Rooted and rising: Kairos celebrates 25 years at Ottawa and Toronto anniversary events

Celebration in Ottawa  

On October 8, Kairos Canada welcomed supporters, partners, former and current staff, Global Affairs Canada, faith leaders and friends in Ottawa for a special reception marking the organization’s 25th anniversary.  

The evening began with a warm welcome and territorial acknowledgement from Beth Lorimer, Kairos’ Ecological Justice Program Coordinator and emcee for the evening. Guests were honoured to receive opening reflections from Shirley Tolley, a proud member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and Women’s Representative for the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation Tribal Council, who grounded the event in a spirit of gratitude, relationship, and respect. Shirley was joined by her 12-year-old grandson Evan who performed the Honour Song for Kairos with his voice and his drum. 

The celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on Kairos’ journey over the past quarter century and to look ahead with hope.  

Long-time staff member Rachel Warden shared stories and insights from Kairos’ history, highlighting the organization’s enduring commitment to justice, solidarity, and partnership. Danielle Kamtié, Kairos’ Africa Partnerships and Global Climate Justice Coordinator, reflected on the organization’s current work and vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of youth leadership, global solidarity and collective action in addressing today’s interconnected challenges.

The reception concluded as an appreciation of the many individuals, churches, organizations, government representatives and communities whose dedication has shaped Kairos over the last 25 years and will continue to guide its work in the years to come.

By Beth Lorimer, Ecological Justice Coordinator

Lori Ransom, Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator for the United Church of Canada who served as Kairos’ Interim Executive Director in 2021, opened the celebration by inviting everyone gathered to see themselves as “the ancestors of Kairos tomorrow.” Staff, supporters, friends and partners have inherited a legacy from those who came before them and share responsibility for passing it on. She described that legacy as encompassing Indigenous justice, human dignity and care for all relations in creation. 

Lori pointing to Kairos’ new strategic plan, Walking the two-way path: Two paths, one journey, shared purpose, as a compelling roadmap for the next 25 years. Drawing on the parable of the sower, she invited listeners to consider what allows a commitment to justice to take root, withstand challenges and bear fruit.

In the reflections that followed, the sower metaphor was common thread: growth depends not only on what is planted but also on the care it receives. Father Paul Hansen called on Kairos to honour its deep roots while preparing for its next 25 years. Using the image of seeds needing soil and water, he invited the community to find the conditions that will nurture its future work. Robert Oliphant, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, shared a story he heard in Tanzania, attributed to the Maasai people, inviting everyone to contribute as a tree or flower. He said that Kairos is the water that nurtures them. 

MP Oliphant, a former UCC Minister, was involved in PLURA, the anti-poverty fund and one of the ten independent Canadian ecumenical justice coalitions that merged as Kairos in 2001. 

He contrasted “chronos” – measurable, everyday time – with “kairos”, a moment or experience of deeper significance. He reminded those gathered that the name expressed an ambition to move beyond routine into imaginative, creative collaboration – not simply to save denominational resources when the coalitions merged. 

Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands and a practicing Anglican, called on Christians committed to inclusion and justice to proclaim their faith publicly, helping to reshape the public narrative by affirming social and ecological justice – including solidarity with Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world – as central to Christianity.

Longstanding members of Kairos’ staff, Rachel Warden and Alfredo Barahona spoke of their time at Kairos. Rachel described the coming together of 10 ecumenical organizations as an opportunity to connect struggles that had previously been addressed separately, bringing global partnerships, economic justice, Indigenous rights, human rights, corporate accountability and migration into more integrated work.  

She also spoke of solidarity as a reciprocal relationship, recalling delegations that responded to global partners’ invitations for accompaniment and witness. Alfredo too felt that the anniversary belonged to the people who had built and sustained the movement through solidarity with communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia.  

While Kairos’ continuity gives Alfredo confidence and thanks, he expressed sadness that an organization like Kairos is still needed. While injustices persist, so too must the work to confront them. 

In his remarks, Father Hansen referenced a prayer by Thomas Merton about trusting God without knowing the road ahead. For Father Hansen, that combination of humility, love and courage captures the heart of Kairos: moving forward together into an uncertain future, guided by faith and a commitment to justice.

Leah Shifferaw closed the evening by encouraging people to send a message to the future through Kairos’ newly launched #DearFuture Campaign. As we contemplate 25 years of faithful action for justice, Kairos invites us all to think about what we have inherited, what we refuse to pass on and what we want to build together.

By Cheryl McNamara, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator