Paul Bates, dean of the DeGroote School of Business, is no stranger to the fast-paced
lifestyle of a financial executive working on Bay Street. As the former president of
Charles Schwab Canada, Bates understands first hand that long days at the office often
leaves little time for personal, spiritual and religious reflection.

With the Canadian labour market becoming as multicultural as the country itself,
designing a workplace that caters to both professional and religious needs is the next
logical step for Canadian business – especially those businesses located in dense urban
areas, such as those around Toronto.

In recognition of this, Bates, in partnership with his wife Sally, has created The Paul &
Sally Bates Interfaith Centre, located in the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington. The space is
dedicated to serving the needs of all McMaster's religious groups on campus who wish
to use it.

“I started to think about faith in the workplace and the connection between what faith
means to people and how it impacts their working and personal lives. Fast-forward to
the Interfaith Centre, it is a place for any person of any faith to use and have quiet
reflection and prayer,” said Bates. “It is a quiet and peaceful space in which an
individual's religious faith can blossom.”

The Centre may be the first of its kind at a Canadian business school, though both St.
Mary's University in Halifax and the University of Prince Edward Island have created
“faith in the workplace” programs which are integrated into their business school
program offerings.

The Centre, which officially opened on February 14, has been in use by McMaster
students at the Ron Joyce Centre since the beginning of September. Farah Khan, a 2010
MBA co-op candidate, uses the space twice a day to perform her daily prayers.

“As a Muslim, I perform ritual prayers five times a day, as a form of purification and
worship. The afternoon and sunset prayer times fall within the time frame that I am
usually on campus [at the Ron Joyce Centre] and the Interfaith Centre is the ideal
location for these ritual activities,” said Khan. “Having a dedicated space for spiritual
worship is ideal for students at the new campus since it provides great comfort and
ease for us to fulfill our daily spiritual needs. I think I speak on behalf of all students
who are currently using the space when I express my deepest gratitude to Dean Paul
Bates and Sally Bates for recognizing our needs.”