New Model of Shared Space and Spirituality Builds Community and Faith
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - April 13, 2022 - Members of the McDougall United Church and the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) Edmonton Chapter will gather together on Friday, April 15, before their Good Friday service and Friday Prayers, respectively, to exchange goodwill and fellowship in recognition of their new partnership. With support from Trinity Centres Foundation (TCF), the two groups are collaborating to restore and redevelop one of Edmonton’s oldest churches, McDougall United Church, into an inclusive community hub.
Recognizing an opportunity to enhance the community impact of their property, McDougall United Church with funding support from the Edmonton Community Foundation (through the Investment Readiness Program), contracted TCF in 2021 to evaluate the feasibility of developing a community hub and affordable housing. As a result of this project, McDougall United Church partnered with MAC to reimagine their faith space, maximizing its social impact while creating an inclusive community gathering space in Edmonton’s downtown core. The church now hosts the Muslim Association of Canada for Friday prayers and nightly Ramadan prayers, sharing their worship space in the church. The Good Friday gathering will be the first time the Christian and Muslim congregations will host their groups at the same time in the church.
McDougall United Church and MAC are continuing to explore funding opportunities to see the church revitalized and redeveloped for community impact. “We are always looking for meaningful ways to share our faith and connect with members of the Edmonton community,” says MaryAnn Pastuck, Minister of McDougall United Church. “We were deeply grateful to welcome the members of the Muslim Association of Canada to our church and to share this sacred space with them. Good Friday is an important day of reflection for us and to share this with our Muslim neighbours sends an important message of community and belonging.”
“Coming to McDougall United Church has been a very rewarding and welcoming experience,” says Yasin Cetin, Outreach and Engagement Advisor of the Muslim Association of Canada. “As far as we know, this might be the first time Friday prayers and Good Friday services for both Muslim and Christian communities will be held under the same roof, at the same time. It sends a beautiful and timely message about inclusivity, tolerance and building community by sharing sacred space.”
“As we work to tackle hate-based violence and pursue social equity for all in Edmonton, it is so important for us all to come together in allyship and camaraderie, despite our differences,” says Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, City of Edmonton. “MAC at McDougall is a unique and safe space where Muslim and Christian folks alike can worship, learn from one another and foster community. Initiatives like these are essential in building a diverse, inclusive and safe city for all of us, and it is heartwarming to see Edmontonians cultivating compassion in this way."
McDougall United Church and MAC are continuing to explore funding opportunities to see the church revitalized and redeveloped for community impact. “We are always looking for meaningful ways to share our faith and connect with members of the Edmonton community,” says MaryAnn Pastuck, Minister of McDougall United Church. “We were deeply grateful to welcome the members of the Muslim Association of Canada to our church and to share this sacred space with them. Good Friday is an important day of reflection for us and to share this with our Muslim neighbours sends an important message of community and belonging.”
“Coming to McDougall United Church has been a very rewarding and welcoming experience,” says Yasin Cetin, Outreach and Engagement Advisor of the Muslim Association of Canada. “As far as we know, this might be the first time Friday prayers and Good Friday services for both Muslim and Christian communities will be held under the same roof, at the same time. It sends a beautiful and timely message about inclusivity, tolerance and building community by sharing sacred space.”
"The reimagining of the historic McDougall United Church into a collaborative place of worship can only mean good things for our community," says Martin Garber-Conrad, CEO of Edmonton Community Foundation. "Relationships are built between faiths by providing space for connections to happen, for people to learn from each other. ECF is excited to see what comes of this partnership."
“The primary goal of the Trinity Centres Foundation is to help facilitate relationships just like this,” says Graham Singh, CEO of the Trinity Centres Foundation. “We can help secure the future of these congregations and their buildings by seeking out new partners and new opportunities for the space. We build community by pairing assets and needs, a historic facility gets new life and the congregation builds new relationships. It’s a win-win community hub model that we are actively modeling across the country.”
McDougall United Church is located at 10086 MacDonald Dr NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 2B7. Media are invited to meet representatives from each group to learn more about the partnership. B-roll footage and images will also be available after the event.
About McDougall United Church
More than a wonderful historic treasure, McDougall is a spiritually alive, diverse, inclusive Christian community moving into the future. We cherish our heritage, but are committed to being the Church in a new way for a new century. Today, as a downtown church, we are a diverse, inclusive community of people. Worship is the central act of our life together.
About the Muslim Association of Canada
The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) is a Canadian, independent, national, faith-based, charitable organization, that provides spaces, services and programs for holistic education and personal development for Canadian Muslims. MAC is one of the largest Muslim organizations in the country, operating in 13 cities across Canada. In Edmonton, MAC operates The MAC Centre - Rahma Mosque (6105 172 St), MAC Islamic School (11342 127 St), and the Creative Minds PreSchool (10807 Castle Downs Rd).
About the Trinity Centres Foundation
The Trinity Centres Foundation (‘TCF’) is a registered Canadian charity, staffed, governed and advised by a cross-sectoral community of professionals in the area of adaptive re-use of faith properties. TCF was founded in 2018, with the goal of lovingly preserving, restoring and repurposing underutilized churches into dynamic spaces for dialogue and interaction accessible for multiple uses for different individuals and groups.
