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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith in Canada

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Date 1997, sorted by date, descending

date event tags firsts
1997 9 Jul
199-		 The passing of Ronald James Parsons (b. 8 May, 1926, Moose Jaw, SK).
  • Mr Parsons had been an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada. He first learned of the Faith in Ear Falls, Ontario in 1960 from Carol and David Bowie while assigned to nearby Red Lake. His next church assignment was in Strathmore, Alberta where the Bowies referred him to Lily-Ann Irwin who nurtured him into the Faith. [Spring 1961]
  • He served on the National Spiritual Assembly from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1971 to 1974. He was a member of several Local Assemblies and served on the Auxiliary Board throughout the 1970's and 80's.
  • The June 1961 issue of Canadian Bahá'í News reported that he resigned from the United Church of Canada and declared his faith in Bahá'u'lláh. [CBN No 137 June 1961 p11]
  • See [CBN No 143 December 1961 p8] for the loving message he sent to his fellow clergy concerning his decision to leave the church.
  • After resigning from the ministry he enrolled in university to train for his new vocation, teaching. He served as a vice-principal and a principal.
  • In 1949 he married Rita Olive Blake and together they raised four children. [BW1997-98p276-277] iiiii
    		• Ron Parsons; - In Memoriam; Rita Parsons; Moose Jaw, SK; Claresholm, AB; Biography first Christian minister to resign to become a Bahá'í
    1997 24 Mar - 16 May
    199-    		 The nine member First Nations Travel Teaching Trip to the South Pacific, called "The Journey of Teech-ma" consisted of Canadian Bahá'ís from Kwakiutl, Nuu-Cha-Nuth, the Ojibway First Nations, a Yupik Bahá'í from Alaska and three non-Native Canadian friends. They shared their culture and their Faith with the Maori, other New Zealanders, the Aborigines and other Australians as well as the ne-Vanuatu peoples. See entry for 1994 (Summer). [SDSC370] - First Nations, Canada; Travel Teaching; Pacific; Maoris; - Aboriginal people; - Indigenous people; New Zealand; Australia; Vanuatu; Canada
    1997 March
    199-    		 The passing of Noel Wuttunee. Mr. Wuttunee was the first Native Canadian to accept the Faith in Canada. He passed away in Seattle, WA. He was well-known in the mid-fifties and early sixties for his evocative artwork and his ability to teach the Faith to his people. He was taught the Faith by fellow artist Gerda Christofferson, whom he later married. Mr. Wuttunee had lived in the United States since the mid-sixties. [BC vol 9 issue 3 Sept 1996 p27]
  • Gerda Christofferson passed away in Calgary 14 July 2012. [Calgary Herald]
    		•  Noel Wuttunee; Gerda Christofferson; Seattle, WA; Calgary, AB; Biography the first Native Canadian to accept the Faith in Canada
    1997 (In the year)
    199-    		 The publication of In the Path of the Wind: Recollections of Monserrat by Larry Rowdon. It was published by September House in Osgood, ON. It would appear that the book is no longer available.

    The book is biographical and recounts some of the memories of Margaret and Larry Rowdon during their 6 years of pioneering (1986-1992) on the island.

    		 Larry Rowdon; In the Path of the Wind (book)
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