‘Abdu’l-Bahá was feeling the full weight of both His age and His endless responsibilities like an anchor tethered to the deepest ocean. He joked about the ‘hoar hairs’ on His head. His legs had to be massaged regularly to keep His circulation flowing. He suffered from lifelong asthma and from the long-term after-effects of the frost that had blighted His limbs in His youth during His family’s long exile from one country to another....more...

In Louise Profeit-LeBlanc’s re-telling of an old tale, it’s a grim narrative that ends in hope. An unprepared village was lost, but the wise, wily elder survives and shares her story with others to prevent further tragedy. Ms. Profeit-LeBlanc, “Tsé Itzoh” (Beaver Woman), a member of the Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation (Mayo, Yukon), used the Snowy Owl story to end her presentation to a virtual audience of over 130 in a timely episode of the Ottawa Baháʼí community’s “Big Ideas” series.....more...

The Master was finally coming home. The whole of the Bahá’í community in the region was in a whirlwind of activity as they excitedly prepared for His return, though reports were that He was frail and exhausted from His long voyage. The members of the household, overseen by His sister, Bahíyyih Khanum, were preparing His favourite dishes with gusto, and....more...

If it seemed like a hot summer this year, consider the prediction that in Ottawa the number of days over 30C will more than double from 11 in 2010 to 25 to 28 days in the 2030s. Or that winters will be four weeks shorter by the 2030s. More very hot days in Ottawa will mean more mosquitoes and more ticks and as a consequence, more West Nile disease and more Lyme disease cases. Hotter days also trap more ...more...

Upon arriving in Montreal on 30 August 1912 and finding all doors open contrary to what He had been told, the Master spent the following nine days in a whirlwind of activity, ever dogged by fascinated journalists and interested parties from many religions and associations as well as many well-known and lesser-known people eager to meet the venerable and wise ‘Abdu’l-Bahá...more...

In 1890, English scholar Edward Granville Browne became the only Western person to interview Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. In the opening quotation, though, he speaks of Abbas Effendi, Bahá’u’lláh’s Son, who was called the Master, but He insisted that He was above all ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the “Servant of Bahá.” Liberated in 1908 from the exile He...more...

When a new messenger of God appears on earth, it is like a stone thrown into a still pond. Its impact is immediate and the rings are small, but they grow and widen until the whole pond is energized. In the spring of 1819, it was the Báb who was the stone cast into the pond of an unsuspecting, heedless world. Two hundred years later...more...

It’s hard to believe that the WG, as it’s affectionately known, is now in its 25th year. The brainchild of Larry Rowdon, Bruce Filson, and Linda O’Neil, soon followed by David Erickson, Jim Desson and Jack McLean, the WG first started in the summer of 1993 at a rented storefront and was then held at the Crichton St. Bahá’í Centre for a few years before moving on to holding its meetings in private homes....more...

On an autumn Sunday afternoon in November, the Bahá’í communities of Old Ottawa South and the Glebe hosted a special screening of the award-winning film Mercy's Blessing at the Ottawa Mayfair theatre. As a special treat, the film writer and director May Taherzadeh was present and held a question-and-answer session after the screening...more...

It was standing room only at the dramatic reading of the play, “Tabreez”, written by Marlene Macke, on Nov. 24 at the Ottawa Bahá’í Centre. The full-length play told the story of two families, one Persian, one British, living in Tabriz, Iran, and how their lives intersected around the execution of the Báb on July 9, 1844. The play offered a fascinating combination of historical and fictionalized characters who helped tell the story of this dramatic episode in Bahá’í history...more...

What if children’s education emphasized learning to think, reflect and apply spiritual laws that benefit both their life and their society? It sounds otherworldly, yet the young are our most precious treasure since the promise and guarantee of the future lie with them...more...

In October 2018, a personal growth workshop took place in Ottawa led by Hugh Smiley, a very interesting Bahá'í from Toronto whom I have known for more than a decade. Hugh is a thoughtful, funny, well-read and highly experienced practitioner working in the area where spirituality, psychology and physical health meet. A Bahá'í who lived for five years in Paraguay, he now works as a psychotherapist and bodyworker; he also teaches meditation and creative voicework. His passions include...more...

On June 25, 2018, the Mayfair Theatre had sold out signs splayed across all its doors for the Ottawa premiere of Steve Sarowitz’ documentary film, The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá’í Faith. The theatre was filled to capacity with over 330 viewers, which included members of the Bahá’í community and the curious.

Chicagoans Steve Sarowitz, founder of Paylocity, and Bob Hercules, a highly respected director, took three years to produce The Gate, resulting in a beautifully shot hour-long documentary that reverently and lovingly recounts the life of the Báb, the young prophet-founder of the Bábí Faith whose ministry only lasted from...more...

On June 2, 2018 the Ottawa Baha’i Regional Choir performed their last seasonal concert with their out-going director Christopher Barham, and what a performance it was! The 11-voice four-part choir performed all their pieces a capella – that is, without accompaniment.

The program was varied and included songs that drew on the writings of the Bahá’í Faith, as well as other inspirational texts. Songs that were performed included O Thou Compassion Lord, Rejoice with Exceeding Joy, Down to the River to Pray, Holy, Holy, Holy and Les Temps de Vie. The audience...more...

The idea of a river walk devotional was first planted by my neighbour. I asked her if she needed help pushing her baby stroller as she was heading out for her daily walk along the river. What followed next was an uplifting discussion and the realization that there might be a whole community of people in our neighbourhood who yearned for spiritual reflection, and could benefit from physical exercise while being immersed in the power and beauty of nature. Since my neighbour had shown me a path that looped over from Sandy Hill into Vanier, it seemed a very natural next step to...more...

Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh and His appointed successor, said that there is nothing sweeter in the world of existence than prayer.” How much sweeter can it get, then, when reciting prayers with precious little babies?

Over a year ago, two moms started a Facebook group with the intent of getting together with other new moms to say prayers and socialize. This group was called the Ottawa Baby Devotional... more...

April 2018 marked the one year anniversary of the formation of a new Baha’i junior youth group in the stittsville-kanata area. For the past year, this group consisting of 6 junior youth (11-14 year olds) and three animators (facilitators) have met every Sunday to study the Junior Youth Empowerment Program (JYEP) materials  by Ruhi Institute,   discuss spiritual topics,  plan service projects, and play and socialize with their peers. Over the past year, these youth have grown not only in height but in maturity as well.  more...

On the evening of May 23rd, Bahá’ís around the world celebrated the Declaration of the Báb, the prophet-founder who ushered in a new era for humanity. Bahá’ís observe this holy day by gathering at homes and venues to commemorate this momentous event....

A public screening of Light to the World, a 51-minute documentary film on the life and teachings of the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh – which was produced to commemorate the bicentenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s birth in 2017....

The Ridván period (April 21 to May 2 2018) saw many Baha'i families across the city celebrate this special time in a diversity of ways. The Talisman family which includes parents Brooke and Emad and their 2 children live in the Qualicum neighbourhood in Ottawa. The family created a magical..

Baha'is across the City of Ottawa marked the Festival of Ridván during the period April 21 to May 2 this year. The Ridván Festival has particular significance for the Baha'i community as it is the time when...

On 25 February 2018, a group of 40 Bahá’ís in the North Nepean area, along with their friends held their annual Ayyám-i-Há celebration at....

Fiona Armstrong had a strong desire to befittingly commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah. To fulfill this wish, she conceived a plan for a musical gala which would celebrate and pay tribute to Bahá’u’lláh. This wish and plan became the Light of Unity Concert which drew many attendees on Saturday evening September 23, 2017. The concert was held...more

On Saturday, 28 October 2017, almost 40 students, parents, friends and teachers from the Foster Farm Children’s Class, came together to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh. The children had been preparing for this celebration for a number of weeks... more

On a glorious Sunday afternoon, 22 October 2017, around 800 Baha'is along with their friends and family, gathered at the Sala San Marco Convention Centre in Ottawa, Ontario to celebrate the Bicentennial anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah, Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith. Attendees represented a diversity of cultures and... Read more

The Ottawa Baha'i community is pleased to receive the following greetings and congratulatory note from Mayor Jim Watson on behalf of City Council. The community has warmly welcomed...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent the following message to the Baha'i community of Canada, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah...

We are delighted to share with you a moving message from the Assembly of First Nations national Chief Perry Bellegarde, on the occasion of the bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh...

Leading up to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, Baha’is across the Ottawa region have found many creative ways of marking this important Holy Day. "As a quilter," said Nathalie Thirlwall, "the creation of a bicentennial quilt seemed a natural way to...

Like their counterparts around the world, Baha'is in Ottawa are celebrating a very significant anniversary in the history of their Faith this year - the 200th anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of their religion. Although the anniversary marks... Read more!

For twenty five years now, the Ottawa Regional Baha’i choir has enriched community life through its spiritually inspired choral music...

At age 66, Behrouz Tavakkoli is entering his 10th year in prison in Iran. His crime: helping to administer the affairs of the Bahá'í Community of Iran. Suffering from severe kidney and joint problems, he and the other six leaders of the Bahá'í Community face another year in prison. They are among... read more

Ottawa Bahá'í Conference Explores New Patterns of Community Life

On May 13, 2017, approximately 250 community members from Ottawa and the surrounding region gathered together to learn about building vibrant communities. The group, consisting of ...

During the next week, the Baha'i community of Ottawa is holding a series of devotional gatherings across the city to pray for the seven Baha'i leaders who are starting their ninth year of arrest and imprisonment...

When my brothers and I got an apartment in Centretown four and a half years ago, we knew we wanted to make our home a haven for people from all walks of life...

When you walk into Zvondai Muchenje’s living room in Ottawa the first thing you notice is a big marimba next to a piano. Zvondai’s love for the marimba is immediately apparent. For the past nine years he has been sharing this love with...

Director of Government Relations for the Baha’i Community of Canada, Corinne Box, a resident of Ottawa, participated in a recent High-Level Forum on Combatting Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Hate that was hosted at the UN Headquarters in New York. She was invited to...

Christmas time is a time of reflection and memories, but it is a religious holiday that I no longer celebrate. Yet, it was a big part of my life for over 50 years...Read more!

In her 85th year the Ottawa area artist Joyce Frances Devlin remains a dynamic figure, radiating energy and spiritual power. Every summer she opens her home gallery in Burritt’s Rapids to the public...

The world-wide Baha'i community envisions a time when every community will have its own Baha'i temple, which...

On the morning of August 3, 2016 Mrs. Wendy James chanted these words by the son of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, during an interfaith welcoming ceremony...

Since 2013, a group of youth from the Nepean area have been growing together as they have completed five books in the Ruhi Institute series. As they have gained the knowledge, skills and capacity to serve their community...

On Saturday evening, September 20, 2014, a crowd of about 40 friends from Ottawa and West Quebec gathered at the Bahá'í Centre to hear the next installment in the Spiritual Autobiography Series. The featured speaker was the colourful, original and passionate artist Joyce Frances Devlin who lives and works out her studio-home in Burritt’s Rapids. Devlin discovered in her early childhood that...

A packed audience gathered at the Wakefield Cultural Centre on July 26 for a concert by Ottawa singer Bruno AR (Bruno Alain Randimbiarison). Launching his first recording of original musical compositions, Bruno was joined on stage by a diverse group of

The Bahá’í community of Ottawa has seen an increased tempo of youth-focused activities and an increased engagement of young people since the summer of 2013, when 125 youth from the Ottawa area attended a Toronto Youth Conference that was part of a global...

The Bahá’í community on Reddit, a popular social media website, broke new ground recently when it hosted an online question-and-answer session known as an AMA ("Ask Me Anything") on May 13th. Several Ottawa Bahá’ís participated in the event, which attracted a...

Approximately 100 youth aged 15-30 gathered on March 1st at the Richelieu Vanier Community Centre for a full day of consultation, reflection and planning. The energy was palpable and appropriately accredited to more...

For the past several years, the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Ottawa has sponsored the Bahá'í Award for the Study of Peace and Conflict at Saint Paul University. This award is granted...

Ottawa’s fourteenth annual celebration of World Religion Day began with an Aboriginal welcome and blessing, followed by a Baha’i prayer for unity. As in previous years...

For several days in mid-November, Ottawa’s Bytowne Cinema screened "The Gardener," the latest film by Iran’s award-winning producer and director Mohsen Makhmalbaf....

A thought provoking photo exhibition of Stephen Thirlwall entitled “Myriad reflections on the automobile,” is currently being held at the Ottawa Bahá'í Centre until...

Video by Ottawa Bahá’ís John Dickie and Barry Brown receives honourable mention in international competition...

On Sunday June 23, at Ottawa City Hall, Nathalie Thirlwall, a dedicated worker in the cause of interfaith cooperation and understanding, received a 2013 Interfaith Ottawa Award from Interfaith Ottawa. The award, presented by Mayor Jim Watson and Mike McIntrye, co-chairs of this organization, was

On Saturday June 22nd, the Ottawa Bahá’í centre hosted a gathering to remember fellow believers who have been, and continue to be, persecuted in Iran for their convictions. The thoughtfully prepared event...

A room full of youth sit in a circle of chairs and sofas, their heads bowed in prayer. When their prayers are done, they share news of the week that stood out for them, either from what they heard on the radio or TV or read in the newspaper. They discuss how...

"You are not alone. There is a unity. There are others who feel the same sense of outrage," said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and...

This past month, the Ottawa Bahá’í community celebrated their most important festival of the year, the Twelve Days of Ridvan (pronounced Riz-wan). Each spring, between April 21st and May 2nd, Bahá’ís around the world...

On Friday February 8, during one of Ottawa's intense snow storms of the season, over 75 people gathered at the University of Ottawa to enjoy and learn from a presentation given by Dr. Mehrdad Ehsani, a member of the

In November, the 4th annual Interfaith National Breakfast was held in the Parliamentary Restaurant on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The breakfast was sponsored by...

The Ottawa Regional Bahá’í Choir was invited to participate in two recent interfaith prayer gatherings....

On Saturday, November 24th, Tammy Plunkett, a former nurse and mother of four, spoke at the Ottawa Baha’i Centre on the challenges youth face...

5:00 AM, the alarm clock sounds, and another day begins for David Smith, Avionics Engineer at the Department of National Defence in Ottawa. At least that was David's daily routine before...

On Saturday, November 17th, the Ottawa Bahá'í Centre was pleased to host a presentation by Dr. Lagha Fanaian, family law lawyer, and author of Loving Law: A call for a spiritual reform

Over the past few months, a group of friends have been experimenting with ways to fuse their dual passions for Zumba exercise and Bahá'í devotional gatherings...

On October 20 an audience of sixty gathered at the Ottawa Baha’i Centre to celebrate with scholar Jack McLean the publication of his much anticipated book...

Barbara Pope, a local artist and member of the Ottawa Baha’i Community, was profiled in a recent issue of Capital Woman magazine. Barbara is a visual artist who...

OTTAWA - On the afternoon of Canada Day, just a few kilometres east of Parliament in the neighbourhood of Vanier, the Ottawa Baha’i community organized a free outdoor...

On May 12, over 60 people gathered at the Ottawa Baha’i Centre on 211 McArthur Rd. for a special devotional concert by Toronto singer/songwriter MJ Cyr....

Over 50 people of five different faiths came together early evening on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 to clean up Mooney’s Bay Park. "Spring Cleaning the Capital Together" is an annual...

As the Bahá’í Faith has no clergy, the Local Spiritual Assembly guides, and administers, the affairs of the community. In this way, governance in Bahá’í communities springs from the grassroots. Common activities in the Bahá’í Community of Ottawa include...

It’s 1998 in Iran, and a blow has been dealt to the attempts of the country’s largest religious minority to access education. Followers of the Baha’i faith, who since the Iranian revolution of 1979 have been virtually banned from attending post-secondary institutions, had ...

On the evening of Tuesday March 20th, Bahá'ís and their friends in Ottawa and around the world celebrated the festival of Naw Rúz, the beginning of the Bahá'í new year. Naw Rúz coincides with the spring equinox...

I knew virtually nothing about the Bahá'í faith when I walked into the Ottawa Bahá'í Centre on McArthur Avenue last week....

On Saturday, February 18th, a book launch and memorial was held at the Ottawa Baha’i Centre for Larry Rowdon, poet, writer, painter, father, husband, and Bahá'í....

If you’re looking to enjoy an evening that offers the excitement of eating out with the intimacy of staying in, you may want to sample Barrhaven’s latest Baha’i devotional...

Mayor Jim Watson was on hand at City Hall on January 15th, 2012 to proclaim World Religion Day in Ottawa....

On Sunday, January 8th approximately 50 people gathered at the Ottawa Bahá’í Centre to participate in a reflection meeting. Such periodic gatherings are held to reflect on...

Two pre-eminent Canadians, Lloyd Axworthy, President of the University of Winnipeg and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Allan Rock, President of the University of Ottawa and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations and federal cabinet minister, have published an eloquent appeal on behalf of the Baha'is of Iran. Under the title "Canadians Can Help Stop the Persecution of Iran's Baha'is"...

Ten Ottawa-area Bahá’ís attended the 3rd Interfaith Breakfast on Parliament Hill on November 22nd. David Sweet MP and Rabbi Reuven Bulka, Co-Chairs of the All Party Interfaith Friendship Group, welcomed approximately 150 Members of Parliament, Senators, Ambassadors and faith community representatives to the breakfast in the Parliamentary dining room...

A Bahá’í choral ensemble recently performed in two area interfaith events, reaching about 150 people with their music. The choral ensemble comprised several members of...

It took two days for friends, family and other special guests to honour Della Grace Ratcliffe and celebrate the achievement of her 100th birthday. Friends and family gathered on the upper floor of the Carleton Lodge on the afternoon of Sunday, June 19th, 2011 to hear stories about Della's eventful life and accomplishments and to be entertained by talented community members who provided...

On October 20, Bahá'ís around the world celebrate the Birth of the Báb, one of the eleven Holy Days in the Bahá'í calendar. Bahá'ís in Ottawa...

In late September, an Ottawa Bahá'í devotional gathering was featured on CBC’s political news show, The House. CBC national reporter Louise Elliott attended the gathering at the invitation of the Bahá'í Community of Canada’s Office of External Affairs. She was producing a story for...

Every Monday night, around 20 neighbours and friends visit the Ottawa Bahá'í Centre on MacArthur Avenue to attend a Bahá'í devotional gathering featuring yoga. The purpose of this devotional program is to...

Step onto a bus in Ottawa, Canada; open a magazine in Paris, France; or look upwards at Rimini's railway station in Italy – all around the world, India's Baha'i House of Worship is capturing the public's attention...

During the last days of their summer break, children from across the city came together for a one-day ‘Brilliant Stars’ children camp. The purpose of the camp was to...

An Ottawa group called Bridging the Rivers of Faith is celebrating the end of a successful year and the beginning of its second year of activities...

On August 27th, some 100 people gathered at the Ottawa Bahá'í Centre for an evening of reflection and inspiration aimed at honouring and praying for the safety of the seven Bahá’í leaders imprisoned in Iran for their faith. The event featured the art of Rosita Niknafs and...

Once a month, about 30 adults and children gather together in Kanata Lakes for “Soul Food Sunday”. The gathering combines readings from the world’s great faiths with reflections from leading philosophers, authors, and thinkers, interspersed with live and recorded music. Participants often bring and share readings...

"The spiritual energy in the room was palpable," one participant described the community's July reflection meeting. The Ottawa Bahá’í community jumped into summer as several dozen participants gathered at the Bahá’í Centre on MacArthur Avenue for the community's semi-annual meeting to reflect on how to strengthen and extend Bahá'í community life...

On Saturday July 9th close to 50 adults, youth and children residing in Ottawa’s west end gathered at noon for a neighborhood commemoration of a Bahá’í Holy Day, joining millions of Bahá'ís worldwide. Prayers, a video presentation, and ...

David Erickson, a poet living in Gatineau, has just published his first book. The Flower at the End of the World.  There will be a launch to introduce the book to Baha'is and the general public at the Ottawa Baha'i Centre on Saturday evening, 6 August, 7:30...

21-year old area Bahá'í, Sherwin Habibi, has recently been awarded the Governor-General’s medal for his achievements as an undergraduate student at Carleton University...

I serve as an animator of a junior youth group in Ottawa. In one of our early meetings, I felt like giving up. My co-animator had cancelled on me, I was overloaded with school and other events, and I was unsure whether it was even worth it to have a meeting that week. Would the junior youth even be home this week? Would they be willing to learn? Or would they be busy...

During the last two weeks of May, my husband and I, along with my mother-in-law were blessed to have the opportunity to visit Israel on a pilgrimage to the Bahá’í Shrines and holy sites. There were about 300 other Bahá’í pilgrims during our stay. We met Bahá’ís from Singapore, Australia, Canada, Macau, Colombia, Malawi, USA, and many other localities...

Ottawa area choristers Ron and Juanita Perry, Ruth Willsher, Darlene Cameron, Erin Desson and Heather Harvey spent four days rehearsing and then singing before hundreds of people at the 2011 Bahá'í Choral Festival near Chicago...

For the last twenty-five summers, the Rideau Ottawa Bahá'í Schools Initiative (ROBSI) has organized fun-filled, Bahá'í-inspired summer camps in the Ottawa area. Each July up to five different week-long programs are offered...

I have always been fascinated by how Baha’i and Baha’i-inspired organizations tend to evolve so drastically to meet changing conditions and build on experience. The Baha’i Academy is a perfect example...

On the evening of May 25th, around ten friends gathered together in an Ottawa apartment to say prayers for Iran. The atmosphere was quiet and reflective...

Eric Farr, a 24-year old Bahá'í from Chelsea, has been selected from among 700 applicants for a fellowship with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. Eric was one of 30 young people from around the world who were selected for the Faith Acts Fellowship...

Last week I returned to Ottawa from Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. I went there at the end of January to support the Bahá'í efforts to contribute to the spiritual advancement of their country. Slovenia is a small, beautiful country just northeast of Italy. Although it has been dominated by other forces throughout its history, what has made it possible for it to be a united country is its unique language...

On April 20, 2011, Bahá’ís in Ottawa gathered to elect the nine members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Ottawa, the governing council that will manage affairs for the Ottawa Bahá’í community for the year.

The Canadian Bahá’í Business Forum (CBBF) held its 5th Annual General Meeting on Monday April 25, 2011. CBBF is a professional non-profit association of men and women practicing and promoting moral as well as ethical values in the workplace.

A unique poetry reading evening was held on April 23rd at the Ottawa Bahá'í Centre on McArthur Rd., hosted by the members of the Ottawa Creative Writers’ Group. The evening served to commemorate the launch of a volume of poetry by the group in a collection titled ‘Markings’.

Ottawa Bahá'ís gathered on April 21 to celebrate the beginning of the Bahá'í Festival of Ridván, one of nine holy days in the Bahá'í calendar.

On April 10, people from across the city came together at the Ottawa Bahá'í Centre for a ‘reflection meeting’ to sing, pray and consult about the processes of community building in our neighbourhoods.

A visit with one of Ottawa's neighbourhood Bahá'í children's classes and junior youth empowerment groups.

Dr. Ruth Vander Stelt, a member of the Bahá’í Community of Gatineau, Quebec, has been named one of Canada’s Family Physicians of the Year

Ottawa Faith Groups Celebrate World Religion Day