Mahendra Singh | Founder and President of CHC
Mahendra M.A., M.Phil in Non-violence and Peace Studies, has been involved in various social, environmental and educational movements over the years.  In his quest for a harmonious and holistic way of life, Mahendra explored many philosophies.  He lived in a Buddhist monastery as well as in Gandhi’s Ashram in India to study and practice a non-violent, peaceful, and sustainable way of living.  This quest finally led him to the proposal of the Worldview of Harmonious Coexistence, which inspires, empowers and provides the basis for achieving harmony within, with each other and with the environment. Mahendra currently facilitates introductory and advanced courses based on this worldview and is engaged in planning, writing and implementing curriculum for establishing a new model of education as well as community living. His life shows how inner transformation and mutually fulfilling relationships are the base for ensuring balance on the planet.

He and his family live in Bragg Creek, Canada at Folk Tree Lodge, where they run the programs of their organization, Centre for Harmonious Coexistence. Together they work hand in hand to ensure balanced living and meaningful education for the next generation.

Naomi Terner
Naomi B.A. (Environmental Studies and Sociology) and B.Ed., is very devoted to meaningful education for children. She has taught in environmental education centres, in a Waldorf School, in education centres in India as well as in a cooperative, inquiry-based school. Her explorations in India led her to the Worldview of Harmonious Coexistence, which proposes that everything in the existence is together in harmony and balance. She is engaged in establishing a new transformative education model for this worldview based on intrinsic values for Consciousness development, where children can recognize and live in harmony within, with each other and with the environment. Naomi emphasizes the importance of relationships in education. She strives to ensure a holistic approach where children can develop an understanding of their relationships within their family, the society and with everything on the planet as well as discover their integral role within it. She strives to live what she teaches and develops stories, poetry, songs, games, art and a variety of educational materials for children. Naomi facilitates joyful and engaging value-based education classes for children

She and her family live in Bragg Creek at Folk Tree Lodge, where they run the programs of their organization, Centre for Harmonious Coexistence. Together they work hand in hand to ensure balanced living and meaningful education for the next generation.

Arthur Clark
Arthur is a Professor Emeritus of Neuropathology and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. He is a citizen of the United States and of Canada, and served as a Captain in the US Army Medical Corps 1971-73, during the era of the Vietnam War.

Arthur has been active in public affairs since the time of the 1990-91 crisis involving Iraq. His emphasis has been on the necessity of responsible global citizenship and on the failure of governments to uphold international law as a major factor jeopardizing human security. His book, The ABCs of Human Survival: A Paradigm for Global Citizenship, was published in April 2010 by Athabasca University Press.

Arthur Clark has been very instrumental in the effort to make this Worldview accessible to a wide audience by offering his home regularly as a place to hold workshops. In addition, he played an integral role in establishing our main centre in Bragg Creek (at Folk Tree Lodge). His contribution through his genuine commitment and effort for the society and continued ongoing support in all our endeavours is truly appreciated.

Spencer Klettke
Spencer Klettke was born in Calgary, Canada and currently lives just outside the city at the Centre for Harmonious Coexistence in Bragg Creek. His father being an optometrist, Spencer had the opportunity to see many parts of the world as his family would often travel to provide free eye-care service to those in need. From those travels,
he experienced the joy of connecting to people abroad, and also the pain of seeing extreme poverty and inequality compared to the lavishness he had at home. This inequality did not sit well with him, yet at the time he was lost for how he could help. He looked to those he trusted in search of guidance, but was not inspired by their lifestyles. He felt as though people were living in ways that did not show any recognition or care for the disparity in the world.

Later in his youth, Spencer began to develop an appreciation for the beauty in nature. He chose to do a degree in Environmental Science with the idea of helping the environment, but became jaded when he recognized its scope was only to quantify and track the damage being done to the earth. Again looking to his peers for guidance, it was difficult to find inspiration as to what he could do and what a life in harmony with the rest of nature could look like.

When Spencer was first introduced to the Worldview of Harmonious Coexistence, he found it immediately appealing as it offered logical, and livable solutions to the questions that had troubled him growing up. He was inspired to see some of the existing centres in India, where he caught a glimpse of how we can live well together in a way that consciously ensures equality amongst people and balance in the environment when scaled up. Spencer currently helps to run the Bragg Creek Centre with positivity and enthusiasm. He is grateful for all of his friends and family whom have contributed to his life, and continues to progress with their help.