We’re pleased to bring you the first edition of our newsletter Quaker Concern for 2026!

Following the money: who profits from Canada’s prisons?

By Karen Ridd

One of the ways that Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC) contributes to social change is through researched reports that shine light on issues of injustice. In December, we published Following the money: cui bono report. It’s an analysis of who benefits financially from Canadian federal carceral institutions. I want to tell you about the report, and about the surprising experience of writing it... Keep reading >>>

Canadian Peace Museum

Canada needs a museum to promote peace

By Chris Houston

Over the past year, Canadian Friends Service Committee has partnered with the Canadian Peace Museum, with the dream of seeing it opened to the public. The museum will increase peace education opportunities for everyday people, contributing to CFSC’s long-term goal of educating about how peace needs to be continually built. The museum will also bring increased awareness of nonviolent methods as viable alternatives to war. The following reflections are from the Museum’s Executive Director, Chris Houston... Keep reading >>>

The power of coalition: recent webinar on Indigenous Peoples’ human rights

By Jeremy Vander Hoek

Have you ever tried to learn more about a complicated subject, only to find yourself stuck? When we turn to social media or web searches, we might be pointed to the angriest voices, not because their information is accurate, but because it’s attention grabbing. A search for information on Indigenous Peoples’ human rights is like this. It can easily lead to misinformation. It can present human rights as a zero-sum competition, where when one group has their rights respected, another group must lose out. This is false. Respect for the human rights of one group helps safeguard the human rights of all... Keep reading >>>

Hassan Diab holding a postcard to the Prime Minister about his case. Photo: Hassan Diab support committee

Upholding human rights for Hassan Diab

By Sandra Wiens

In November I went to the Hassan Diab Support Committee’s public event, Seeking justice for Hassan Diab: almost 20 years of violated human rights. CFSC has long supported Hassan and continues to ask that the Government of Canada refuse any second extradition request from France. At this event I was able to meet Hassan, his family, and the community that supports him. It was a hopeful evening full of nourishing food, information, and most of all—caring. Caring for Hassan and his family as well as caring for justice and human rights… Keep reading >>>

Keeping up with Friends

We’ve put out many new resources since our last issue of Quaker Concern:

• Indigenous Peoples’ human rights joint statements from the UN in Geneva: https://QuakerService.ca/EMRIP2025
• Joint statement from multiple Quaker agencies calling for immediate action to end genocide in Gaza: https://QuakerService.ca/GazaGenocide
• Submission with our peace and social justice priorities in advance of Canada’s budget and our review of the budget after it came out.
• Inspiring short podcast on the perseverance and partnership that led to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: https://QuakerService.ca/UNDeclarationPodcast
• The latest report on what Quakers across Canada are doing to advance truth and reconciliation: https://QuakerService.ca/ReconciliationReport2023
• A statement on the astonishing amount Canada is spending on its military: https://QuakerService.ca/MilitarySpending
• A statement on the need for Canada to show more peacebuilding leadership: https://QuakerService.ca/PeacebuildingLeadership
• Pro-vax vs. anti-vax: a story about disagreeing better: https://QuakerService.ca/VaxStory
• This story is a bonus video to close our series of tips for better conflicts and disagreements. You can still sign up any time to get a short tip emailed to you each week so you can practice it. You can also read all of the tips together in one PDF. Visit: https://QuakerService.ca/Tips
• A joint call for more careful consultations on Canada’s artificial intelligence strategy: https://QuakerService.ca/AIConsultation
• CFSC’s Annual accountability report for 2025: https://Report.QuakerService.ca…

Keep reading for more short updates about our recent work >>>

Friends on the move

Jennifer Preston and Jeremy Vander Hoek travelled to Ottawa in June to meet with members of the Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Coalition was able to do significant planning for the Advancing implementation webinar and an upcoming symposium on the impact of important recent court decisions… Keep reading for more short updates on CFSC’s recent travels >>>

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