Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Bahá’í Canada
The title of this issue is “A sense of common endeavour,” drawn from the Universal House of Justice’s 31 December 2025 message. This message offers insights as the worldwide Bahá’í community entered the second, greater phase of the Nine Year Plan this past Ridván. A national institutional meeting took place in April to review Canada’s progress, particularly with regards to the growing number of third-milestone clusters, followed closely by the National Convention.
In third milestone clusters, “a pronounced community spirit can increasingly be felt among all those involved in the pattern of activity…often expressed as a feeling of belonging and a sense of common endeavour and mutual support.”[i] Both national gatherings grappled with questions about the identity of this expanding community, particularly as more friends involved in the pattern of activity show, in both words and deeds, Faith in Bahá’u’lláh and a desire to participate in all dimensions of Bahá’í life.
The feature article of this issue provides an overview of this year’s National Convention, building on the idea of the “expanding we” and including a selection of photos previously shared online. Canada is moving into this new phase of the Plan with joy and confidence.
Naturally, many stories were shared at these gatherings, some of which touched on new frontiers of growth. One example in this issue is “School leadership champions junior youth programme,” which describes how the junior youth programme quickly became embedded in the school environment, with 72 participants each week. In this case, the school community saw the expansion of the programme as a natural extension of caring for the well-being of all.
And what better common endeavour is there than world peace, grounded in the principle of the oneness of humanity? In the From the History section, the article “‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Champion of Universal Peace,” originally published on The Bahá’í World website, examines ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s approach to peace and highlights North America’s role as a recipient of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets of the Divine Plan.
In the article about the Northern Gates cluster in Alberta, we share an example of how clusters in Canada are reaching the third milestone of development, often with support from reservoir clusters. In the case of Northern Gates, a team of travelling teachers from nearby Edmonton built on strengths within the cluster to help a group of families in a neighbourhood come together around their children’s education.
In its 31 December 2025 message, the Universal House of Justice also highlights advances at the level of culture within third milestone clusters. The article “Equality of women and men: an ongoing, generational process” describes how youth in Sudbury, Ont., are learning to put this principle into practice and, in doing so, create environments conducive to spiritual growth. Reading reality, these friends shared, involves listening to others’ experiences with an open heart.
An article from Longueuil, Que., shares an experience related to youth enrolment. For the youth themselves, it often means continuing what they are already doing as they deepen their understanding of the connection between the community-building efforts they’ve been engaged in and the Bahá’í Administrative Order.
From the national to the regional to the local, the article “Youth strengthen bonds of friendship through cooking” focuses on the Ruddington neighbourhood in Toronto, Ont. These youth demonstrate the importance of friendship and collaboration as they band together to cook. Soon, as they reach out to neighbours to share treats, they bring more into the circle of friends.
In its response to delegates from the National Convention, the House of Justice praised Canada’s “clear and hopeful” vision. In its 31 December 2025 message, it stated that “Bright horizons beckon.” During these fruitful summer months, these plans are in full force; we look forward to sharing more soon.
[i] From the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, 31 December 2025.
