Across Canada—and particularly in the Prairie provinces—communities are experiencing rising polarization, religious intolerance, and hate-motivated incidents affecting Indigenous, racialized, newcomer, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. These trends contribute to social fragmentation, isolation, and mistrust across communities.

Peace Builders: Strengthening Inclusion and Countering Hate through Interfaith Dialogue and Youth Leadership is a response to this urgent need, fostering interfaith and intercultural understanding through youth leadership, dialogue, and collaborative community action.

Led by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Peace Builders builds on nearly a decade of interfaith and youth leadership programming. It brings together youth aged 16–28, Elders, faith leaders, and community mentors from diverse backgrounds to engage in experiential learning, dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.

Through two interconnected cohorts in Edmonton, Alberta and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, participants will be engaging in structured learning sessions, visits to faith centres, and facilitated dialogue circles and art sessions.

By connecting generations and communities, the project revitalizes interfaith collaboration and equips youth with the knowledge, confidence, and networks needed to address hate and discrimination in their communities.