- High Engagement: 431 attendees (200 in-person, 231 online), representing nearly 1% of Vernon’s population.
- Strong Outreach: Featured local media coverage from Castanet News and Beach Radio Vernon.
- Positive Impact: Praised by guests for promoting community building, open dialogue, and world peace.
The 7th World Religions Conference – Vernon was held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, bringing together the community for an evening of dialogue, learning, and peace.
Record Attendance and Community Engagement
The conference saw remarkable attendance, with a total of 431 people participating. This included 200 individuals attending in person and an additional 231 joining virtually via the event’s YouTube channel. Considering Vernon’s population of 48,387, this level of engagement underscores the community’s deep interest in interfaith understanding.
The event was effectively publicised across multiple platforms, including Facebook, local newspapers, and radio. Media coverage was provided by key local outlets: the local newspaper, Castanet News, and Beach Radio Vernon.
Raving Reviews from Guests and Speakers
The conference organisers and volunteers, led by Rizwan, received heartfelt appreciation from participants for their efforts in hosting this vital community event.
Mike Boudreau highlighted the long-term impact of the conference, stating:
“Thank you for organising this event, all of the previous events, and the future events. This is amazing community building that is deeply needed. Keep up the great work. Also the food was amazing, and thanks for the books.”
Randy Hamm, who watched the proceedings online, emphasised the conference’s message of harmony:
“I’m thankful for this event and the hope for peace that it brings as we have open, honest dialogue and listen to each other.”
Garry Rayner expressed his gratitude to all the panellists:
“Thank you so much for contributing your thoughts and sharing your faith’s teachings that make such a positive impact on world peace! It was my pleasure to meet with each of you at yesterday’s WRC, to learn from you and feel of your deep conviction to your respective religions. You are all peacemakers.” He also offered a special thanks to Rizwan and the faith group for “getting all of us together to promote peace and for providing everyone with a splendid and tasty dinner.”
The 7th World Religions Conference – Vernon concluded as a meaningful success, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone event for promoting peace, respect, and mutual understanding within the Vernon community.
