Meet Your Neighbours

"Meet Your Neighbours" is a program where the families affiliated with HDG invite guests to their homes to have dinner together. There, families meet, greet, and create a joyful family atmosphere. The purpose behind this program is to build bridges between communities and experience intercultural interactions.

Through this experience, exchange of ideas, tolerance, development of new forms of dialogue and new friendships are hoped to be gained. This brings about kindness, respectfulness, generosity and above all else cultural harmony. This evening is about sharing a great time together in a learning environment with the preparation and eating of good foods.

There is dialogue and understanding among families of different communities who come together based on common values and spirituality. Each family embraces the other. Instead of bias and hatred, there is empathy and tolerance. You will taste those along with diversity, richness, love, and cooperation. Families also maintain good relations with their neighbours, regardless of what their religion, beliefs, culture, or race may be.

As long as we have hope, faith and love; we will be able to transform the jangling discords of humanity into a beautiful symphony of being together. All of us are united and are experiencing the art of living together in harmony. These are the purposes behind the Harmony Dialogue Group promoting this program.

If you like to participate to a "meet your neighbours" activity, please send an e-mail to ibrahim.cin@dialoguegroup.ca with your contact details.

Intercultural Trips

The Canadian Institute of Intercultural Dialogue is organizing a series of interfaith trips to Turkey in an effort to share the cultural richness of this beautiful country with the community we serve. The trip helps discover the historical, cultural and natural beauties of Turkey, a living example of the harmony of different faiths for centuries.

In man's history on earth, certain places have been the grounds for close contact among different cultures, civilizations and religions. Anatolia with its proximity to Europe and the Middle East has certainly been one of these places. Anatolia, where Modern Turkey is now located has been the location of numerous encounters between East and West. Anatolia is the land where epics of Homer took place, Alexander the Great met the Persians, later Romans and Persians fought over supremacy, and where Ottomans emerged. All these movements of people and civilizations undoubtedly left their landmarks with their places of worship, fountains, hostels, bridges and other works of art. It is a testimony to Turkish nations' openness, welcoming to religious diversity that it was during the reign of Suleiman The Magnificent, Jews were given asylum after their persecution in Spain in 16th century and even today Greek Orthodox Church has its center in Istanbul rather than in Greece.

By hosting Canadian intellectuals on a trip to Turkey, we, members of the CIID, hope to build bridges of understanding and tolerance between diverse cultures and faiths. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the beauty of Turkey through its rich cultural and religious history. They will also meet with some of Turkey's community leaders and citizens to experience its unique culture and world famous hospitality.

All the expenses in Turkey including lodging, meals and ground transportation will be paid by the CIID and Turkish businessmen who are sponsoring this intercultural/interfaith trip. You will enjoy quality hotels and restaurants. However your round-trip plane ticket to Turkey and any air travel in Turkey are not included in this package.

In 2009 and 2010, a group of Canadians had the opportunity to experience an exciting trip to Turkiye. You may find their testimonials here.

Dialogue and Friendship Program

Harmony Dialogue Group is committed to the principles of discussions, the productive exchange of ideas and the celebration of the richness of the cultures, ethnicities, religions and races that are present within our community. We heartily believe that, only with communication and open discussion we can build a stronger community and stronger Canada.

Started in 2005, the dinner serves approximately 120 attendees who are members of the government, members of parliament, ambassadors, businessmen, professors and community leaders.