Canada

Threats to Jewish community centers concern Pagans

By |

TWH — Jewish facilities have been targeted with vandalism and bomb threats in recent weeks, and that has some of their Pagan neighbors on edge even as they stand ready to assist. Hundreds of headstones were damaged in two Jewish cemeteries this month, and 100 bomb threats have been reportedly called into Jewish community centers and temples in the United States and Canada in what’s being called “telephone terrorism.” It was enough to get a mention by President Trump during his first speech before a joint session of Congress, although those remarks have been criticized for not outlining to plan to stop the attacks. While most of the bomb threats targeted community centers in the eastern United States, they were located in a total of 33 states as well as two provinces of Canada. The calls may have originated overseas, authorities believe, and used voice-masking technology, as in this example posted online.

Canada

Canadian Pagans and Heathens respond to Quebec City mosque shooting

By |

QUEBEC CITY, Mon — On the evening of Sunday, January 29, a solitary gunman entered a mosque in Quebec City, Canada, killing six men and leaving another five in serious condition. Another thirteen people were reportedly treated and released for non-life threatening injuries. The Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec is the mosque where the shootings occurred. This recent attack is not the first act of intolerance that the facility has endured. In June 2016, during Ramadan, a gift-wrapped pigs head was delivered to the mosque with a note that read “Bon appetit.” More recently the walls of the mosque had been defaced with swastikas.

Canada

Community volunteers offer safe rides

By |

WINNIPEG, Man.  – A Facebook group is taking the issue of women’s safety and transportation to a new level. Ikwe Safe Rides (Women Helping Women) is a private, members-only Facebook group based in Winnipeg, Canada. It has a mandate to offer its membership a safe, donation-based alternative to using taxis. The group is managed by six administrators and has more than 14, 600 members participating.

Canada

Update: the Rectory loses its space, founders clarify reasons

By |

MONTREAL — It was announced Jan. 11 that the Rectory, a newly-created Pagan ritual and learning space, would be closing its doors as of Feb. 1. Located in an historic building owned by an Anglican church, the Rectory was to be an inclusive facility welcoming Pagans of all practices and as well as providing safe space to other organizations and their work. However, once the plans were made public, the founders were forced to close the project down.

Canada

Old Montreal rectory welcomes Witches

By |

UPDATE 1/5/2017: It was announced Jan. 11 that The Rectory will be permanently closed as of February 2017. We will update this further as we learn more.  

MONTREAL – The Pagan community in Montreal, Quebec has a new community space called The Rectory. It is the brainchild of T.Scarlet Jory and Robyn, two witches who identified the need for a new venue for Pagan classes, rituals and events. Located in the actual rectory of an Anglican church, The Rectory is promoting itself as “a multifaith sacred space aimed at supporting community.” The adjacent church is St.