July 5 to 11, 2026 [Registration Closed] Toronto - Discovery Week takes you on a journey both intellectually and experientially where you can taste, smell, and see the world’s religions. You will: Enjoy a Sikh langar meal and watch the community put their scriptures to bed Feel a mosque at Friday prayer and hear the sermon Explore fantastic Hindu temples Observe a Neopagan ritual Meet a Rasta elder Attend the Jewish Shabbat service ….and much, much more. Your registration fee

(July 29) - [Open] - Join religion scholar Brian Carwana to explore Shintoism, Japan’s indigenous religion, and the intricacies of Shinto, a unique belief system with no founder, sacred texts or formal doctrines. Discover the profound connection between Shinto and Japanese identity through its nature-based principles and historical significance.

(Sept 18 - Nov 27) - [Open] - Encounter will present on religious literacy for library staff and its relevance to workplace culture and serving the public. We will explore how understanding religious diversity, including key Jewish holidays can foster inclusion, support equitable scheduling practices, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and community members.

July 11 to 17, 2027 [Registration Open] Toronto - Discovery Week takes you on a journey both intellectually and experientially where you can taste, smell, and see the world’s religions. You will: Enjoy a Sikh langar meal and watch the community put their scriptures to bed Feel a mosque at Friday prayer and hear the sermon Explore fantastic Hindu temples Observe a Neopagan ritual Meet a Rasta elder Attend the Jewish Shabbat service ….and much, much more. Your registration fee

(March 17-30) - [Sold Out!] - Our Discover India 2027 program is sold out—thank you for the incredible response. We’re sharing a peek at the itinerary and trip details, and we invite you to join the waitlist if you’d like to be first to know about openings and/or a possible 2028 trip. It’s never too early to express interest.

The papacy is one of humanity’s oldest and most influential institutions. Over centuries, popes have brokered peace, launched wars, encouraged colonial expansion and at times sought to restrain its excesses, shaping ideas about morality, sexuality and political authority across the Western world. We explored the history of the papacy and examine several of the most influential figures to occupy the seat of St. Peter.

Brian participated on a panel considering a new book on religious literacy by Leo Van Arragon titled "Reflections on Religious Literacy: Paradox, Promise and Politics in a Secular Age." Van Arragon completed his PhD at the University of Ottawa on this topic and his work is a deep consideration of the role of religious literacy in our education systems.

In this online program, participants learned about 5 religions in 5 days through classes and interviews with expert practitioners. These programs are very popular, and the feedback from attendees is been excellent.

We explored sacred texts from some of the world's major religions. We considered how their ideas shaped human history, how their narratives and poetry influenced hearts and moral understandings, and also how these texts became sacred objects and even, occassionally, achieved personhood. Here are books that shape our world.

This brand new series titled Sounds, Spaces and Celebrations –The Feel of the World’s Religions explored how we experience world religions through our senses—soundscapes, sacred spaces, key holidays, and sacred texts. Each of the 4 talks examined multiple religious traditions rather than focusing on a single faith. This was a great opportunity to have something to look forward to in the doldrums of winter.