Building Community Strength: Reflections on the 1st Canadian National Hindu Conference
- Laura Schwartz
- Jun 6
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 8
A Warm Welcome and Cultural Celebration
Dr. Ragini Sharma, a valued ally of the Jewish community and Founder of the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE), along with COHHE Co-Founder Ruchi Wali, invited me to attend the Canadian Hindu community’s inaugural 2-day conference, which was attended by approximately 650 people from across the country.
The conference was organized by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, Canada and the Hindu Mandir and Sangathan Empowerment Council, and took place at the Hindu Temple in Brampton, the Triveni Mandir on May 23 and 24, 2026. (For agenda details, click here)
Throughout the proceedings, I was treated warmly and graciously. I sampled a variety of flavourful, traditional Indian dishes which were served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The majority of female attendees wore a variety of colourful garb such as saris, salwar, and kurta to show pride in their identity.
After the lamp lighting ceremony, there was a brief video presentation on Hindu contributions to Canada as well as the history of genocides, forced conversions and persecutions in several countries. We stood for a moment of silence to remember and honour the Kashmiri victims, followed by prayers chanted by a Buddhist and Jain monk.
There were video messages from several dignitaries to express congratulations on the conference. Gurudev Ravi Ravishankar stressed the importance of standing up against injustice; teaching the youth to speak out against corruption; strengthening a fragmented community; fighting divisive ideologies by bolstering cultural and spiritual roots; preserving Hindu values, and fostering unity and collaboration.
Key Issues and Community Challenges
The proceedings then began with the first topic on the agenda, “Working with government agencies in Public Safety”. Over the many topics covered at the conference, speakers invoked the Hindu ethical principle of earnestly contributing to the host country, as evidenced by the high percentage of Hindus who pursue careers in academia, science, engineering, and technology, build successful businesses, and attain top management positions as CEOs and CFOs. I learned that there is a high number of Hindu women in the workforce, and, conversely, that there are no Hindu chaplains in the Canadian prison system since there is a negligible number of Hindus in prison.
A leading concern overall was youth who are vulnerable to Hinduphobia and Hindu-hate in academia and universities, as well as peers at school who disparage their identity. Speakers noted that some young Hindus, faced with the threat of physical and psychological harm, are distancing themselves from their inherited culture and traditions—sometimes declaring themselves atheists or adopting other faiths—as a way to assimilate and protect themselves.
In addition, the community under-reports and declines to pursue judicial processes in response to hate crimes—a failure which can only empower criminals. Victims endure discrimination and abuse since legal costs are seen as prohibitive, and university students fear that if they agree to act as plaintiffs, they may be barred from graduate departments or encounter greater difficulty in finding employment at top firms.
In response to the above, Ron Chinzer—a politician, entrepreneur, and former member of the police force—exhorted the audience to “get comfortable being uncomfortable” (that is, to undertake necessary action outside one’s comfort zone) since “there is no one here to save you”. A Hindu priest, Pandit Roopnath Sharma, President of the Hindu Federation, similarly remarked, “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu”. They encouraged members of the community to reach out and engage in respectful dialogue with their political representatives and the police.
In the case of hate crimes, speakers with political and legal backgrounds urged the audience to hold criminals accountable by promptly reporting incidents, scrupulously documenting them and collecting relevant evidence. They also pointed out the community’s responsibility to recognize and address divisive Hindus who spread misinformation and undermine the community. As Chinzer said, “You are the company you keep”.
Solutions, Leadership, and Empowerment
The community leaders also discussed strategies to boost the self-esteem and confidence of Hindu children, dispelling moral confusion through coaching and mentoring, and nourishing their spiritual health by taking them regularly to Temple services to engage in identity-strengthening activities with the parents. Establishing and funding private schools is also important, along with insisting on Hindu study departments at Canadian universities, which can play a useful role in combating Hinduphobia.
Speakers also noted an underrepresentation on the part of community members in the field of law, the police force, politics, and in media. Daniel Bordman, journalist and co-founder of the National Telegraph, and Communications Coordinator at the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF), observed that becoming a media presence isn’t a costly enterprise: all you need is a cellphone and a WhatsApp account.
Brampton family lawyer Kavita Bhagat pointed out that some women tend to be excluded from community involvement owing to familial obligations, and stressed the importance of supporting them as a means of building community strength. Ruchi Wali courageously provided personal examples of suppression and implored the audience to aid Hindu women to achieve their goals, and Dr. Ragini Sharma discussed Hinduphobia in the media and academia. Kavita and other legal speakers reminded the audience that there are Hindu lawyers who will undertake pro bono work (this accounts for 20% of Kavita’s caseload).
All speakers showed a commitment to support the community through demonstrable acts of generosity. The Hindu conference stood out by offering a model of coordinated action and shared direction. While the Jewish community has a long-standing and robust tradition of volunteerism and communal engagement, it was still valuable to witness another community’s approach to identifying problems, outlining concrete solutions, and encouraging collective responsibility.
After each issue was raised, speakers pledged to act, immediately followed by detailed action plans and practical steps to mobilize attendees. Kavita, for instance, recommended relief from domestic responsibilities for women pursuing higher education or professional advancement, as a means of unlocking their full potential.
Esteemed spiritual leader, Revered Swami Vigyananand Ji Maharaj, founder of the World Hindu Congress and World Hindu Economic Forum, remarked that grassroots leaders must dismantle their silos and cease undermining Hindu society by accusing rival groups of being ineffective or useless. (Does this sound familiar?).
Instead, leadership must consistently focus on the greater good of building a strong and united community with a common platform and purpose. He stated that the over-proliferation of grassroots groups is weakening the community, and recommended having a smaller number of groups committed to taking responsibility and concentrating on action rather than dissipating their energies in fruitless talking.
Reflections and Gratitude
My takeaway from the conference is that our Hindu colleagues not only share many of our concerns, but also face some of the same challenges we do—such as under-reporting incidents or navigating tensions between community groups. Their experience and collaborative approach offer valuable opportunities for mutual learning and action.
As allies, we can assist the Hindu community in various ways, for example by introducing them to Allied Voices for Israel, who can share their knowledge of professional psychological, coaching and mentorship resources to help students develop into strong, effective community leaders.
Lastly, in response to Kavita Bhagat’s recommendation about helping women, I must thank my husband Harvey, who has worked tirelessly to support my advocacy. Without him, I would not be writing this report. I would also like to remind readers that our lawyers are key to our success in countering the ongoing assault on our community.
In this spirit, I want to thank ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler and ALCCA Senior Criminal Counsel Rochelle Direnfeld for their unwavering commitment, guidance, and expertise in confronting hate through the justice system. Their leadership continues to make a meaningful difference in the fight for safety, accountability, and dignity.
About the Author
Laura Schwartz is a passionate advocate for Jewish community engagement and a dedicated member of Temple Sinai, Beth Emeth, and Kehilla Shalom San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. Temple Sinai is her spiritual home, where she works closely with Rabbi Michael Dolgin to support the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism. Following the attacks of October 7, 2023, she joined the Rabbi in urging congregants to call political representatives, sign petitions, and write letters. She has spoken candidly about the challenge of motivating disengaged community members and took to heart the Rabbi’s call to inspire others—even when the conversations are uncomfortable.
Dr. Ragini Sharma, President of the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE), also contributed to this article in an editorial capacity.