“World leaders could learn from these interfaith couples."
– headline of Toronto Star article about INTERLOVE project published on Feb 5, 2015.
The INTERLOVE PROJECT arose from Shafer's interest in using portraiture to create a dialogue around important social issues, particularly, how religious differences often lead to tension on an individual and global level. By exploring the complexities of interfaith love, Shafer hopes to demonstrate that in a world full of stories of hate, stories of love can prevail. Shafer photographed over fifty interfaith couples from across Ontario, with each portrait taken at a location that is meaningful to them – from a cafe where they had their first date, to a park where they take their children. Coupling each portrait with the story of how they met, fell in love, and overcame difficult obstacles and decisions; this unique series captures the tremendous potential of love in transcending religious differences.
This project has been exhibited at CONTACT Photography Festival and featured widely in the media including CTV, CBC, Global News, the Toronto Star and Toronto Life.
Eman & Jess
Agnostic Muslim | Culturally Jewish
Toronto
Isham & Liz
Atheist raised Hindu |Theist raised Catholic
Toronto
Rick & José
Atheist raised Jewish | Non-practicing Catholic bordering on Agnostic
North Gower
Scott & Denise
Non-practicing religious person, baptized Anglican | Culturally Jewish
Nepean
Dan & Suzanne
Roman Catholic | Anglican
Stittsville
Nahid & Maurin
Sunni Muslim | Raised as a devout Baptist & converted to Islam
Toronto
Rosi & Chris
Catholic | Agnostic
Toronto
Shana & Sean
Culturally Jewish Atheist | Pentecostal Christian
Toronto
Caleb & Mahsa
Christian | Baha’i
Toronto
Melody & Christopher
Ordained Minister with the United Church of Canada | Active lay Roman Catholic / Theologian
Sudbury
James & Melinda
Anglican | Baptist
Sault Ste Marie
Louis & Rebecca
Non-practising Catholic | Spiritual
Brampton
Roland & Paula
Catholic | Somewhere between Atheist and Agnostic
North Bay
Michelle & Neil
Wiccan | Atheist
Sudbury
Allen & Elvan
Easter & Christmas Catholic | Sufi Muslim
Ottawa
Janice & Norm
Jewish | Atheist
Ottawa
Bonnie & Nick
Spiritual (culturally Jewish, w/ new age, Christian Ideas, & yoga) | Catholic-in-waiting
Brooklin
Letty & Philip
Devout Catholic | Atheist
Ottawa
Aaron & Brit
Reform Jewish | Atheist
Toronto
Hannah & Maksym
Christian | Atheist
Toronto
Roger & Esra
Protestant who converted to Islam | Believes in Allah
Collingwood
Jessica & Mark
Secular Jew raised in Reconstructionist Judaism | Non-practicing CatholicToronto
Charlene & Jay
Catholic | Atheist
Owen Sound
Zalman & Calder
Secular Humanist & Reform Judaism | Explored Pagan-based spirituality and was raised Roman Catholic
Creemore
Emily & Dean
Raised Catholic, but embraces a traditional Anishinaabe spirituality | Culturally Jewish Atheist
North York
Avishka & Sean
Non-practicing Hindu | Jewish
Hamilton
Jameel & Lauren
Ismaili Muslim | Culturally Jewish
Toronto
Cristiana & Benton
Atheist raised Orthodox Christian | Christian
Toronto
Vince & Melissa
Culturally Hindu Theist | Anglican
Thorndale
Mike & Rita
Jewish | Christian
London
Rejeanne & Frank
Roman Catholic | AgnosticWaterloo
Ipek & Craig
Theist but Muslim on paper | Believes in Core Principles of Christianity
Kitchener
Kostas & Rubab
Transhumanist | Spiritual
Kanata
Sohail & Hillary
Muslim | Catholic
St. Catharines
Brendan & N’Aina
Agnostic | Muslim
Ottawa
Vivek & Brandi
Hindu | ChristianBurlington
Grace & Jonathan
Catholic | Non-religious Jew
Toronto
Ari & Sarah
Culturally Jewish Secular Humanist | Progressive Christian
Ottawa
Lily & Paul
Culturally Jewish Agnostic | Ordained minister in the United Church of Canada
Hamilton
Denise & Richard
Roman Catholic | Agnostic
Scarborough
Dave & Shira
Jewtile non-practicing Baptist | Secular Humanist Jew
Scarborough
Am & Melvin
Sikh | Baptist
Oakville
Russell & Joyce
Atheist | Anglican
Keswick
Samir & Najwa
Catholic but does not believe in organized religion | Liberal non-traditional devout MuslimNewmarket
Amanda & Craig
Atheist | Afrocentric Spirituality
Toronto
Sunder & Annie
Hindu | Catholic
Toronto
Heather & Jordan
Catholic | Jewish
Toronto
Sahar & Alvaro
Muslim | Culturally Catholic Theist
Toronto