For the 15th time, Yellowknife is taking part in the annual World Religions Conference.

It will take place Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Northern Heritage Centre from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Muzaffar Ahmad, who's helping to organize the free-of-charge event, stressed that everyone is welcome.

"It's not just about religions, but people of all cultures and faiths together to talk about common issues within our own communities," Ahmad said. "This year, we'll be addressing mental health especially, because it's an issue not just found in religious communities but also cultural communities and people who maybe don't identify with a certain community."

Ahmad likened the conference to how cities and governments have their own local events, such as when the city hosted a roundtable discussion on homelessness at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre in June.

"What we want to do is bring people from all faiths, all cultures, together to address mental health issues, but as well as get to know one another and unite under one."

Kalim Ahmed, who's also helping organize the event, added that it's meant to provide a chance to discuss, not debate. Both he and Ahmad are part of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, the organization that puts this event on nationwide.

Ahmed added that their talks have always been peaceful, even if the questions are difficult.

"For example, if someone has not met a Muslim before, and they have various stereotypes: 'Muslims are terrorists,' or whatever they hear," said Ahmed, "They can come to me and frankly ask me what Islam is."

Ahmed said there are some proposed speakers for the next event, but nothing's yet set in stone.

"The format of the program is, you have 10 or 15 minutes of each presentation. Then there is time for a question-and-answer session," he said. "Then there will be food after that."

The essence, said Ahmed, is to get to know each other.