Give peace a chance

In 2001, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring September 21st of each year as the International Day of Peace. This day allows people to reflect on the role they have to play in order to attain peace.

Residents were invited to gather in the “peace park” to commemorate this important day. It was in 1996 that Beaudet Park was awarded this noble title as it holds in its center a monument honouring Laurentians who lost their lives on the battlefield and the 166 different cultural communities sharing peacefully the borough’s territory.

The ceremony started with a speech from Mayor Alan DeSousa who reminded that the many conflicts currently raging all around the world make this day even more relevant and important. “Every person here makes our community brighter and if each and every one of us can pass along this message of peace, then it’s the best example we can give.” He also invited people to send their peace messages to Mayor Gérald Tremblay by going to messagedepaix.ca. The mayor of Montreal will then hand them on to UN’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

The event was coordinated by Gigi Vidal who’s also a member of COSSL’s immigrant comity. She said it’s crucial that people do all they can to attain peace in a time where violence is everywhere. “Peace is not only possible, it’s inevitable. We must foster peace in our hearth.” Diane Lamarche Venne president of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board added that the values conveyed by schools – respect, fairness, the sense of responsibility and courage - “are the basis for harmony which leads to peace.”

The celebrations ended with the release of 30 doves and a symbolic walk around the park to the sounds of the Maryse Demers trio.

(Photo: Martin Alarie)