Press Advisory: From Calgary to Kananaskis: Citizens rally for debt justice before G7 Summit
Cardinal Pedro Barreto and global partners among featured guests at Calgary gathering, June 12–15 at Ambrose University
WHAT – The G7 Jubilee People’s Forum is a four-day gathering in Calgary, June 12–15, bringing together social and ecological justice activists, faith communities, and people of conscience from Canada and around the world. Held in the lead-up to the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, the Forum will feature Indigenous, faith and political dignitaries, global partners, community-building, learning, prayer, and public action in support of global and ecological debt justice.
It is part of the Jubilee 2025: Turn Debt into Hope campaign, calling for the cancellation of unjust debt and urgent financial reforms to address the roots of recurring debt crises, and addressing ecological debt. Ecological debt is the exploitation of resources by the Global North in the Global South and Indigenous territories in Turtle Island and world-wide and the resulting debt owed to impacted communities.
WHERE – Ambrose University in Calgary, located on the traditional territory of the Stoney Nakoda. 150 Ambrose Circle SW Calgary, AB T3H 0L5
WHEN – Thursday, June 12 to Sunday, June 15. Visit G7 Jubilee People’s Forum and Public Actions for the schedule.
PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
Friday, June 13, 9:00 a.m. Plenary 2: The Spirit and Depth of Jubilee. Featuring Dignitary:
- Cardinal Pedro Ricardo Barreto S.I., of Peru. President of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon, Archbishop Emeritus of Huancayo, Peru. A respected voice for ecological and human rights in the Amazon.
Friday, June 13, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Reflections by KAIROS’ global partners:
- Salome Owuonda, the Executive Director at the Africa Centre for Sustainable and Inclusive Development (Africa CSID), based in Kenya.
- Tarek Al-Zoughbi, the Project and Youth Coordinator at Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center, based in the West Bank.
- Sandra Xoquic Atz, a Mayan Kaqchikel lawyer who serves as the legal advisor for Kaji Ajpop, which is based in Guatemala.
Friday, June 13, 7:00 p.m. Plenary 3: Vision of the Thriving Community, an interactive visioning exercise including Young Adult leadership.
Sunday, June 15, Speeches at 12:30 p.m. March at 2:00 p.m. Public G7 actions with other civil society organizations, Calgary City Hall
- Shannon Neufeldt, KAIROS Canada’s Member Relations and Network Coordinator and Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee campaign project lead.
- Maryo Wahba, Climate Justice Policy Analyst, Citizens for Public Justice.
The G7 Jubilee People’s Forum is led by KAIROS Canada and its organizing partners: Development and Peace – Caritas Canada (DPCC), Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ), the Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE), and the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) and local partner, the Calgary Interfaith Council.
Related:
May 26, 2025 – Press Release: Justice before the Summit: citizens mobilize for global debt justice ahead of G7 Leaders’ Summit
January 15, 2025 Press Release: Canadians join global movement for debt justice with Jubilee 2025 petition drive
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Media Contacts:
Cheryl McNamara, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, KAIROS Canada, cmcnamara [at] kairoscanada.com
Development and Peace – Caritas Canada: English: Minaz Kerawala, Communications and Public Relations Advisor, mkerawala [at] devp.org; 438-943-6796 | French: Romina Acosta Bimbrera, Conseillère en communications et relations publiques, rabimbrera@devp.org; 514-257-8710 x 327.
Maryo Wahba, Climate Justice Policy Analyst, Citizens for Public Justice, maryo [at] cpj.ca; 778-700-9204
Genevieve Gallant, Executive Director, ORCIE (The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology): ggallant [at] orcie.org; 613-400-1631
The Canadian Council of Churches: Marina Fanous, Communications Coordinator, fanous [at] councilofchurches.ca
