Around the world, gold mining, much of it by Canadian companies, is creating environmental devastation, displacing native communities, and violating basic human rights. The recent Mount Polley tailings disaster is just one example. And yet, about 90 of all gold mined is used either for unnecessary luxury items like jewellery, or for investment.

On the feast of St Matthew, who was called away from his money-counting table to follow Jesus, we ask people to join us for a service in which we can symbolically divest ourselves of gold and vow not to buy new gold. If you can, bring an item of gold to surrender all gold collected will be sold to a recyling facility, and the money will be donated to a mine-affected community.

The Secwepemc Territorial Authority lit a Sacred Fire on Mount Polley, at the entrance to the mine site, on August 17. We offer this service in solidarity with them, and with all peoples affected by mining.

This is part of the Faith, Arts and Activism festival, a collaboration between St Stephen's, the Trinity College Chaplaincy, and the U of T Student Christian Movement.