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ABOUT
The Multi-Faith Initiative is a spontaneous effort by citizens of many faiths to protect sacred land in Guelph that is now threatened by major commercial development.
On January 20, 2006, after 10 years of proposals, opposition, and land use legalities, a by-law came into effect that allows commercial development at Woodlawn Road and Woolwich Street—the rural northern boundary of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Construction of the initial 155,000 sq. ft. development (which includes a Wal-Mart) is beginning, which many people believe will seriously interfere with the religious practices of the world-renowned Ignatius Jesuit Centre and two historic cemeteries.
Citizens of many faiths have quickly gathered to protect these sacred lands by supporting a unique legal challenge based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Section 2 of the Charter prohibits laws, including municipal by-laws, which infringe on the freedom of religion. Section 273(1) of the Municipal Act states that any person can apply to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to have a municipal by-law quashed for illegality. Bill Hulet, a practicing Daoist, has filed a legal notice seeking to quash the City's new by-law.
Many affidavits have been filed in support of Hulet's application, sworn by Guelph's religious leaders and members of a wide variety of faiths and backgrounds, including Aboriginal, Anglican, Autistic, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Daoist, Hindu/Yogic, Lutheran, United, and Zen. These statements clearly establish that, in the minds of many people, this by-law will substantially interfere with the religious and healing practices taking places on these lands. To view the statements, click here.
Sacred Spaces and Religious Practice
Sacred spaces are an essential part of most spiritual practice, and their protection essential to the practice of religion itself. Sacred spaces range from tiny household shrines and small sanctuaries to large buildings, spacious burial grounds, and natural landscapes. The sacred belt of land around Woodlawn Road and Woolwich Street that includes the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, Marymount Cemetery, and Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery has many of these elements.
In these sacred spaces, spiritual practice often occurs outside, where individuals walk the land in spiritual contemplation, directors lead ceremonies, and families pray at gravesites. The depth and quality of these outdoor experiences is strongly affected by activity in the areas nearby. A gradual increase in commercial activity has already caused interference in the form of noise, activity, and artificial light. Further commercial development would cause serious damage to spiritual practices on the sacred spaces adjacent to them.
Essential Elements
• freedom to practice one's religion is an essential right
• sacred spaces are necessary for many religious practices
• sacred spaces are a benefit to quality community life
• the sacred spaces around Woodlawn Road and Woolwich Street, and the religious practices they support, are now threatened by commercial development
• commercial development is best situated where it benefits a community and also allows existing sacred spaces to continue to provide sanctuary for religious practice—without interference
Ignatius Centre & Cemeteries Overview
The Ignatius Jesuit Centre was established in 1913, and consists of 600 acres of farmland, gardens, wetland, woodlands and walking trails. In addition to hosting the religious practices of individuals and groups from Guelph and around the world, the centre houses internship programs, the Jesuit Ecology Project, organic agriculture, an aboriginal sweat lodge complex, several hermitages, and Loyola House, a world-renown retreat centre. The Ignatius Jesuit Centre is unique in the Guelph area, Ontario and in Canada in continuously bringing together persons from a broad spectrum of religious traditions and beliefs and permitting them to worship on its lands.
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery is 152 years old (est. 1854).
Marymount cemetery is on the north boundary of the new commercial site, and Our Lady Immaculate mausoleum is only steps away. Marymount recently purchased the 40 acres that run along the entire north boundary of the 6&7 site from the Jesuit Centre. The Ignatius Great Auk trail passes through this land.
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