Dr. Pardy nominated for her interfaith and guaranteed living income (GLI) work
The Very Rev. Dr. Marion Pardy, 37th Moderator of The United Church of Canada, will receive the King Charles Coronation Medal in recognition of her leadership and commitment to interfaith community service. This is not her first medal of recognition; in 2013, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador awarded Dr. Pardy a Queen’s Jubilee Medal in recognition of her contributions to church and community.
“I am humbly proud to be a recipient because of my multi-faith and [guaranteed living income] leadership advocacy,” she says.
Since 2007, Dr. Pardy has been a director and chair (since 2020) of the Religious Social Action Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador. Within the coalition, she attends significant religious ceremonies and celebrations of each faith community represented and educates the public about interfaith relationships through social media and other avenues.
“Dr. Pardy sets an example for all of us for how we should move in the world in relation to others. Her interfaith work builds bridges and mends fences,” says The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of The United Church of Canada. “Her efforts to eliminate poverty lift us all up.”
“From pew to pulpit, to public officials, to public and social media; from synagogue to mosque, to temple, to Gurdwara, Dr. Pardy has spent years in education, consciousness-raising, advocacy and solidarity,” says Haseen Khan, executive member with the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, who initiated the nomination on behalf of the Religious Social Action Coalition, of which he also is one of the directors. “[Her work highlights] for society the benefits of the pluralistic nature of our country and the necessity for appreciation and understanding of all religions, noting that the many paths to the Divine command respect from all.”
Dr. Pardy is a multi-faith social activist who confronts antisemitism and Islamophobia, and addresses all religious prejudice by highlighting the joyous benefits of all faiths, including religious literacy events to improve understanding about Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism.
Her nomination highlighted that her “persistent” work and “patient perseverance” with interfaith communities is always towards the common good of her community and the greater good of society.
The medal will be delivered in March along with a letter from the Canadian Interfaith Conversation. A presentation is being planned at Masjid-al-Noor (Mosque), St. John’s, at a later date.