Western Region Fall Gathering 2019: Toward a Thriving Future

Hosted by the Unitarian Church of Edmonton (UCE) and the Westwood Unitarian Congregation.
All events occur at the Unitarian Church of Edmonton, 10804 119 St NW, Edmonton, AB. The main entrance is on the south side of the building.

The Unitarian Church of Edmonton, the Westwood Unitarian Congregation and the CUC welcome you to imagine our Thriving Future! There will be opportunities for Youth and wider networks to JUUst Keep Swimming and others to gather together to explore new avenues to create welcoming spaces, be re-energized with great music and seek better environmental realities with new allies. Welcome to WRFG 2019 and let’s share in taking our next steps Toward A Thriving Future.

Accessibility: UCE is an accessible building with no stairs, scent-free and pet-free. The washrooms are accessible.

Transportation: Information is available on the Transit website.

Hospitality is available on a limited basis.

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Programs

Children’s Program:

Toddlers & Infants – On-site childcare and programming will be provided. Parents/Guardians are requested to pick up their children for lunch hour supervision.
Children may be dropped off in the registration area at 8:45 and picked up at 5:00 pm.

Young Fun!– Telus World of Science Edmonton: We invite all children ages 6-12 to join our facilitator and support volunteers for a great day at the Science Centre. Bagged lunch and snacks will be provided.

Youth Program:
Go to the event page for the Western Region Fall Gathering Youth Con for more information and to register. 

Adult Program:

Theme Talk: Struggles in Being Black in Canadian Society – 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Presenter: Wilburn Hayden. Wilburn is a Professor Emeritus, School of Social Work, York University (see the speaker bio below under Stream 1)
The talk is grounded in Principals 1 & 2 of our Seven Principles: (1) the inherent worth and dignity of every person; (2) justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. It is a look at day-to-day racism faced by black people in our society. Examples of personal racial encounters will be presented as a challenge for UUs to become more reflective and conscious of the impact race continues to play in our current lives.

Stream 1: Dismantling Racism and White Privilege: Honouring our First Principle – 10:00 a.m. – noon (2 hours), 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. (1.25 hours),  and 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. (1.25 hours)
Presenters:  Patricia Trudeau & Wilburn Hayden

 In three sessions spanning the workshop day, Wilburn and Patricia will share their experiences and knowledge about racism and anti-racism work in Canada.  Expect an interactive day of insight and challenge.
Participants are welcome to attend any of the three sessions. The workshop objectives are best accomplished by participating in all three.

Speaker Bio: Wilburn is a Professor Emeritus, School of Social Work, York University. With his partner Rev. Patricia Trudeau, he has been offering education on racism in various community settings including many UU groups.

Stream 2: Climate Justice & Energy Solutions

Building a Just Transition – 10:00 a.m. – noon (2 hours)

Presenters: Emma Jackson and Gabrielle Gelderman
In the face of climate catastrophe and deepening economic inequality, we need a bold vision that meets the scale of the crisis we face. Join organizers from Climate Justice Edmonton as we envision a transformative Green New Deal for Canada— one that upholds Indigenous rights, protects all workers, and enshrines dignity and justice for all. We’ll talk about the critical role churches and faith communities have played in social movements in the past and why this critical juncture in history requires them, once again, to find their place in the climate justice movement.
Speaker Bios: Born on unceded Algonquin and Anishinabe territory, Emma Jackson is a fourth generation settler on Treaty 6 territory. Gabrielle and Emma are both organizers and co-founders of Climate Justice Edmonton, a grassroots collective organizing for social and environmental justice on Treaty 6 territory. Climate Justice Edmonton seeks to empower individuals and communities to take action on climate change, support Indigenous resistance, challenge harmful corporate and political practices, and work towards justice-based solutions.

Energy Solutions – 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. (1.25 hrs)

Presenter: Lisa Y. Stein
It’s often difficult to think of energy solutions outside the perspective of the oil and gas industry.However, renewable resources are plentiful, and transformative technologies aimed at replacing oil and gas with renewable resources is entirely plausible within 10-30 years. We will explore sources of renewable energy, work that Dr. Stein and others are doing to bring sustainable energy solutions into mainstream society, and paths for removing sociopolitical roadblocks that stand in the way of transforming our energy systems.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Lisa Stein is a microbiology professor at the University of Alberta in the Department of Biological Sciences. Her work focuses on the biological transformation of industrial waste streams into value-added products using microorganisms. She is part of the Future Energy Systems group at the UofA and her lab group focuses on the conversion of methane gas into bioplastics and liquid biojet fuels, and nitrogen use efficiency in vertical farming operations.

From Climate Grief to Action – 3:45 – 5:00 PM (1.25 hrs)

Presenters: Gabrielle Gelderman and Emma Jackson
Though the true scale of the climate crisis is incomprehensible, there are certain losses that we each feel deeply (and differently) and can bear witness to. Join us as we give words to our experiences of loss, and in doing so, make space for personal and collective action.
Speaker Bio: Gabrielle is a third-generation settler on Treaty 6 territory and has worked here as a community support worker, an environmental educator, and a farm hand. She is now in grad school studying Christian theology and climate grief.

Stream 3: Everyone Has a Song – 10:00 a.m. – noon (2 hours), 2:25 – 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. (1.25 hours)

Presenter: Kimberly Denis
In this workshop, we will explore choral pieces related to inclusion and building community while exploring vocal technique reminders, tips and tricks to help us better express ourselves through song.
Speaker Bio: Kimberley Denis, M.Mus. Choral Conducting and Vocal  Performance (University of Alberta), B.Mus. (Mount Allison  University), B. Comm. (Mount Allison University) is known for her  energy and enthusiasm both on stage and off, and is sought after as a soloist, choral clinician, vocal coach, and adjudicator for voice and choir. Upon completion of both her commerce and music undergraduate degrees at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, she returned to her home province of Alberta where she completed a double masters degree in choral conducting and vocal performance at the University of Alberta. She also holds an associate diploma in Education and a music diploma in contemporary vocal performance from Red Deer College.
In addition to her work as a singer and conductor, Kimberley arranges pieces for choirs and is published by Cypress Music and Augsburg Fortress and was recently commissioned for an arrangement of the school song for the The Grange, a private, English-speaking school in Santiago, Chile and a setting of the United Arab Emirates National Anthem for an international school in Dubai. Her most recently completed project is a liturgy using Canadian Folk Songs. She is also the Managing Director for the Alberta Band Association.  

Saturday Evening Events

Saturday Dinner: 6:30- 7:30 p.m.: The Western Region Ministers invite you to the “Broast” of Retiring Edmonton Minister: Rev. Brian Kiely

“Coffee House Talent Extravaganza”: 7:30- 9:00 pm (following the dinner) ”
Attendees are invited to sign up to perform. 

Download the Western Region Fall Gathering 2019 Schedule

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Cost*:

Price includes materials and the following meals: Friday reception, Saturday lunch and dinner as well as Sunday lunch [on site or bagged]. Accommodation not included

Adult: $120, $135, $150, $165  sliding fee range
Youth Con: $40, $ 50, $60, $70  sliding fee range
Young Fun (6 years to 12 years old):  $30, $40, $50
Childcare (under 6 years old): $20 , $30,  $40
Saturday Night Banquet & Entertainment Only- $30
Sunday service – everyone welcome!

*Note: Subsidies are available. For adults, apply at https://cuc.ca/about-cuc/support-subsidies/edward-bevan-ratcliffe-subsidy//. For youth and young adults, apply at https://cuc.ca/about-cuc/support-subsidies/dawning-future/.

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Registration:

Registration deadline: October 7 for adults and youth.
All children must be registered by October 1 for childcare and to participate in Young Fun and Toddlers/Infants care.

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