Bahai Library Online

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith in Canada

World Canada
   

Date 1997, sorted by date, descending

see also the tag for 1997

date event tags firsts
1997 9 Jul
199-		 The passing of Ronald James Parsons (b. 8 May, 1926, Moose Jaw, SK).
  • Mr Parsons had been an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada. He first learned of the Faith in Ear Falls, Ontario in 1960 from Carol and David Bowie while assigned to nearby Red Lake. His next church assignment was in Strathmore, Alberta where the Bowies referred him to Lily-Ann Irwin who nurtured him into the Faith. [Spring 1961]
  • He served on the National Spiritual Assembly from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1971 to 1974. He was a member of several Local Assemblies and served on the Auxiliary Board throughout the 1970's and 80's.
  • The June 1961 issue of Canadian Bahá'í News reported that he resigned from the United Church of Canada and declared his faith in Bahá'u'lláh. [CBN No 137 June 1961 p11]
  • See [CBN No 143 December 1961 p8] for the loving message he sent to his fellow clergy concerning his decision to leave the church.
  • After resigning from the ministry he enrolled in university to train for his new vocation, teaching. He served as a vice-principal and a principal.
  • In 1949 he married Rita Olive Blake and together they raised four children. [BW1997-98p276-277] iiiii
    		• - Biographies; - In Memoriam; Claresholm, AB; Moose Jaw, SK; Rita Parsons; Ron Parsons first Christian minister to resign to become a Bahá'í
    1997 24 - 28 Apr
    199-    		 The 48th National Convention was held in Toronto, ON. Counsellors Jacqueline Left Hand Bull and David Smith were present at the request of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas. Of 168 delegates elected, 164 ballots were cast in the election of the National Assembly.
    Members elected were Reginald Newkirk, Judy Filson, Husayn Banani, Louise Profeit-Leblanc, Glen Eyford, Margot Leonard, Enayat Rawhani. Susan Lyons and Ann Wilson.
    Special guests included Mrs. Audrey Robarts, Knight of Baha'u'llah and wife of late Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts, her daughter and son-in-law, Nina and Ken Tinnion, Mrs. Francoise Rouleau Smith, now the oldest living French Canadian believer who this year is celebrating her 50th anniversary of enrolment in the Faith, and Mrs. Helen Gardner, wife of late Counsellor Lloyd Gardner. Another special guest was Mrs. Gale Burland, a distinguished homefront pioneer to Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia who was invited by the National Assembly to present a slide show at the Convention's opening session Thursday evening. Titled "Searching for Ways to Please Thee," the program chronicled the lives of the Faith's early believers and provided an inspiring beginning to the four days of Convention deliberations.
    A highlight of the external affairs session was the National Assembly's announcement of its decision to open an external affairs office in Ottawa, with Mrs. Susanne Tamas as its director. A branch of the overall external affairs activities, the Ottawa office will concentrate resources on the Faith's relationship with national government and non-governmental organizations.
    Dr. Gerald Filson, the National Assembly's Director of External Affairs, keynoted the external affairs consultative session, highlighting features of the Universal House of Justice's external affairs strategy and emphasizing the need for humility in this field of service. [BC Nov 10 No 2 Jun 1997 p12-13]     		Ann Wilson; Enayat Rawhani; External affairs; Francoise Rouleau Smith; Gail Burland; Gerald Filson; Glen Eyford; Husayn Banani; Judy Filson; Louise Profeit-LeBlanc; Margot Leonard; National Convention; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Reginald Newkirk; Susan Lyons; Susanne Tamas; Toronto, ON
    1997 24 Mar - 16 May
    199-    		 The nine member First Nations Travel Teaching Trip to the South Pacific, called "The Journey of Teech-ma" consisted of Canadian Bahá'ís from Kwakiutl, Nuu-Cha-Nuth, the Ojibway First Nations, a Yupik Bahá'í from Alaska and three non-Native Canadian friends. They shared their culture and their Faith with the Maori, other New Zealanders, the Aborigines and other Australians as well as the ne-Vanuatu peoples. See entry for 1994 (Summer). [SDSC370] - First Nations, Canada; - Indigenous people; Aboriginal people; Australia; Canada; Maori people; New Zealand; Pacific; Travel teaching; Vanuatu
    1997 March
    199-    		 The passing of Noel Wuttunee. Mr. Wuttunee was the first Native Canadian to accept the Faith in Canada. He passed away in Seattle, WA. He was well-known in the mid-fifties and early sixties for his evocative artwork and his ability to teach the Faith to his people. He was taught the Faith by fellow artist Gerda Christofferson, whom he later married. Mr. Wuttunee had lived in the United States since the mid-sixties. [BC vol 9 issue 3 Sept 1996 p27]
  • Gerda Christofferson passed away in Calgary 14 July 2012. [Calgary Herald]
    		•  - Biographies; Calgary, AB; Gerda Christofferson; Noel Wuttunee; Seattle, WA the first Native Canadian to accept the Faith in Canada
    1997 27 Feb
    199-    		 The Quebec Bahá'í Centre was officially reopened with a reception attended by about 50 people, including the guest of honour, Her Excellency Mrs. Lise Thibault, Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec. Also attending were Mrs. Margot Leonard, member of the National Spiritual Assembly and the official hostess for the event, Mrs. Elizabeth Wright, Auxiliary Board member, and Mr. Pierre D'Anjou, the architect of the project.
    The Centre had to be rebuilt following a fire which caused severe damage to the building in July, 1994. Fully aware of the heritage value of the building in the historic quarter of the Old City of Quebec, the National Spiritual Assembly did not rest until this "sacred refuge," the symbol of the active presence of the Faith in Quebec, had been restored to its pristine beauty. The close collaboration of a number of professionals, workers and artisans, along with the tireless devotion of a team of Bahá'í volunteers who successfully managed all stages of the project, made it all possible.
    The historic character of the building had to be preserved and its atmosphere maintained while four of its five floors were virtually rebuilt in strict adherence to new building codes. The challenge of budgetary restrictions was met so brilliantly that last December the building was nominated in the category "Renovation- Restoration in the Historic Quarter" for a certificate ofrecognition awarded by the Quebec City Town Planning and Conservation Board. [BC Vo 10 No 1 May 1997 p10-11]    		 Fire; Québec City, QC
    1997 (In the year)
    199-    		 The publication of In the Path of the Wind: Recollections of Monserrat by Larry Rowdon. It was published by September House in Osgood, ON. It would appear that the book is no longer available.

    The book is biographical and recounts some of the memories of Margaret and Larry Rowdon during their 6 years of pioneering (1986-1992) on the island.

    		 In the Path of the Wind (book); Larry Rowdon
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