Building Bridges in Canada: New Perspectives on People and Peace
In 2009, the Mosaic Institute partnered with the Canadian Centre for Diversity to establish a ground-breaking speaker series and peace dialogue aimed to address the ongoing conflict in the Middle East entitled “Building Bridge in Canada: New Perspectives on People and Peace”. Members of Canada’s Arab and Jewish communities came together to offer perspectives on the conflict unfolding in their troubled homeland, to learn about the prospects for peace, and to engage in constructive dialogue to overcome challenges to peacebuilding. The initiative met with considerable success as a survey conducted by The Strategic Council concluded that the series allowed for more constructive dialogue between the two communities and a much-needed air of optimism was apparent at the prospect of divisions between them being reduced. A video compilation of the series is being produced to be shared with government officials and other relevant stakeholders. A number of “legacy” peacebuilding projects in the Middle East are also being pursued.
Mapping the Sudanese-Canadian Diaspora
2009 saw the completion of the Institute’s extensive research report for the Sudan Task Force of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT). The report analyzed a “smart map” of Canada’s Sudanese Diaspora who became “citizen experts” contributing valuable insight to policy issues and decision-making in their homeland. Working with Sudanese-Canadian consultant Mahgoub Khair, the report researched key issues concerning the Sudanese-Canadian population and the results of a survey conducted to gather the Sudanese Diasporas’ views of Canada’s current and potential relationship with Sudan. The report was submitted to DFAIT in November 2009. Scott Proudfoot, Director of the Sudan Task Force, called the report “a first-rate piece of work” that will be “(very) useful” to his team. As a result of the report’s recommendations, a number of follow-up meetings have taken place with members of the Sudanese leadership in Canada; several Sudanese-Canadians have been identified by Canada to return to Sudan as United Nations Volunteers; and a national consultation on Canada’s future relationship with Sudan is being held in Winnipeg (to be convened by the Mosaic Institute) in late 2010.
UofMosaic @ UofT
In September 2009, the Mosaic Institute launched its first student-run university chapter at the University of Toronto (St. George) known as “U of Mosaic”. With more than 150 members, the student initiative offers an alternative, constructive, and educational approach to addressing inter-ethnic conflicts and peacebuilding by utilizing the practice of “citizen diplomacy” which works with Canada’s diverse ethnocultural groups to address intractable conflicts around the world, starting right here at home. Under the leadership of former Mosaic intern and current Ph.D. candidate Mike Morden, and undergraduate student Lauren Ray, in its first year of operation the chapter hosted a number of critical peacebuilding-related discussions, including sessions on the Middle East and Armenia-Turkey. The chapter is playing a pivotal role in enhancing the Mosaic Institute’s exposure and partnership with the university community.
Internship Program in Partnership with the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
In the fall of 2009, the Mosaic Institute partnered with the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Toronto to establish a working partnership whereby several students students from the centre will join as program and research interns each academic year. These students are an integral part of the organization and contribute significantly to promoting, planning, and realizing the goals of the Institute.
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