Interfaith event aims to spark discussion about proposed prayer centre

WATERLOO — Plans for a Muslim prayer centre in Waterloo have been a source of debate for nearly a year, so a group of local residents is holding an interfaith event to help build understanding between the opposing groups.

A local group known as the Abrahamic Peace Builders planned the event as an opportunity to discuss how different groups can get along in light of this controversy.

The event, called Celebrating our freedom to worship, will begin with a documentary called “Waging Peace: Muslim and Christian Alternatives.” It’s about plans to build a mosque next to a Baptist church in the U.S. and how the community handled the change.

“It seemed like a good one to show,” Leon Kehl, one of the organizers, said.

“We want to explore the idea of how to go about building understanding.”

Kehl said he can understand the frustrations felt by the group of residents who are opposed to the idea of a Muslim prayer centre in their neighbourhood.

“The hope here is to come together and try to hear each other and understand each other,” he said.

He extended an invitation to the group of residents in opposition, but as of Wednesday he hadn’t heard back from them.

Some Waterloo residents have strongly opposed the Muslim Association of Canada’s plans to use a single-family home as a prayer centre. The Muslim association owns property on Erbsville Road and has asked the city for a zone change from agricultural to institutional so its members can pray at the house.

Eventually, down the road, they will want to build a larger community centre on the property. But those plans are dependent on finances and more city approvals. This possibility has some residents concerned about traffic, noise and environmental impacts.

Kehl noted that the Muslim community in Cambridge just unveiled an extension to a mosque in the city last week.

“It has taken them quite a while to do that,” he said.

Kehl hopes some members of the opposition will attend the event.

“We are a community and we are neighbours and we should try to understand each other.”

The event will also feature an interfaith presentation and a panel discussion with members from different faiths.

The event takes place at the Waterloo North Mennonite Church, 100 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Arrive at 7 p.m. to learn a bit about the history of Mennonites in the region.