Learn
Join us as we learn together
Bible on Tap
First Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm.
Join a member of our clergy at the next bible study. Bible on Tap is an opportunity to look at the week’s lectionary readings and other special topics, share a pint, talk theology and enjoy some fellowship together.
Check our calendar for location and other details.
Reading Circle
The Reading Circle is a book discussion group for women in the parish and community. We discuss a wide variety of books, both fiction and nonfiction. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month, September through June in the Chapel. See our calendar for our next gathering.
- September 11 – Health for All: A Doctor’s
Prescription for a Healthier Canada by Jane
Philpott. - October 9 – Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by
Kate Beaton - November 13 – How We Learn to be Brave:
Decisive Moments in Life and Faith by Mariann
Edgar - December 11 – In the Upper Country by Kai
Thompson - January 9 – Steeple Chasing: Around Britain by
Church by Peter Ross - February 12 – Denison Avenue by Christina Wong
- March 12 – Tom’s Story by Joann Oosterman
- April 9 – How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply by David Brooks
- May 14 – The Covenant of Water by Abraham
Verghese - June 11 – Visitation by Jenny Erpanbek
Parish at Learning (PAL)
We offer occasional Parish At Learning (PAL) sessions in the chapel following the morning Eucharist (usually between September and May). All parishioners are invited to the sessions that begin at 11.15 am and end no later than 12.30 pm.
PAL hours are a project in Adult Education with a variety of presenters. The central purpose is to raise awareness about some of the social issues of our day and ministries provided by our diocese. The sessions also give some of our members a chance to speak about the about the work they do during the week.
Please check our calendar for PAL sessions.
Black History
- “23 historical black Canadians you should know”
https://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/black-history-month/
- Check out the following movies:
- The Six Triple Eight – black women’s experience in the US military
- Greenbook – a refined pianist hires a street-smart driver in the deep south
- Remember Africville
https://www.nfb.ca/film/remember-africville/ - Journey to Justice – Viola Desmond
https://www.nfb.ca/film/journey_to_justice/ - For more options
https://blackcanadianfilm.ca/films/
The Children’s Church has explored:
- Harriet Tubman – USA. Harriet was born into slavery, but escaped to the North and was the first woman conductor to help others escape on the Underground Railroad. She was also a nurse, spy and leader in the Union Army and after the war worked for women’s rights and newly freed slaves.
- Father Broderick Grier – USA. Fr. Grier is an Episcopal priest who loves to help people come close to God by figuring out what the Bible has to say to us today, using our experiences and our imagination.
- February 23rd: Bayard Rustin – USA – India. Trusted advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr. and worked to end segregation. He studied non-violence from Mahatmas Ghandi and brought those lessons back to the leaders of the Civil Rights movement. Bayard went on to help others become ang
Truth and Reconciliation
The Truth and Reconciliation Team was formed to support the efforts of the Anglican Church of Canada to achieve reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis at the national, diocesan and local level. The Truth and Reconciliation Team meets monthly to
- learn about the perspectives and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis in Canada;
- organize learning events for the Parish;
- provide information on available resources and events in Ottawa; and
- develop understanding of our own biases.
Connecting for Climate Change Action
January 20 – April 21, 2025
Here’s a great learning opportunity to hear from Indigenous and non-Indigenous instructors from Western University, as they present various perspectives and information about climate change and what we can do about it.
Using a storytelling format and including videos, readings and self-quizzes, we can deepen our understanding.
It’s free, online and convenient — participate in the full 12- week course, or as much as you like, when you like, from the comfort of your own home.
To register, go to Connecting for Climate Change Action. The course begins on January 20 and closer to that time, you’ll receive an e-mail from Western, with instructions. Questions? Please contact the church office.
ASW will lead a discussion on Tuesday, February 25th and Tuesday, April 22nd. You can sign up for the discussions by contacting the church office. For more information, please contact the office.
Ongoing at All Saints’ Westboro
215 Dead Children; Kamloops, Albert Dumont, June 1, 2021 — Albert Dumont, Algonquin Spiritual Teacher in Residence, a well-known and respected Algonquin poet, artist, activist and spiritual guide has written a reflection. Read Albert’s reflection.
Statement from The Honourable Murray Sinclair, June 1, 2021 — Watch/hear The Honourable Murray Sinclair on Facebook.
Healing Forest — On October 13th, 2019, Grandmother Francine helped us to bless the small Healing Forest on the east lawn near the main doors to the church. An initiative of the children of All Saints’ Westboro, the children from both Churches joined in the ceremony by adding the last stones to the pathway and by expressing their prayerful intentions with a tobacco offering. Participants then sang together with Grandmother Francine, with beautiful sunshine streaming down among the gently falling leaves. Patricia Stirbys was with us, representing the Healing Forest Initiative and welcoming our small site to join with other forests across the country, dedicated to reconciliation of First Nations and settler people. This space is defined by a Grandmother/Grandfather Rock that a seating area while we mediate or pray for solace and courage as we look to reconciliation of First People communities with colonizing communities around the world. Feel free to come and make use of this lovely site.
Resource Table — Stop by to see resources or chat with a member of the Truth & Reconciliation Team, in Steacy Hall during coffee hour following the 9:30 a.m. service.
Offered by Other Groups — First United Book Study, Mondays 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Rooms 5/6.
Feel free to come and join in any Monday morning. See First United’s calendar.
See Resource Sheet, June 2020
Indigenous Film Reviews
Here are some possible films to view – all previewed by members of our team — from the National Film Board of Canada, with reviews included. All can be found on the following website: www.nfb.ca/documentary.
54 mins., Drew Hayden Taylor, 2014
This film shines a light on Indigenous humour, a part of Indigenous culture that is often overlooked. It is funny, and informative while it examines complex issues such as identity, politics and racism.
1 hr. 37 mins., Alanis Obomsawin, 2017
This is the story of a Cree Community in Norway House (north of Winnipeg). It centres around the Helen Betty Osborne Educational Resource Centre which provides schooling from Kindergarten to Grade 12 for all students in the community, to develop their abilities and sense of pride. Teaching occurs in the classroom and the great outdoors.
It is a film that shows how outcomes can change for the better when sufficient educational funding is provided and when students can develop their abilities and a sense of pride.
1 hr. 24 mins., Alanis Obomsawin, 2014
Time went quickly as I learned about Treaty 9, that covers a great area of Northern Quebec and Ontario. There is a difference between what it says and what was explained according to the ancestors of the Indigenous people that put their mark on the document in 1905. The work of Idle No More, Chief Theresa Spence’s protest and the walk of the 6 young men from Northern Quebec to Ottawa are covered in beautiful and moving cinematography.
1 hr. 19 mins., Tasha Hubbard, 2016
In this deeply moving feature-length documentary, three sisters and a brother meet for the first time. Betty Ann, Esther, Rosalie and Ben were only four of 20,000 Indigenous Canadian children taken from their families between 1955 and 1985 (the infamous Sixties Scoop), to be either adopted into white families or live in foster care. As the four siblings piece together their shared history in this bittersweet film, their connection deepens, and their family begins to take shape.
58 mins., Eva Wunderman, 2017
Edna Elias, former Commissioner of Nunavut, is a great-gradndaughter of Petter Norberg, a Swede who came to Northern canada as a young man and worked in the fur trade. The documentary tells the sotry of Norberg’s life through the visit of Edna’s Swedish cousins to Kugluktuk.
Available on TVO at https:
52 mins., Tasha Hubbard, 2019
Following the shooting of Colten Boushie by a Saskatchewan farmer, this film follows his family’s pursuit of justice and raises questions about racism embedded in Canada’s justice system. (can be viewed on GEM for free)
Local/Regional Events
Events not organized or sponsored by ASW that may be of interest.
- NAC Indigeneous Theatre – Upcoming Events and Tickets
- Canadian Museum of History – History Night at the Museum: Traditional Technologies
- CBC – ‘Being able to tell our own stories’: Molly of Denali brings Indigenous voices to the fore
Science and Christianity II: “Darwin and Evolution”
This interesting 3 part series has finished, but the audio and visual are both available online here.
Movies
We transitioned from running our monthly Movies with Meaning program to offering movies occasionally. On January 4, 2025 we held the movie “The Fourth Wiseman” and a potluck dinner.
