Brown background with text reading "Quakers in Canada: News from around Canadian Yearly Meeting." Most of the text is yellow, but the Q is pale green.

Dear Friends,

Happy last week of the year, when you've hopefully all forgotten the concept of "weekdays" and "weekends." Your friendly neighbourhood newsletter editor didn't book the week off, like a dang fool, so if you did, please revel in it for me.

Thank you for reading Canadian Yearly Meeting's monthly electronic newsletter—we're glad to have you! If you know others who might like to receive this, please feel free to forward this message so that other friends can subscribe at the link below. Your help in connecting Friends across the country is deeply appreciated!

If you'd like to contribute to the newsletter, email newsletter@quaker.ca by the 15th of the month. We may not be able to fit all contributions in, but we'll try!

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There is still time. Donate to help CYM provide services

With less than two days left this year, we hope you consider making a year-end gift to CYM. Donating before December 31 means you’ll receive a 2022 charitable tax receipt.

Every gift makes a huge difference. Your continuing generosity will help CYM provide services that ground, uplift, and renew our Quaker faith. Your gift will help to replenish the faith and hope needed in these turbulent times.

To read the 2022 annual appeal letter or see how you can donate, click here.

If you have already made your gift, thank you!

CYM is here today because of the support and service of Friends and attenders like you. We are incredibly grateful, and thank you!

With gratitude,

CYM Team

P.S. Remember, for a 2022 charitable tax receipt, online donations must be received before 11:59 pm, 31 December 2022, and donations sent by mail must be postmarked by 31 December 2022.

Donate
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Plans are Underway for the CYM Annual Gathering July 8th - 13th, 2023!

Speaker Announcements

Dick Preston of Hamilton Meeting has agreed to deliver the keynote 2023 Sunderland P Gardner Lecture.

Dick’s working title is Truth and Reconciliation: a personal view from 60 years of learning Cree culture

J Brent Bill will lead the Quaker Studies program.

Brent has written many books centered around Quaker worship and spirituality, in addition to being a photographer, retreat leader and Quaker minister. He lives on 50 acres of reclaimed farmland in Indiana. Check out his website (here).

His topic is yet to be confirmed.

Save the Dates (and note that they are in July this year!): Sat 8th - Thurs 13th July 2023

The format in 2023 will be “blended,” with a mix of in person only, online only, and fully blended sessions.

The in-person Gathering will be in Winnipeg, at the Canadian Mennonite University. There will be options to camp or to stay in residence (air conditioning optional), and to opt in to the cafeteria food plan.

Thank you to the over 200 Friends represented in submissions to the survey. You have helped to provide the impetus to confirm our blended gathering in early July 2023.

Call for submissions

Invitation to presenters to develop their Special Interest Group (SIG) concept (90 mins, in-person, online or hybrid format) and submit with a minute of support from their MM, or organization (or explanation of isolated Friend status). Please ensure that the CYM Program Committee receives proposals by late May (via this form).

For emerging information
A chalkboard reading "apply now" sits on a white table against white-painted brick, with a small plant, a pen, some binder clips, and a calculator in the foreground.

New Year's Eve at Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill, a Quaker learning centre in Pennsylvia, has two New Year's Eve events:

  • An free online year’s-end musical celebration, featuring the duo-piano team of Hugh Sung and Madalina Danila performing a musical world tour of sparkling 4-hand piano music! This will take place at 5 P.M. PST (6 P.M. MST, 7 P.M. CST, 8 P.M. EST, 9 P.M. AST, 9:30 P.M. NST), and can be viewed on the Pendle Hill YouTube channel. https://pendlehill.org/events/new-years-eve-livestreamed-concert/ 
  • and a Zoom candlelight Meeting for Worship with Care for the New Year, starting at 8 P.M. PST (9 P.M. MST, 10 P.M. CST, 11 P.M. EST, midnight AST, 12:30 A.M. NST. "Join Pendle Hill staff and community members online for our traditional candlelight meeting for worship with care for welcoming in the New Year. We will gather promptly at 11pm Eastern Time and worship together faithfully – and virtually – until the clock strikes midnight. Per tradition, staff in the Barn will be worshiping in the glow of candles." https://pendlehill.org/events/candlelight-meeting-for-worship-2022/
Pendle Hill logo - a tall oval, with a stylized tree on top of a hill and the letters PH.

Reminder: Camp NeeKauNis Camp House Rentals

Camp NeeKauNis is a Quaker camp located on traditional Wendat (Huron) and Anishinaabe land, near Waubaushene, Ontario (about 90 min north of Toronto).

Cozy up this fall at the Camp House - now available for rentals! 

The Camp House can accomodate 4-6 people with 2 bedrooms, each with a double bed, and a pull out couch by the wood stove. Fire wood is provided and the kitchen is fully equipped. The main property is available for your use - whether that be getting out for a fall walk or enjoying stargazing at night. No matter the weather you will have a warm place to snuggle up and dry off if needed. The Camp house has great spaces for relaxing, reading, doing puzzles or arts & crafts and for playing games as a group!

If you are interested in booking the Camp House for day, weekend, or weekly use please contact Milena at camp.neekaunis@gmail.com to book. She will be able to tell you what to expect, and what to bring.

Please note that our frugal prices are based on cost-recovery and we don't have cleaners so we expect our guests to clean the house before departing.

Day use with house access: $50; Overnight: $125; Weekly (7 nights): $750.

We hope you'll consider the NeeKauNis Camp House for your next getaway!

Email Milena
The beginning of the trail down to the waterfront at Camp NeeKauNis - a rough looking wood railing in a forest.