The Vancouver Inter-Faith Spiritual Centre Society has reorganized itself and has decided to focus on raising about $25 million needed to build an Inter-Faith Spiritual Centre in Vancouver that would first used by athletes at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Members of five faiths - Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh - along with members of new and emerging spiritual traditions, are involved. Bishop Michael Ingham has agreed to co-chair the Centre's board along with Derek LaCroix, a Vancouver lawyer who describes himself as a "spiritual speaker."

Afterwards the Olympics, the plan is for the Centre will become a shared house of worship for several congregations and communities of different religions and spiritual paths on the multicultural West Coast of Canada.

"This is the opportunity for Vancouver to take the lead in promoting peace and unity with all faiths and beliefs," said LaCroix,

The City of Vancouver has agreed that the Centre can be built in Southeast False Creek development - the area where the 2010 Olympic Athlete's Village is being constructed. It is to be located near Columbia and

West First Avenue
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Architect Mark Ostry of Acton Ostry Architects is engaged in designing the building, envisioned at this point to be dome-covered circular building with areas for different faiths attached to and radiating out from the common "sacred space."

Each group using the Centre will deliver their own worship, education and outreach programs, working with other faiths when the opportunity arises. Together the Centre will offer classes and dialogue groups, public lectures, performances, community art activities.

The Centre's vision is that the spiritual beliefs of all denominations and people seeking peace and enlightenment will be accepted and encouraged stated a press release from the group.. Other faith groups may join the Centre in future.