The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Activities

Earth for Sale — Book Launch and Discussion on the Governance of Our Natural Resources with Maude Barlow

Filed Under: Activities

The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE) warmly invites you to a special book‑launch and discussion with renowned author and activist Maude Barlow on Thursday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT).

Together, we will learn from her newest publication, Earth for Sale: The Fight to Stop the Last Plunder of the Planet—a compelling and timely call to protect the global commons and safeguard our shared future.

About the Book

In Earth for Sale, Maude Barlow introduces us to the growing trend of “financializing nature”—the new commercialization of the commons. She documents how corporate interests are increasingly shaping the governance of land, water, forests, and biodiversity, and why efforts to protect nature must not be handed over to private actors driven by profit. Her analysis invites us to reflect deeply on what it means to defend the integrity of Earth’s systems in an era of accelerating ecological and economic pressures.

What to Expect

The program will offer a thoughtful blend of reflection, Maude Barlow’s lecture, and an engaging conversation with participants, inviting us to consider the urgent questions raised in the book. Please note that the event will be in English only.

Prepare for the Conversation

To prepare for ORCIE’s June 25, 2026, online discussion with Maude, we encourage everyone to read Earth for Sale – but if that is not possible by then, participants may appreciate this quick review of the issues that Maude is encouraging us to understand and mobilize around: Protecting Our Common Home: ORCIE’s Reflections on Earth for Sale

You can order Earth for Sale here:
https://ecwpress.com/products/earth-for-sale

Join Us

We hope you will join us for this vital conversation as we reflect on how best to protect our common home and ensure that decisions about nature serve people and planet alike. All are welcome!

REGISTER HERE: Meeting Registration – Zoom

In Memory of Carl Hétu: A Tribute from ORCIE

Filed Under: Activities

Ottawa, May 28, 2026. It is with deep sorrow that we learned of the passing of Carl Hétu — a friend, respected leader, and long-time partner in the movement for social justice and global solidarity. ORCIE joins Development and Peace – Caritas Canada in mourning his loss while also celebrating the remarkable life he lived.

Carl’s lifelong commitment to justice, peace, and dignity for all deeply inspired our work. It was a privilege for ORCIE to collaborate with him and our partners through the Turn Debt Into Hope campaign. Together, and now in his memory, we remain committed to challenging unjust systems and advancing new models of development that uphold the well-being of people and the planet.

Carl strengthened our collective work through his vision, his collaborative spirit, and his unwavering dedication to dialogue and to the empowerment of the most marginalized. His legacy will continue to guide and inspire our efforts toward the common good.

As Carl enters the communion of saints, we say with one voice: ¡Presente! May his courage, leadership, and hope live on in all of us.

In hope and solidarity,
The ORCIE Team

ORCIE-BCRÉI – DPCC May 28 2026Download

WEBINAR: From Belém to Canada — ORCIE at COP30: Insights and Future Advocacy Paths

Filed Under: Activities

Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. (EST)

Join us for ORCIE’s Post‑COP30 Webinar, where we will explore why civil society’s presence—and faith communities in particular—matters in global climate conversations. We will reflect on how religious orders bring a moral and relational perspective to international climate negotiations, and how ORCIE shared our vision for climate justice grounded in Integral Ecology, peace, and solidarity with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

We will share concrete stories from COP30 in Brazil where civil society shaped dialogue, where we built relationship with Global South partners, and how ORCIE’s participation in panels and direct conversations with high-level Canadian delegates demonstrates how faith communities embody public witness and can advocate for systemic change, addressing ecological debt and bringing attention to the moral dimensions of climate policy.

We will also reflect on what COP30 revealed about Canada’s actions and silences in global climate negotiations, and how these lessons are shaping ORCIE’s advocacy in Canada this year to advance climate justice.

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tTIvnj8MTgeGWP6VFKtv-A#/registration 

ORCIE-PostCOP30 WebinarDownload

ORCIE Presentation: Reflections from COP30 in Belém, Brazil

Filed Under: Activities

Date: December 9, 2025 at 2:30 pm (EST)
Location: Presentation Manor Theatre, Toronto (61 Fairfax Crescent, Scarborough, ON)

At this in-person event, ORCIE’s Executive Director, Genevieve Gallant, will share her firsthand experiences from COP30 in Belém, Brazil. She will speak to two urgent priorities shaping global climate action:

How do we bridge the widening gap between climate goals and political realities? What steps can we take in Canada to advance ecological conversion and collaborative advocacy?

Join fellow members of religious congregations for a dynamic discussion on these critical questions and explore opportunities to work together for systemic change.

Contact for details:
📧 ggallant@orcie.org
📞 613-400-1631

ORCIE at the CRC JPIC Coffee Hour: Federal Budget and Economic Justice

Filed Under: Activities

On October 27, 2025, our Executive Director, Genevieve Gallant, joined the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) for their JPIC Coffee Hour to reflect on the federal government’s budget choices in light of economic justice and integral ecology.

Her presentation came just after the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, offering a timely analysis of how military spending and cuts to domestic and international programs impact vulnerable communities. Genevieve’s intervention emphasized the urgency of a just transition plan—one that ensures economic justice while advancing systemic change rooted in integral ecology.

This contribution reflects ORCIE’s ongoing commitment to climate justice, coalition-building, and integral ecology, and highlights the importance of faith-based voices coming together in shaping public discourse on economic and ecological priorities.

The CRC has published a summary of the session on their website, including a recording of the presentation. You can read the full post here: CRC JPIC Coffee Hour – October 27, 2025 crc-canada.org.

We invite congregational leaders to bring this resource to their communities, helping inspire collective engagement.