Chair, Board of Directors, Education Quality and Accountability OfficeCheri DiNovo, MPP (Parkdale-High Park)Chris Alexander, MP (Ajax-Pickering)David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of PeelDeep Saini, Vice President, University of TorontoGerd Hauck, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Design at Ryerson UniversityJeff O’Hagan, Vice President of Advancement, York UniversityJohn Tory, Chair, Greater Toronto Civic Action AllianceMadeline Ziniak, National Vice President, OMNI TVMary Ballantyne, Executive Director, Ontario Association of Children’s Aid SocietiesMonte Kwinter, MPP (York Centre)Paul Morse, President, Southern Ontario Newsmedia Guild

Award: Excellence in Community Service Award Award Recipients: Maytree Foundation, Ken Shaw (Co-Anchor, CTV News)Sponsor: SAYGI Academics Association Charity Sponsor: SickKids FoundationMedia Sponsor: RogersTV Attendees: 250

Remarks: Hon. Julian Fantino, Minister of International CooperationHon. David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of OntarioHazel McCallion, Mayor of Mississauga

Date: January 10th, 2013Place: Imperial Room, Royal York Fairmont Hotel

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official media sponsor

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8th Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

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7th Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

“Living as Neighbours in the Global Community of Toronto”

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Opening remarks: Hon. Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister of Immigration and Citizenship

Keynote speakers:Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri, President of York UniversityDr. Usha George, Dean of Community Services at Ryerson University

Host: Robert Fisher, CBC Radio

Hosting Committee:Joe Daniel, MP for Don Valley EastJudy Sgro, MP for York WestCheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale-High ParkJoe Mihevic, City Councillor for St. Paul’s WestWilliam Bill Blair, Chief of Toronto Police Service.David Rivard, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Aid Society of TorontoDr. Paul Gooch, President of Victoria University in the University of TorontoAbdul Hai Patel, President of Ontario Multifaith CouncilDr. Gary Polonsky, Chair of Canada Science & Technology Museum Board of TrusteesRev. Damian MacPherson, Director, Ecumenical & Interfaith Affairs, Archdiocese of TorontoDr. Karen Hamilton, Minister, United Church of CanadaArmand La Barge, Retired Chief of Police, York Region

Award: Excellence in Community Service Award Award Recipients: Toronto Community Foundation, Matt Galloway (Host of CBC’s Metro Morning)

Sponsor: SAYGI Academics AssociationAttendees: 250

Remarks: MP Mark Adler, York CenterArchbishop Collin Johnson, Diocese of Toronto, Anglican Church of CanadaEmil Kolb, Chair of the Region of Peel

Date: January 12th, 2012Place: Imperial Room, Royal York Fairmont Hotel

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6th Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

“Raising the Generation of Peace in the Toronto School of Diversity”

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Opening remarks: Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Minister of Transportation (Former Minister of Education)

Keynote speakers:Dr. Brain Desbiens, Chair of Board of Directors, Education Quality and Accountability OfficeDr. Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University

Host: Rima Kar (OMNI TV)

Hosting Committee:Yasmin Ratansi, MP Don Valley EastRob Oliphant, MP Don Valley WestTony Ruprecht, MPP DavenportW. Bill Blair, Chief of Toronto Police ServicesTony Warr, Deputy Chief of Toronto Police ServicesDr. Gary Polonsky, Chair of the Canada Science & Technology Museum Board of TrusteesDr. Ron Bordessa, President of University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyDavid Rivard, Executive Director, Toronto Children’s Aid SocietyMartyn Beckett, Director of Education, Durham District School BoardDr. Hugh Drouin, Commissioner of Social Services, Durham RegionRev. Damian MacPherson, Director, Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs, Archdiocese of Toronto

Award: Excellence in Diversity EducationAward Recipients: Inclusive Education Branch, Ministry of Education

Media Sponsor: OMNI TV

Sponsors: Turkish Airlines, Anatolian Heritage FederationAttendees: 240

Remarks: Ruth Flynn, Director of Inclusive Education Branch, Ministry of EducationMPP Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education Ken Thursten, Director of Education, York District School Borad

Date: January 7th, 2011Place: Imperial Room, Royal York Fairmont Hotel

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Opening remarks: Hon. Laurel Broten, Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services

Keynote speaker: Dr. Darrol Bryant, Director, Centre for Dialogue and Spirituality in the World’s Religions, University of WaterlooAttendees: 200

Remarks: Hon. Margarett Best, Ontario Ministry of Health PromotionDavid Rivard, Executive Director, Toronto Children’s Aid SocietyDr. Paul W. Gooch, President of Victoria University in the University of Toronto

Date: January 14th, 2010Place: Imperial Room, Royal York Fairmont Hotel

5th Dialogue and Friendship Dinner 5Family of Families Sharing the House of Toronto

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5 Keynote speaker: M. Fatih Yegul, Executive Director of SAYGI Academics Association

Attendees: 200

Remarks: MP John McKay, Scarborough-GuildwoodLoreena McKennit, song writer and singer Dr. Gary Polonsky, Former President of University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyWilliam Bill Blair, Chief of Toronto Police Services

Date: January 8th, 2009Place: Imperial Room, Royal York Fairmont Hotel

4th Dialogue and Friendship Dinner 4Peaceful Coexistence – Cooperation of Civilizations in the Ark of Toronto

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Speaker: John R. Nay, Consul General of the United States of America in TorontoAttendees: 160

Remarks: Dr. Paul W. Gooch, President of Victoria University in the University of Toronto

Date: September 23rd, 2007Place: 89 Chestnut Residence, University of Toronto

3rd Dialogue and Friendship Dinner 3

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3 Keynote Speaker: Fahri Karakas, McGill UniversityAttendees: 180

Remarks: Tony Warr, Deputy Chief of Toronto Police Services

Date: September 30th, 2006Place: Holiday Inn on King Hotel

Speaker: Fr. Damien MacPherson, Director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs, Archdiocese of Toronto.Attendees: 160Date: 2005Place: Paradise Banquet and Convention Centre

2nd Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

1st Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

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Inshallah song was written and composed by Dr. Gary Polonsky, President Emeritus of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology for the 4 Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner in 2009. You can find the video of this performance through the QR code below.

Inshallah

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Inshallah

May The Ins And Outs Open Doors, Inshallah,May The Sun And Moon Ecclipse Wars, Inshallah,May The Right And Left Shake Their Hands, Inshallah,May The Rain And Snow Sew Their Lands, Inshallah,May Every Waking HourBring Rest, Almighty Power,Inshallah, Inshallah, Inshallah.

May The Lion And The Lamb To Bed, Inshallah,May The Youngest And The Old Be Fed, Inshallah,May The Turtle And Gazelle Keep Pace, Inshallah,May The Arab And The Jew Embrace, Inshallah,May Every Man And WifeFulfill The Source Of Life,Inshallah, Inshallah, Inshallah.

Chorus

Inshallah, Inshallah,Tra La La La La La,Inshallah, Inshallah,Teach Me To Be,Inshallah, Inshallah,Tra La La La La La,Inshallah, Now I Can See.

May The Sultan And The Peasant Weap, Inshallah,May David And Goliath Sleep, Inshallah,May The Beauty And The Beast Romance, Inshallah,May The Fleetest And The Lame To Dance, Inshallah,May Those Who Never TrustRemember Dust To Dust,Inshallah, Inshallah, Inshallah.

Chorus

May The Family Of Famlies, Inshallah,Spread Dignity For All To See, Inshallah,May Toronto Always Be, Inshallah,A Place Of Honest Harmony, Inshallah,However You May PrayOr Look Or Love This Day,Inshallah, Inshallah, Inshallah.

Chorus