KAIROS Canada welcomes Leah Reesor-Keller as KAIROS’ Interim Executive Director. Leah brings to the role 18 years of experience working with faith-based and social justice organizations in Canada, Haiti, Jamaica and Nepal, including serving as Executive Minister for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada from 2020-2022 where she led a participatory re-visioning process. Leah regularly writes, preaches, and leads workshops on faith-based responses to the climate crisis and inclusive leadership. 

KAIROS Canada and its member churches and agencies, condemn the current violence, against Israeli and Palestinian civilians, in Israel, Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and call on Canada to do everything in its power to support an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.

KAIROS Great Lakes-St. Lawrence kicked off the annual Regional Gatherings, September 29-30 with Decolonizing Hearts and Minds: From Where We Are to Palestine, hosted by KAIROS Toronto West and featuring representatives from KAIROS’ Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security partners. Regional Gatherings continue into October and November with KAIROS BC-Yukon, Northwest Ontario and Manitoba, Prairies North, and Atlantic. Some events are online and accessible to all. 

The Hill Times published the following op-ed by KAIROS’ Rachel Warden on September 15.

Investing in women peacebuilders is not just a moral and effective thing to do, it’s a good financial investment we cannot afford to overlook. The returns are vital and invaluable for all of us and for the planet.

A few years ago, Pélagie sought legal support and counselling from Héritiers de la Justice, a grassroots human rights organization in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This conflict-ridden region is one of the world’s most dangerous places to be a woman. Today, Pélagie is a human rights trainer and chair of the local grassroots network in her community.

KAIROS Climate Week ran September 11 to 17 but the blogs live on! In September our informative blogs followed the theme - Decolonizing Climate Action: Keep the Oil in the Soil and Let Justice and Peace Flow, focusing on the root cause of climate change… fossil fuels. Stay tuned for the next Climate Action Week, which runs from November 13 to 19. It will focus on the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) and will be co-sponsored by For the Love of Creation.

World leaders gathered in Nairobi, Kenya in early September for the Africa Climate Summit to discuss regional interests ahead of COP28. They released the Nairobi Declaration, which called for a phase-out of coal but made no mention of oil or gas. In response, civil society and grassroots voices from across the continent released the African People’s Climate and Development Declaration 2023, which outlines what the African people strive for concerning their continent and what they demand their governments to do at COP28 decision-making tables and beyond.  

KAIROS actions to build a better world, such as e-petitions, letters to elected officials, and advocacy events are housed on the KAIROS Advocacy page. 

Mapping the Ground We Stand On

Saturday, October 21 @ 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

TAn he Mapping Exercise invites participants to explore Indigenous presence on the map of Turtle Island/Canada, the history of settler arrival, and their relationship to one another.