Environmental justice begins by reclaiming dignity and worth — Vancouver Peace Forum

Environmental justice asks us to consider not only how we care for the earth, but whose voices are included in shaping a more just and sustainable future. At the Vancouver Peace Forum, Issac Bennett Joshua, a theologian and member of the Dalit community, a group treated as “untouchable” within India’s caste system, will explore how communities can build peace while responding to injustice and the ecological crisis.

​Joshua will share from his work with Community of Christ and with Dalit, Tribal, and Adivasi communities who have been pushed to the edges of society. He will describe how these groups are now shaping movements that reclaim their belonging by prioritizing the dignity and worth of all and demanding ecological responsibility from all people.

This session will also explore how efforts to challenge caste discrimination have resulted in demands for rights to land ownership and political representation. With caste discrimination also affecting South Asian communities in Canada, participants will be invited to consider how greater awareness can help Canadians move toward a more just and sustainable future.

Together, we will reflect on how social transformation becomes possible when all people are included in conversations about environmental stewardship.

Other activities throughout the weekend include:
🍃 experience keynote presentations streamed from the international Peace Forum gathering
🌲 explore creation during a guided visit to the Lynn Valley Temperate Rainforest
🧘‍♀️ practice mindfulness and spiritual reflection through guided awareness and meditation
🌎 take meaningful action through a community river cleanup
🧵 learn practical sustainability skills during the “Sew It, Don’t Throw It!” repair workshop
🎵 build community through shared meals, music, conversation, and fellowship

The Vancouver Peace Forum webpage has information to help you plan your weekend, including registration, fees, accommodations, and the latest schedule details.

Learn more and register

Inquiries: [email protected]
When: Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, 2026
​Where: Community of Christ Vancouver, 3333 Kaslo Street, Vancouver, BC V5M 2M1