The Baháʼí community of Aurora actively observes International Women’s Day (March 8) by promoting the fundamental principle of equality between women and men. Events often focus on empowering women, highlighting their crucial role in achieving world peace, and advocating for social transformation through education and community service. 

Key aspects of the Baháʼí approach to International Women’s Day include:

• Core Principle: The faith teaches that equality is a spiritual and social necessity, essential for the abolishment of war.
• Action-Oriented: The Baháʼí International Community frequently submits statements to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, focusing on themes like the empowerment of rural women and the need for universal, active participation.
• Service Initiatives: Baháʼí-inspired organizations, such as the Tahirih Justice Center, work year-round to protect women and girls from violence. 

Through these efforts, the Baháʼí community highlights that the advancement of women is crucial for the progress of humanity as a whole. 

A winter children’s camp and service initiative took place on December 22, 2025, bringing together children and junior youth for a day focused on creativity, collaboration, and service to the community.

During the morning portion of the camp, children engaged in arts-and-crafts activities, creating holiday greeting cards and photo props, and practiced songs they had prepared to share later in the day. These activities encouraged teamwork, creativity, and a spirit of service.

In the afternoon, the group visited Kingsway Retirement Centre, where the children shared music with residents by singing a selection of songs focused on peace and the holiday season. They also invited the seniors to join in on familiar holiday songs, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere that was enthusiastically received.

Following the musical portion, the children spent time visiting with residents, exchanging greeting cards, and taking photos together using handmade props and a Polaroid camera. The photos were left at the centre as keepsakes for the residents.

The visit was a meaningful and uplifting experience for both the children and the seniors, highlighting the impact of intergenerational connection and service. The retirement centre has since invited the group to return for future visits.

Photos from the day are shared below.

On Saturday, November 29, a small-scale community conference on gender equality was held in Aurora, bringing together local residents for a thoughtful and engaging discussion on an important social issue.

The event featured a panel conversation offering perspectives on gender equality inspired by the Baha’i faith, followed by small focus groups that allowed participants to share ideas, reflections, and personal experiences in a more intimate setting. The format encouraged open dialogue, respectful listening, and community connection.

Attendees engaged actively throughout the day, contributing to meaningful conversations and exchanging insights on how principles of equality can be reflected in everyday life and community spaces. The focus groups, in particular, created opportunities for deeper discussion and mutual learning.

Overall, the event was well attended and successfully fostered a welcoming environment for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration. It highlighted the value of community-led conversations in promoting understanding and advancing discussions around gender equality.

Below are a few photos from the event capturing moments from the panel discussion and group conversations.

A team of community members have organized a small scale conference that is set to take place on Sunday, August 10, 2025.

The theme of the conference is the importance of children’s spiritual education and all Aurora residents are welcome to participate. Please contact aurora.lsa41@gmail.com.