Parliamentarian Events and Opportunities
35th Christmas Dinner: The Certainty of Uncertainty – Don and Fay Simmonds
November 26, 2018
Uncertainty strikes all of us. For Don and Fay Simmonds it came in the words “liver failure.” They spoke about their life and death battle and their search for certainty in life’s most uncertain moments. There is much to celebrate!
The annual Christmas Dinner is the highlight of the Christian Embassy’s year. This year we welcomed over 200 diplomats, parliamentarians and business leaders, representing 55 nations.
The festive evening allows busy leaders and their spouses to relax, network and enjoy special music and meaningful reminders of the season. Diplomats appreciate what is often a first opportunity to experience Canadian Christmas traditions.
Reflections on a Trade Challenged World – Mr. Rob Wildeboer
October 31, 2018 from 12h00 to 13h30
Martinrea is a global automotive parts supplier based in Canada, with $4 billion in revenues and 15,000 employees worldwide, operating 44 plants in eight countries on four continents. The current international trade environment, as well as the challenges of one of the most innovative and technologically advanced industries in the world, provide a suitable background to discuss issues of politics, culture and adaptability in a changing world. Martinrea has been heavily involved in international trade and policy discussions involving the automotive sector. Join Rob Wildeboer, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Martinrea, and fellow colleagues for a roundtable discussion on how to persevere and succeed in this challenging environment.
An Anchor in a Financial Storm – Mr. Jonathan Wellum
June 6, 2018
Levels of debt, wealth disparities, shifting social, ethical and moral values, nation-state challenges – the world is living with risk. How might we deal with the challenges we face?
Jonathan Wellum addresses the need to restore truth, meaning and values rooted in Christianity if we are to progress and maintain free, vibrant and healthy markets at this networking luncheon.
53rd National Prayer Breakfast – Dr. Os Guinness
May 8, 2018
The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual ecumenical event held in Ottawa inviting leaders to come together for an inspirational message, music and the opportunity to pray together. The breakfast is offered under the auspices of the speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons and is organized by a group of volunteers.
The theme for the 2018 National Prayer Breakfast is “Believe, Serve, Lead”.
Dr. Os Guinness, author and social critic, is the keynote speaker and will be joined by special guest Humboldt Broncos’ chaplain Sean Brandow.
National Prayer Leadership Dinner – Kim Phuc
May 7, 2018 from 18h00 to 21h30
The National Prayer Leadership Dinner is an annual ecumenical event held in Ottawa inviting leaders to come together for an inspirational message, music and the opportunity to pray together. The dinner is offered under the auspices of the speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons and is organized by a group of volunteers.
Kim Phuc, author of Fire Road: The Napalm Girl’s Journey Through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness and Peace, will give the keynote address.
2018 Couples’ Weekend Getaway: Montebello, QC
April 6-8, 2018
Great marriages are built! Like a great house – on a solid foundation, lovingly crafted, updated and renovated over time. A Weekend Getaway will strengthen your foundation – God’s way – and give you new tools to renovate your relationship.
For most couples it’s a chance to reconnect, re-establish the foundation and rekindle romance.
For others, it’s a fresh start.
For some, it will be the weekend that saves a marriage.
Wherever you’re at in your relationship, it’s a weekend to remember. The atmosphere is relaxed and warm, even fun. You’ll hear from real couples doing real life together… God’s way. You’ll be given time to process what you’re learning. And together, you’ll make a plan for a marriage that lasts a lifetime.
Clarity in a Confused World – Abdu Murray, J.D.
March 28, 2018
Educational institutions, news and social media provide us with many different voices, opinions and perspectives. Who do we believe? Increasingly in Western culture, many believe that morals, spirituality and truth are all relative; that there are no absolute truths. Truth is being sacrificed on the altar of preferences. This tendency can cause confusion in interactions. In contrast people who express certainty about what they believe are frequently seen as bigoted, arrogant and intolerant.
Have we embraced a culture of confusion? What are the consequences of such a perspective? Mr. Murray presents reasoning from a Christian perspective for the foundations of truth with applications for professional and personal life to an audience of diplomats, parliamentarians and business leaders at a plated networking luncheon entitled Clarity in a Confused World.
Leading Change – Mr. Don Van Meer
February 28, 2018
Change is inevitable. In fact, what we have in common is that we are all grappling with change in our lives. Change is the one constant. It’s the one reality.
Jack Welch says, “Anytime there is change, there is an opportunity. So it is paramount that an organization get energized rather than paralyzed.”
According to Don Van Meer, the greatest single point of failure in driving through change is when leadership doesn’t capture the hearts and minds of the entire organization. In other words, change is just not about leaders taking people through something. Change is about engaging people in the process of change. Having them be part of the decision making. Having them understand where you are going as an organization. Having them buy into the process, even when they don’t understand all of it.
When people are engaged, people “Get it, feel it, and want it.”
How does a leader keep a team engaged in the face of major changes? What equipped Don to lead change?
Promise Keepers “All In” National Men’s Conference
February 23-24, 2018
Join men from all walks of life at the “All In” National Conference, where we will explore God’s plan for leading significant lives. Whether you are exploring faith or have been a Christian longer than you can remember, “All In” will challenge, motivate and equip you to stand firm and navigate the world around us.
34th Christmas Dinner: Counter-Intuitive Leadership
November 27, 2017
The annual Christmas Dinner is the highlight of the Christian Embassy’s year. This year we welcomed 186 diplomats, parliamentarians and business leaders, representing 56 nations.
The festive evening allows busy leaders and their spouses to relax, network and enjoy special music and meaningful reminders of the season. Diplomats appreciate what is often a first opportunity to experience Canadian Christmas traditions.
Leaders from various backgrounds participated in readings, reflections and seasonal music. Richard Magnussen, Chairman of the American Furniture Association, gave the keynote address entitled Counter-intuitive Leadership.
Richard shared his thoughts on the key virtue required of a successful leader, one that is a core characteristic of God and interwoven throughout the Christmas story: humility. He gave a number of examples of how he has grown in humility.
Richard concluded by stating, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I have learned so many lessons through my simple faith in the humble Jesus of the Christmas story.”
Ottawa Civic Prayer Breakfast: “Who is my Neighbour?”
October 27, 2017 7h15-9h00
The Ottawa Civic Prayer Breakfast is one of more than 50 gatherings across Canada in which community leaders honour and pray for the mayor, city councillors, police and emergency responders. Leaders come together to celebrate under the banner “Who Is My Neighbour?” because the Scriptures suggest that we love our neighbour as ourselves.
Each year the speaker at the breakfast focuses on answering the question: “Who is My Neighbour?”
This year our speaker will be Gerry Organ and he will be answering that question through the lens of being a former football player, his work with refugees and immigrant families here in Ottawa, mentoring young men with fatherhood issues, and encouraging young entrepreneurs in their calling. Also, he is passionate about this annual prayer event!
Gerry became a Christian in 1973 while playing professional football for the Ottawa Rough Riders. Since that time, he has been fully engaged in Kingdom work both in the church and in business. His passion is to fulfill the will of God as an ambassador and servant so that others will taste and see God’s goodness and be transformed by His love.
Leading With Courage – The Rt Hon. The Baroness Cox
September 25, 2017
Leaders were riveted as they heard the The Right Honorable Baroness Cox recount several stories about her life’s work at a Christian Embassy roundtable luncheon on September 25, 2017. As the founder Trustee of MERLIN (Medical Emergency Relief International), and the founder and President of HART (Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust), she has visited many remote areas of the world.
Seeking to be a voice for the voiceless, she has found herself in situations where she has been afraid and dismayed, “[You] have to learn to cross that frontier of fear…and when you do cross that frontier of fear, you meet the most amazing people. You meet heros and heroines of faith. And we always come back humbled and inspired, receiving more than we could ever ever give.”
She took her listeners on a journey to three different conflict zones where she witnessed first hand the people affected by horrific tragedies carried out under the radar from most of the world. These tragedies included the destruction of churches and mass persecution of Christians. She has clearly been impacted by the powerful stories of suffering of brave men and women and emphasized that we live in countries where we have the freedom to stand up for those with no voice and that we must not take this valuable freedom for granted.
52nd National Prayer Breakfast – H.E. the Right Honourable David Johnston
May 18, 2017
The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event held in Ottawa under the authority of the speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons and is organized by a group of volunteers. This year’s breakfast features an address by Governor General David Johnston. The theme of this year’s event is “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea.” (Psalms 72:8)
National Prayer Leadership Dinner
May 17, 2017 from 18h30 to 21h30
The National Prayer Leadership Dinner is an annual ecumenical event held in Ottawa inviting leaders to come together for an inspirational message, music and the opportunity to pray together. The dinner is offered under the auspices of the speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons and is organized by a group of volunteers.
Debate Without Hate – Mr. Abdu Murray, J.D.
May 16, 2017
Our world seems increasingly divided over politics, social issues, and religion. As emotions run high, people make hostile and insulting statements about “the other side.” In the process, much anger is generated with very little understanding. The issues are forgotten and people are devalued.
Is there a way out of this cycle of anger? Abdu Murray discusses how we can respectfully discuss our deepest differences by rediscovering the source of human dignity.
2017 Couples’ Weekend Getaway: Montebello, QC
April 21-23, 2017
Some of our stories are unfolding beautifully, some have more bumps and twists than we would like. The good news is, all our marriage stories are still being written.
Maybe yours could use some spicing up, some help getting unstuck, or maybe you need a new plot line entirely. A Weekend Getaway, presented by FamilyLife Canada, can help you and your spouse write a great story together, God’s way.
It’s just one weekend, but it can take your relationship to a whole new level. Because when two people get on the same page…the sky is the limit!
Spend a refreshing weekend in Montebello, QC hearing speakers sharing insights and perspectives on marriage with a group of 75 couples interspersed with time for individual couples to reflect on the presentations and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
From 2016 Populist Pivot to 2017 Policy Pivot? – Mr. Peter Hall
March 9, 2017
In 2016 the Brexit referendum, the United States presidential election and other European election campaigns have witnessed a swing towards what has been called a “Populist Movement.” Now in 2017 there is much speculation on how these 2016 political pivots will impact the global economy. Mr. Peter Hall, Chief Economist with Export Development Canada, will speak at this roundtable for heads of diplomatic missions and parliamentarians about his current analysis and how he personally approaches so much uncertainty.
Recognizing and Reinforcing Canada’s Contributions Toward a World Safe From Pandemic Threats
February 16, 2017
Join fellow parliamentarians at a breakfast roundtable with Dr. Jonathan Quick.
When a pandemic virus explodes anywhere in the world, we are all at risk for its potentially devastating consequences. We know how to keep local disease outbreaks from becoming devastating pandemics. Yet, as Dr. Jonathan Quick will argue, only one in three countries worldwide are up to the task. An often unnoticed asset is the tenacity faith-based workers have demonstrated in confronting pandemics, from early Roman plagues to the recent West Africa Ebola epidemic.
During his March, 2016 meeting with President Obama, Prime Minister Trudeau cited “health security for people around the world facing pandemics” as a high-potential area for Canada-U.S. cooperation. Canada is already making unique contributions through active participation in the 55-country Global Health Security Agenda and its own pandemic preparedness efforts. This roundtable will explore the tremendous benefits as well as the daunting challenges of ensuring ongoing support from Canada and all countries toward a world safe from pandemic threats.
Facing Global Health Challenges – Jono and Tina Quick
February 15, 2017
Dr. Jonathan (Jono) Quick, who served for eight years with the World Health Organization (WHO) as Director of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy, and his wife Tina, formerly a health officer for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, addressed an audience of almost 100 heads of mission, diplomats, parliamentarians and business people. Their presentation was a study in contrasts between a workaholic doctor and a wife raising three children alone – and the turning point which brought their family from the brink of disaster to wholeness and reconciliation.
Jono said that we all need a passion – a sense of purpose – for our lives, but that no passion, job or pursuit is worth losing one’s family for. In his journey of faith where Jono grew in his relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, he learned that, when God and family become one’s primary passion, other priorities fall into place.
When the Quicks were asked what their primary recommendation is for families that are threatened by a busy lifestyle, Tina replied that, the most stabilizing activity for families is to eat one meal together each day, even if it requires some members to skype in.
Together, they now enjoy wholeness and fulfilment in their faith, marriage and relationships with their children. Says Tina, “It’s never too late, and things are never too bad, to mend a strained or broken relationship – if everyone is willing.”
Leading and Living for a Lasting Legacy – Mr. David MacLean
November 30, 2016 from 12h00 to 13h30
David MacLean is a Best Practice Chair for The Executive Committee (TEC) Canada, equipping CEOs, entrepreneurs and executives to lead well. In this interactive, informal leadership session, David will help participants discover the true essence of great leadership.
Prior to TEC, David served as a sports marketing specialist in the National Hockey League, working with the Winnipeg Jets. He then established MacLean Group Marketing, an award-winning marketing agency; and MacLean Sports Marketing, which served the promotional needs of professional sports teams across North America.
David is recognized for outstanding creativity and innovation in the art of leading leaders. A TEDx speaker, he writes and speaks on Wholehearted Leadership.
On Tuesday November 29, David will also be speaking at our Christmas Dinner on The HEART – A Leader’s Most Valuable Asset.